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Better Brakes


LostKiwi
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Well thats what the fiesta that hit the back of me this morning needed anyway. Not much apparent damage - just a few scratches to the bumper. Thing is, how prone are the A8's to sustaining hidden damage with all the bumper mechanism hidden beneath the plastic cover?

I guess this is a good one for IT_S8 as he's likely seen more accident damage than most of us!

The Fiesta needs a bit more than mine from the look - new bumper, headlights, grill.... wink.gif

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Kiwi,

You gotta get a proper assesment (RAC / AUDI) cause if you find out later that you have a big bill and its after any claim is settled you will be fouked. Happend to me. Little old man, apologised, offered to pay, looked minor, got mate to help fit new bumper and match paint, guy paid and when I came to sell the RAC inspection done by prospective buyer identified a crease in boot floor that told him that shunt was worse than thought. Buyer pulls out and I was then leagaly required to disclose that there was shunt damage that had not beed rectified. Tried to claim against old boy and was told as I had agreed a full and final setlement when he paid for new bumper I had no further claim!! frown.gif

Mike

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Really sorry to hear about the accident - just one of those things, but still hassle you could do without!

Am I right in thinking that the A8 has engery absorbing struts in the rear bumper - bit like shock absorbers, maybe enough of a difference to have enabled the fiesta to act as a crumple zone for the Audi?

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Cheers Guys... Was thinking I'd get it assessed by an accident repair centre (they'll always inflate the cost given half a chance so may get a new bumper cover out of it!).

The A8 does have energy absorbing struts but they always raise questions like "do they return fully after an impact" and "are they weakened for any future impact" and so on...

Certainly the Fiesta worked very nicely as my rear crumple zone though!

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There are impact pistons front and rear, so they should absorb most of it. We've had a couple of cars now though where its been hit one side, looked only average damage but on closer inspection the damage had carried through the chassis.

Check panel gaps, foot well floors and round the back to make sure all looks in line.

If the bumper is largely in one piece, and is sitting straight theres a good chance its not too bad - but get it checked out anyway whilst there is a claim to be had...

... and check out your whiplash too.... :-)

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Cheers Ian,

I just popped out at lunch to ave a quick look over it. Damage appears externally to be limited to nothing more than a few scratches and some foreign red paint. The bumper appears to line up with the wheel arch correctly, and all panel gaps look fine. No broken rear lenses or anything else either. Looks like a very light shunt but still worth checking it....

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Kiwi,

Was the whiplash really really bad? EEK2.GIFshocked.gif

In a shunt a few years ago I suffered a refered pain whiplash with a shoulder muscle tear showing up as pain in the neck. I could only lift my arm this high and took nearly a year to lift it this high! smile.gif

2 Grand later it was fixed! wink.gif

The irony was that I wouldn't have bothered of the guy who shunted me hadn't got a bolshi boss (young lad in firms van). When I rang them I got a 'you'll have to deal with the insurance company I won't talk to you'! So I did and they were the usual Insurance company. Your cars only worth 3 farthing and you are faking the injury. I was 3rd part F&F so my insurance company wern't to helpful (didn't take out legal costs confused.gif ). So I end up engaging a soliciter. Got a fair market value for the car and 2K for the shoulder. The soliciters did 23.5 hours work. 12 Letters at £174 per hour and £70 a letter!!!!! Almost 3 times what I got.

Mike

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Wiplash dosnt normally manifest its self straight away, can take some time for symptoms to appear. I had a bad front end smash in an Saab some years ago,total right off, went out to pub same night bragging about how airbag went off, im immortal etc. Still suffering with my neck now especially went its cold; so beware.

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You've got three years from the date of the accident until you need to make a claim for personal injury (PI) which can then be fast-tracked through the legal system. I agree that falsely claiming for injuries eventually damages all of us through premium increases although can categorically state that whiplash injuries will become apparent within the three year window.

As it happens, most medics find it hard to determine a patient prognosis if you try and pursue a claim too early as the PI claim is intended to cover any adverse events which occur at any time after the claim is settled. In essence you cannot go back and try to claim again if you discover it was worse than originally thought but you've already taken your money..!

The most important thing is to present to your GP (if not serious) within seven days of the accident to have a check-up (maybe even an x-ray) or visit the local A&E department if you are in any discomfort due to pain. Then you must keep going back to the doctor EVERY time you suffer pain, discomfort or an inability to perform certain tasks as this will be what the lawyers and medical experts will use to determine how you are likely to suffer from the injury, potentially for the rest of your life.

znaika.gif

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