Having a pretty bad week, from trying to rescue neighbours fishes in a false alarm scenario to more tasks at work with lesser resources (less is more anyone?)
For bros who have PMed me, my apologies, already worked 2 days without sleep this week so really tired. Just finished work actually now.
Please bear with me while i share my account of being in a traffic accident and the steps i took. Good for reference in case (touch wood) which is why i am putting this into the main page.
Got into an accident earlier today(well, yesterday now). I just went into HH, changed cars and went to my wifes place.
I was waiting in the middle lane behind other cars for the lights to turn in my favour, suddenly a blue container truck sped past on the left to filter left and part of his container/trailer hit the side mirror of my vehicle. My pregnant wife was sitting right where it roared past. I was so shocked and thankfully she was fine but shaken. I decided to chase the guy as he just drove on without even stopping. My wife told me he was trying to avoid potholes on the left of the road which was why he swerved and his trailer hit me.
When we chased and got to the industrial area, he was so yaya after i managed to find him and shouted at me not to take pictures. Asked me not to come down and some people were gathering. I said i just wanted to do a report and he kept shouting at me. Saying i swerved left but my car was stationary all the time as i was stuck in traffic. Refused to share particulars and just kept raving on and on.
I just ignored him, took some pictures and left. At first thought luckily damage minor, just fix though a bit heartpain as car only got in Jan so still new. Most importantly wife and kid ok. Then went to the dealership workshop and asked for cost, turns out to be 400 plus. So in the end, the dealership guy who kept telling me not to make report told me i should call the guys company and asked for settlement. I asked my staff to call as their company only speaks Malay but their guys told us to go ahead and lodge the report.
So we went to a policestation nearby to make report. Took another 2 hours before report was made. Then the gent dropped the bombshell, that i will need to still go to the Traffic Police near first link. Heart sinking, thought it would be next week before we could close this off. Then the good news, seems the TP is open 24 hours a day. Very kindly provided us drinks though the system did hang and he had to redo the report from all over.
The investigating sergeant at the TP was a bit sceptical at first but i drew out the map, etc of what happened and where my car was positioned. Luckily this gent understands English and with the help of my staff helping as well, we managed to start their investigation.
Lessons learnt and things observed:
Certain people drive like madmen, young men/women with the probation "P" on their windscreens. Even though most of them with this P sign are supposed to keep left on the highways, most still won't.
Quite a few lorry drivers are madmen, no offence to those good ones. According to the people at the station, none were surprised. I am not going to mention race. (Sidetrack - Even with business, we make it a point to hire all races, even when some senior people objected because of prejudices, we always gave other groups a chance. Even though quite a few of them disappear or interview and don't show up, we still continue to believe in the goodness of people.)
One thing we learnt, when you get hit or hit a motorcycle, you will very likely be summoned even if they are in the wrong. We should still
help but do park your car a distance away when trying to help any downed motorcyclists.
My blessed dad once stopped to help out a motorcyclist in Singapore who was hit by a taxi(which ran off) After a year, his kindness
was rewarded by a letter from the motorcyclist company. In it, he was claiming my dads insurance and claimed my dads vehicle
was the one which hit him and caused the accident.
When in doubt, just go and make a report direct at the TP instead of police station as you will save more time that way. In my case,
i don't care who gets summoned, its no longer about the money now.
The TP first floor is to start the reporting process, once done, you will go up to the 2nd floor (not mezzanine floor) where the in charge
will ask you questions, get camera guy to take pictures etc.
Useful tip - Sign up at myeg.com.my and do a search for your car license plate or passport to check if you get any summons.
If you get hit at the back by any car and you are in somewhere you feel unsafe or see a few guys in the car, just drive off. Just drive to any police station or TP to make the report after taking down license plate.
