Ran into a Pole at Low Speeds, Pole Fell over, May Have to Pay

WilhelmBargo on 14/01/2016 - 22:30
Last edited 15/01/2016 - 08:07 by 1 other user

Today I was driving through a round-about and a car infront of me slammed on there brakes so in order to avoid a collision I also slammed on mine. I swerved out of the way of the vehicle and collided with a pole at this point travelling approximately 10km/h. The police arrived and said I may have to pay for the poles replacement.

The fact that pole collapsed at such low speeds and did not even dint from the collision makes me wonder if this pole was not properly secured to the ground. Here are pictures of the pole.

http://imgur.com/RNHkmOd
http://imgur.com/DwhmkWA

What are peoples thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

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Automotive

closed Comments

  • Findo on 14/01/2016 - 22:32
    +87

    I reckon you'll need to suck it up and pay. You should've kept a safe distance behind the car in front. You're lucky it was only a pole you knocked over and not a person.

      • Eeples on 15/01/2016 - 00:31
        +40

        What! A car hitting me, a person, at 10km/hr wouldn't hurt me?

        Really???

        Or, are you suggesting a car travelling at 49km/hr (not in your danger zone) would be okay too when hitting a person?

        Good grief.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 15/01/2016 - 13:02
          +43

          That has to be a forerunner for stupidest post of 2016. XD

        • nobro25 on 16/01/2016 - 21:46
          -1

          @Scrooge McDuck: You better add that to your list so we can present it at this year's Top 10/ Top 100 most stupidest post of 2016.

        • eug on 17/01/2016 - 00:15
          +10

          @Multiverse: Would you be willing to put your facts to the test? I'm sure there would be someone here who would be willing to drive into you at 10km/h.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 17/01/2016 - 00:37

          @nobro25:

          most stupidest

          :/

        • Scrooge McDuck on 17/01/2016 - 00:39
          +2

          @Multiverse:

          Neg me all you like,

          OK.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 17/01/2016 - 00:40
          +2

          @eug:

          Would you be willing to put your facts to the test? I'm sure there would be someone here who would be willing to drive into you at 10km/h.

          Just remember to live stream it. XD

        • Multiverse on 17/01/2016 - 01:38

          @eug: Sure, let's do it. PM me and we will arrange a date and time.

        • eug on 17/01/2016 - 01:46
          +3

          @Multiverse: You're in Sydney, it's not worth my time travelling interstate.

          Since you're so insistent that you're correct, why don't you record yourself running at 10km/h into a parked car instead? Prove all of us wrong.

        • Multiverse on 17/01/2016 - 01:47

          @Scrooge McDuck: Let's do it. I'm ready. PM me with the time and date Scrooge McDuck.

        • Multiverse on 17/01/2016 - 01:49

          @eug: You don't make the 'rules'

          Come to my manor keyboard warrior.

        • eug on 17/01/2016 - 01:58
          +1

          @Multiverse: You're the keyboard warrior with the statement to prove, so please go right ahead and prove it, or admit you are wrong.

        • Multiverse on 17/01/2016 - 02:01

          @eug: You have rose tinted glasses. So cute!

        • eug on 17/01/2016 - 02:03
          +1

          @Multiverse: OK, since you are still unable to provide any proof or evidence that a 10km/h hit will not injure a person, I'll take that as an admission that you were wrong.

        • Multiverse on 17/01/2016 - 02:07

          @eug: You get more lovable with every sentence, bless you!

          You have no evidence to support your 'case' so best move on eug.

        • eug on 17/01/2016 - 02:11
          +1

          @Multiverse: Aww, how cute. You're now trying to turn the tables. Sorry but you need to try harder.

        • Multiverse on 17/01/2016 - 02:21

          @eug: You PM'd me then blocked me, what a joke haha!

        • Multiverse on 17/01/2016 - 05:36

          @eug: Don't be sorry, you attacked me and got owned on the private messages.

          Don't forget to take the meds sunshine.

          PS So cute little one, have a little rest now.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 17/01/2016 - 06:06
          +5

          @Multiverse:

          Let's do it. I'm ready. PM me with the time and date Scrooge McDuck.

          Sorry, I made a New Year's Resolution to quit meeting up with random people from the internet for the purpose of running them over with my car in 2016.

          And besides, I just had the last stubborn tuft of Beagle fur cleaned outta my grill!

          https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CKeYSl4UYAAaAWk.jpg

        • eug on 17/01/2016 - 08:32

          @Scrooge McDuck: This is the time where I would say "don't feed the trolls". Parents really need to ban their little kids from using the Internet without supervision. :)

        • Multiverse on 18/01/2016 - 01:00

          @Scrooge McDuck: Lol. Good comeback Mr McDuck. I can't seem to find anyone to run me over at 10KPH. Perhaps I'll try Gumbay or Airtasker.

