suspended for accident i didnt know about

[pierre76]

Does anyone have any advice as to what I might be able to say in my defence?

Just be honest.
Stick to the facts.
Don't try to over-think,over-complicate,over-elaborate or be a smartarse.
You aren't denying that you hit the vehicle,you were just unaware that you had.
Make sure your rep is present,if possible your Area Rep and make sure they are fully aware of the circumstances surrounding your suspension..
Don't panic.

Is all I can do. I've had enough, is making me ill

[pierre76]

Be careful when you start calling vehicle a shed and putting the vehicles faults forward as some kind of mitigating circumstance. You will definately be informed by manager of your responsibility and the time built into your duty to check for faults.
If you became aware of the problem while out and thought it unsafe you could have requested mechanic.
If problem has been ongoing has it been it reported in vehicle log and if yes why has problem not been rectified.
If problem is not logged in book and you and others are driving it knowing of the problem, then you and your colleagues could be in for another interview.

Good point.
Cheers

[amorley]

A year ago I was driving my Astra in pouring rain on a very dark night. I stupidly drove out thinking a car had cleared the junction and when I realised it hadn't, I hit the brakes. I thought the inertia I felt was the emergency stop but it wasn't, I'd pranged the side of the other car. But I honestly didn't know I had. The damage wasn't severe but it was enough for the other driver to have to make a claim and I give him my details. But I definitely didn't know I'd bumped him, I thought I'd stopped in time. And that's car to car, not truck to car. What you are saying is so obviously possible and believable.

I knew a guy once who actually wrote a car off when he hit it, ironically, with a car transporter he was driving. Again, he felt nothing and knew zilch about it. Two different scenarios, same oblivious response.

I wish you the very best. If things don't go as you hope I wonder if you could enlist some sort of expert help for an appeal. I'm telling you the truth, the car transporter driver was telling me the truth. You're telling the truth. It's fairly clear that you can have a bump and know very little about it. And I'm sure there'll be knowledgable people out there who could confirm it and back it up with case studies.

Good luck.

[pierre76]

A year ago I was driving my Astra in pouring rain on a very dark night. I stupidly drove out thinking a car had cleared the junction and when I realised it hadn't, I hit the brakes. I thought the inertia I felt was the emergency stop but it wasn't, I'd pranged the side of the other car. But I honestly didn't know I had. The damage wasn't severe but it was enough for the other driver to have to make a claim and I give him my details. But I definitely didn't know I'd bumped him, I thought I'd stopped in time. And that's car to car, not truck to car. What you are saying is so obviously possible and believable.

I knew a guy once who actually wrote a car off when he hit it, ironically, with a car transporter he was driving. Again, he felt nothing and knew zilch about it. Two different scenarios, same oblivious response.

I wish you the very best. If things don't go as you hope I wonder if you could enlist some sort of expert help for an appeal. I'm telling you the truth, the car transporter driver was telling me the truth. You're telling the truth. It's fairly clear that you can have a bump and know very little about it. And I'm sure there'll be knowledgable people out there who could confirm it and back it up with case studies.

Good luck.

Cheers mate

[Spartacus]

Just an update for anyone who might be following this saga...
I have been invited to another 'fact finding' interview.
Does anyone have any advice as to what I might be able to say in my defence?
All and any advice gratefully received, I'm falling to bits here. I'm a nervous wreck, can't understand why anyone would think think I'd willfully drive away

Has that second fact finding meeting taken place yet?

If so what was the outcome?

[pierre76]

Just an update for anyone who might be following this saga...
I have been invited to another 'fact finding' interview.
Does anyone have any advice as to what I might be able to say in my defence?
All and any advice gratefully received, I'm falling to bits here. I'm a nervous wreck, can't understand why anyone would think think I'd willfully drive away

Has that second fact finding meeting taken place yet?

If so what was the outcome?

no mate, i'll keep y'all updated

[pierre76]

Just an update for anyone who might be following this saga...
I have been invited to another 'fact finding' interview.
Does anyone have any advice as to what I might be able to say in my defence?
All and any advice gratefully received, I'm falling to bits here. I'm a nervous wreck, can't understand why anyone would think think I'd willfully drive away

Has that second fact finding meeting taken place yet?

If so what was the outcome?

no mate, i'll keep y'all updated

Took place last week. Had union representation with me.
Heard nothing since, I'm getting proper worried, they proper dragging their feet (or are they always this slow?)...
Is still pissing me off that I'm copping a load of stress (and losing money) 'cause of something I didn't know about (that point was kind of accepted).
All I wanna do is get back to work...I could write a lot more but guess I ought to be careful what I put in public domain...

[pierre76]

Hi all,
Still not back at work, still waiting to hear from anyone involved.
I'm amazed this is dragging out so long, I just want to get back to work.
The case is simple, I had accident I was unaware of at the time, as soon as I was aware I reported it to DOM, next thing I'm suspended and feel like some kind of criminal (even though I've not seen or heard from the police)
I don't know what to do, I'm going nuts and slipping into depression waiting for news...

[michael61]

pierre don,t let the c..t,s get u down keep your chin up you will be back soon.

[pierre76]

pierre don,t let the c..t,s get u down keep your chin up you will be back soon.

cheers mate, I fekkin hope so...

[michael61]

any news yet pierre or are they still dragging this silly charge out.

[pierre76]

any news yet pierre or are they still dragging this silly charge out.

not heard a squeak apart from the odd msg from union rep telling me the matter has been passed to another manager. Its been in the hands of 5 managers now...wonder where the buck finally stops..? is affecting my health now, i'm going fekkin mad, i keep asking and being told nothing. duty of care...hmm...all i wanna do is get back to work...

[michael61]

in the hand,s of 5 tosser,s mate getting beyond a joke duty of care left rm a long time ago.

[hantsman]

any news yet pierre or are they still dragging this silly charge out.

not heard a squeak apart from the odd msg from union rep telling me the matter has been passed to another manager. Its been in the hands of 5 managers now...wonder where the buck finally stops..? is affecting my health now, i'm going fekkin mad, i keep asking and being told nothing. duty of care...hmm...all i wanna do is get back to work...

Are you still being paid I take it?

[blackadder]

cant realy see what r.m are doing to be honest. you had a accident that you wernt aware off at the time, you wont be the first and the last to be accused off. as long as nobody got hurt then slap on the wrist and drive bit carefully old chap. realy is a bit odd