        • Multiverse on 18/01/2016 - 04:37

          @eug: I can't seem to find anyone to run me over at 10KPH. Perhaps I'll try Gumbay or Airtasker. Thanks for offering and backing out:)

        • chefgoldblum on 18/01/2016 - 08:19
          +1

          @Multiverse: Not sure if legitimately the single dumbest person I've ever seen on Ozbargain or not. Trolling?

        • melbstheburn on 19/01/2016 - 21:29

          @chefgoldblum: I think it may be the dumbest, he seems pretty confident in his own stupidity.

      • datafellows on 15/01/2016 - 00:38
        +4

        Mate, in the early 90's I attended a traffic safety exhibition where we were strapped into a car seat and it slid down on rails reaching 7kph and then coming to a sudden halt. Lucky the seat had a seatbelt as I would have been thrown off the seat.

        What I learned was 7kph is enough to hurt as my shoulder was in pain for quite a while.

        • Eeples on 15/01/2016 - 00:43
          +2

          Dude, the dude is claiming the person being hit at 10km/hr wouldn't be hurt.

          hahahaha

        • Multiverse on 15/01/2016 - 00:47

          @Eeples:

        • Multiverse on 15/01/2016 - 00:50

          @datafellows

          You got injured in a car at a traffic safety exhibition? The worlds gone mad…

        • datafellows on 15/01/2016 - 01:01

          @Multiverse:

          Haha, nice one!

          It was actually just a seat with seat belt on rails going downwards and then came to sudden stop. The police were showing people that how slow speed can kill if you don't wear a seat belt.

          But anyone slamming someone 10kph with a car, talk about broken bones and skull fractures, jeez…

          To OP, I know this sucks but your car also has less damage due to the design of the pole, although I would fight for my rights to keep my money as you are doing ;)

        • eug on 15/01/2016 - 02:32
          +5

          @datafellows: People can die by tripping and falling if they hit their head on something. No need for a 10km/h car even.

        • Kozhutki on 15/01/2016 - 06:53
          +1

          @datafellows:

          Something similar to this

        • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2016 - 12:47
          +1

          Agreed, even 7km can maim and kill.

          Maybe it's time for enforceable speed limits on pedestrians, as well as helmets.

          As for pedestrian registration/ CTP, I'm open minded over that one.

        • datafellows on 15/01/2016 - 12:47

          @kaneissik:

          Yes, exactly! Oh memories :)

        • Scrooge McDuck on 15/01/2016 - 13:09
          +1

          @Daz:

          Maybe it's time for enforceable speed limits on pedestrians, as well as helmets.

          They would save lives in the CBD on Friday and Saturday nights. As would random drug and alcohol testing.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 15/01/2016 - 13:14
          +2

          @datafellows:

          To OP, I know this sucks but your car also has less damage due to the design of the pole,

          Indeed. Roadside furniture is designed with crash safety in mind!

          OP, you should be thankful that the pole knocked over and so didn't do more damage to your vehicle and your body!

        • Multiverse on 17/01/2016 - 02:31

          @eug: Sometimes they don't die, any statistics to back that up? Nope,just another stab in the dark from the PC police….

        • johnno07 on 17/01/2016 - 08:53
          +1

          @Multiverse: Sometimes they do - sometimes they don't. The point is it patently CAN HAPPEN. The same way getting knocked down by car traveling at 10km/h CAN kill you. Whether it is likely or not was not the point of this discussion - as your position apparently is that it CANNOT happen.

          No one would sustain a scratch let alone serious injury getting knocked down at 10KPH.

          Just plainly false. Have you dragged your face along bitumen at 10km/h? You'll get a scratch.

          No one would sustain a scratch let alone serious injury It is unlikely a pedestrian would die getting knocked down at 10KPH.

          This is true.

        • eug on 17/01/2016 - 10:30
          +1

          @johnno07: I too thought he was serious, but he's actually just trolling to get a reaction out of people. So let's not keep it going shall we? :)

      • Diji1 on 15/01/2016 - 08:49
        +17

        Having been involved in an accident that caused serious, life changing injury at 35 km/h I can say that you have no idea what your talking about.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 15/01/2016 - 13:00
        +1

        No one would sustain a scratch let alone serious injury getting knocked down at 10KPH. Evidence shows 50-70KPH is the 'danger zone'

        Source? :S

      • Tech5 on 15/01/2016 - 16:40
        +3

        Lol… A person getting punched and then falling and hitting their head is enough to kill them. You reckon adding another 10km/hr to that still wont produce a scratch?

      • OzzyOzbourne on 15/01/2016 - 20:23

        That will be useful information to have if my kid gets hit at 49kph.

      • juki on 16/01/2016 - 00:25
        +1

        a simple fall at 0km/h can crack a "granny's" hip

        not sure if that's the type, but i have seen poles that seem to be designed to pop out if ran into, probably to avoid being mauled in the car as it wraps around it. (??? - i'm not an expert in long and hard stuff)

      • geoffellis on 16/01/2016 - 03:46
        +5

        My Sister in law was hit by a car at a cross walk last year. The car had been sitting there and didn't see her when the light turned green and he turned. so he was just starting to accelerate when he hit her. Was probably only travelling 10, 15km/h at the very most.

        She was in a coma for a week, required brain surgery (removing part of her brain). Spent 3-4 months in the hospital. can't taste food any more.

        It really doesn't take much force to (profanity) you up, or even kill you. Just look at the cole miller and similar cases.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2016 - 07:17

        I think what multiverse meant was the speed of 50-70k is safe enough to give time for braking and come to full stop.

        10k is very fast to come to full stop, perhaps split second.

        When u drive pay attention to what 10k is like… Its very slow, equal to jogging speed, 2.7m/s. in my car not even a number. It's the speed when u put car to d, and let go the brake n gas.

        For the comment about sister in law, car gains acceleration speed really fast, 10k is achieved in a fraction of the second. Think about when u accelerate after red light.
        I think the speed at impact must be more than 10.

        In kinect energy theory, extra 5k of speed means a lot more! It's 100 vs 225!

        • spaij on 18/01/2016 - 09:49

          I think the speed at impact must be more than 10.

          Not necessarily, it depends how the person lands. All the coward punch stories should be enough to show that: if someone whacks their head on landing, it can be fatal…

        • [Deactivated] on 18/01/2016 - 15:40

          @spaij: oh yes didn't think about that before

      • windrc on 16/01/2016 - 15:35
        -1

        please let me know a convenient time to try this out on you.

      • Multiverse on 17/01/2016 - 00:10

        a

      • johnno07 on 17/01/2016 - 08:47

        I think you're confused, mate. Research shows that there is a dramatic increase of fatally injuring a pedestrian from when you increase the initial speed (before reacting!) from 40 to 50km/h. See here: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/saferroadsnsw/speeding_and_crashes…. This takes into account the extra distance traveled while reacting and braking.

        This does not mean that you wouldn't get severely, incredibly f***ed up by a car hitting you at 40km/h. Do you honestly believe that 40km/h wouldn't injure a pedestrian?? I don't think you know how much force is exerted by a massive multi-tonne object - even at "slow speeds". All of that energy has to go somewhere.

      • syousef on 17/01/2016 - 11:49
        +2

        Are you high? This is why a basic course in physics ought to be compulsory in school. We all move.

        p = mv

        E = mv^2/2

        Cars are relatively heavy things.

        • Max Power on 18/01/2016 - 00:42
          +1

          I know I'd rather have a person run into me at 10km/h than a car run into me at 10km/h.

  • Car-la-la on 14/01/2016 - 22:34
    +23

    who do you suggest should have to pay for this?

    • WilhelmBargo on 14/01/2016 - 22:48

      Given that a pole was unearthed so readily I was just wondering peoples thoughts on the situation. Say that the pole was secured more strongly and only sustained a dint from such a low speed impact the costs incurred could arguably be less.

      • blitz on 14/01/2016 - 23:19
        +50

        What do you think might have happened if the pole had been affixed more firmly to the ground?

        • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2016 - 01:26
          +20

          Bollywood physics would've happened.

      • Gershom on 15/01/2016 - 08:20
        +22

        Yep, it's all the pole's fault.

        • mooboy on 15/01/2016 - 10:09
          +13

          That's so racist.

        • drdolphin on 15/01/2016 - 12:40
          +20

          That was Hitler's excuse!

        • spackbace on 15/01/2016 - 12:47
          +3

          @drdolphin:

          Bill Cosby's too…!

        • rawm on 16/01/2016 - 13:54
          +3

          I agree; it's the pole's vault.

        • nobro25 on 16/01/2016 - 21:48

          I would've told the police that the pole ran into and fell over on purpose just so I get the red card, like in Soccer.

        • dlovep on 18/01/2016 - 09:43

          @nobro25: But you have to roll on the ground first, in case they ignore you and give you a red card.

        • nobro25 on 19/01/2016 - 05:14

          @dlovep: Nah I'm more concern if they ask for the video referee.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 15/01/2016 - 08:29
        +22

        This seems to be a form of victim blaming.

        "if only she wasn't wearing such a short dress…"
        "if only he hadn't been in the CBD at 11pm…"
        "if only the pole was more secured…"

        • Gnostikos on 18/01/2016 - 01:32
          +9

          The pole was asking for it. Just standing there, all gleaming in the sunlight and sh*t with two puny bolts affixing it to the base? That pole knew exactly what it was doing. Cheeky silver-coloured tart.

        • WilhelmBargo on 18/01/2016 - 15:56
          -6

          I asked a simple question and you have all answered it no need to be drippy faced (profanity) about it. Cheers mate.

        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 18/01/2016 - 16:07
          +3

          @Wjbro:

          The ONLY question mark in your original post is this sentence - "What are peoples thoughts?"

          You asked a simple question. I gave you my thoughts. Cheers "mate"

        • WilhelmBargo on 18/01/2016 - 16:08

          @zeggie: I blame you.

      • ESEMCE on 15/01/2016 - 09:12
        +7

        If the pole was damaged (ie dented) it's struc tural integrity would have been compromised and it would need to be replaced.. End result is the same.

      • smpantsonfire on 15/01/2016 - 16:59
        +4

        Would you rather pay for the pole, or a new front end. $1000+

        I know what I would rather.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2016 - 17:46
        +5

        Not the responsibility of "pole companies" to ensure a financially safe environment when people lose control.

      • windrc on 16/01/2016 - 15:41
        +3

        if you walked into an art gallery then slipped your foot and punched a hole through a filmy masterpiece, do you think you can get away without paying?

        • sabretoothz on 18/01/2016 - 11:11
          +1

          Well depends if u slipped at over 10kph or not. The masterpiece really should have had a layer of bullet proof glass covering it. I wouldn't be paying!

  • blitz on 14/01/2016 - 22:58
    +38

    So you had no control over your vehicle and now someone else has to pay?

  • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2016 - 23:16
    +7

    Let me call Judge Judy…

  • nocure on 14/01/2016 - 23:16
    +6

    Surely this is a joke post…if you were actually doing 10 kph, that's slower than walking pace..you could stop on a dime.

    • WilhelmBargo on 15/01/2016 - 01:39
      +4

      Grinding to a halt.. you know decelerating?

    • ESEMCE on 15/01/2016 - 09:13
      +4

      As per the Hoverboard scooter post before Christmas, 10kph is faster than walking pace..
      See I learned something from that thread!

    • tasty-falafel on 15/01/2016 - 12:00
      +8

      OP was obviously driving some kind of bus, 18 wheeler truck or perhaps a tank.

      • [Deactivated] on 17/01/2016 - 00:48
        +1

        Having driven an armored fighting vehicle. I can assure you that it stops on a dime. Too bad for the poor soldiers sitting in the back.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2016 - 13:16
      +5

      It's pretty clear from what OP wrote that they were only doing an estimated 10 km/h at the point of impact after heavy braking from a faster speed.

      • cowiie on 15/01/2016 - 19:47
        +2

        And possibly after the collision with the pole (which may have slowed down the car a bit?)

    • nobro25 on 16/01/2016 - 21:51

      If 10kph is slower than walking pace then how come takes people 4 hrs to travel 14km (city to Surf)!! Either they're babies or doing the run in Ant man suits.

      • SaberX on 17/01/2016 - 05:09
        +1

        dude… if it takes you 4 hours to do 14km (12km isn't it??) city to surf, you're doing something wrong…. :S off topic response from me anyhow.

        I'm pretty sure you could walk 20-30km in that time.

        • ChillBro on 17/01/2016 - 16:57

          Nah city2surf is 14km.

          The group in the back (orange) are usually people wearing costumes, mothers pushing strollers or running in groups. Don't think their aim is to get a good time but rather to enjoy it.

          10km/hr is more of a jogging pace for most people.

      • johnno07 on 17/01/2016 - 08:31

        Average walking pace (which is pretty slow) is 4km/h. 4 hours to do 14km would imply that they were basically walking the whole way.

        • psy on 17/01/2016 - 14:01
          +1

          I walked 50km in under 8hrs.

          4km/hr is very very very slow.

    • ankor on 17/01/2016 - 18:16
      +1

      Maybe he was actually going about 17kph.. We'll never know!

    • Whatsthedealio on 19/01/2016 - 03:12

      exactly. some guy was strolling along to a train station @ 12kph in another thread.

  • airzone on 14/01/2016 - 23:38
    +15

    3rd party property damage unfortunately. It doesn't matter how hard you hit it. You hit it and it was damaged. Good thing for insurance, 'eh?

    • MrBear on 17/01/2016 - 10:08
      +4

      This, so far, is the only sensible answer. You have 3rd party insurance for a reason. If the deductible is more than the cost of the pole, then you should pay out of pocket, otherwise you claim on your insurance (and your rates may go up too).

      Driver should learn to not fly through roundabouts like so many people do these days, particularly if you are tailgating someone.

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