“Don’t worry Usman, I’ll drop you off.” I said. I didn’t fancy going straight home anyway. It was an overcast day and I knew I’ll be stuck indoors all day and it was only 1.30 in the afternoon.

“You sure bro, it’s out of the way for you isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is. So if I drop you off you owe me. Lunch tomorrow?” I joked as we walked to my rusty Vectra.

“You really need a new car bro, if I didn’t have to be home I’d rather walk than get a lift from you. Your car is just embarrassing.”

“You have a nice way of showing your appreciation. Just get in...!!”

We spoke about many things on the 10 minute drive to Usman’s house. We spoke about dragons, cars, jobs, Luke, houses and glab jams.

“Come in if you want, my mum’s going out and I’m going to have to stay here to watch my younger siblings. We’ll carry on with this colourful conversation?” he offered.

“Nah, it’s ok. I have a few DIY things to sort out at home so I’ll just be off.” I wanted a slight detour on the way home and this had done it nicely. Now back to reality.

So I took the shortest, straightest route home. Past the uni and the hospital.

It’s a long, straight, open road from the uni to the hospital. I’ve had 75mph out of my previous car along this road, but today I felt like cruising rather than speeding. I remember this as being one of the first roads I ever drove a car on. God, how long ago that was. At least 10 years now. How I used to be so cautious back then. Looking miles ahead so I can avoid potential situations and also change my route if I spotted a police car up ahead. If this was then I’d be looking up ahead as far as the zebra crossing, and watch that man walking towards it.

I started slowing down as I came up to the zebra crossing in case the chap wanted to cross. Across the road I could see a lady pushing a buggy with a child in it. A few taxi drivers were parked outside the hospital waiting for the next job. The clouds were clearing up. There were about 6 motorbikes flying by on the opposite side of the road. The couple at the bus stop looked tired with all that shopping.

OMG – how much I miss normally when I’m in my own little world. There have been times before now that I’ve driven to my day job, a 50 miles journey, and not remembered most of it.

OK, he HAS decided to cross the road. I came to a smooth stop to allow the man to cross. Yeah, he didn’t say ‘thank you’ but it didn’t really matter. I hadn’t stopped to get a ‘thank you’ from him.

BANG!!! My chain of thought was broken. What just happened??!! The car on the other side of the zebra crossing was still there, the chap was still crossing, the taxis were still there, the buggy woman was still pushing the buggy along. So what just happened?

As I looked in the rear view mirror, I saw a car glued to my rear bumper, smoke coming from its bonnet. OMG – I’ve been hit. I got out the car and went up to assess the damage. The woman in the driving seat looked scared to the bone. Her kids on the back seat looked ok, but they weren’t strapped in. Her window was open so I went up to ask if she’s ok.

“Are you ok? You’re not hurt are you? Are your children ok?”

She shook her head “We’re fine. I’m really sorry. I just didn’t see you. I tried to brake, but the brakes just locked.”

Her car was worse than mine. I didn’t think it was possible, but all that had happened to mine was the back bumper was touching the back tyre, but her car was totally smashed in from the front, bonnet all crunched up etc.

“You work at the garage don’t you?” I heard a voice behind me. I looked round and saw a man who I only knew by face. I had seen him a few times. “Here, I’ve jotted my name and number down. I saw what happened. She just smashed into the back of your car, didn’t even try stopping. I saw it all. I’ll be your witness. My mate in the other taxi saw it too, but he’s gone on a job now, call me later and I’ll give you his details too.”

What a nice guy I thought as I thanked him and turned back to the woman who was still sat in her car. She was being spoken to by someone else who at the time I thought was a random passer-by, but as it turned out it was someone she knew.

Upon closer inspection, I thought to myself ‘I know this woman from somewhere’ But where? She looks a little bit like Atif, and Fareed (a couple of troublemaking cousins who I’d been at school with).

“Are you related to Atif and Fareed?” I asked.

“My brothers name is Fareed’s. Why?”

“I just thought you looked a little like him that’s all. Anyway, as long as you’re not hurt, that’s the main thing. I’ll tell you what I’m prepared to do – I was thinking of changing my car soon anyway, so I won’t be making a claim against you. You just get your car seen to and I’ll do the same with mine. But you obviously can’t drive it away. Are you going to phone someone to help you tow it away?”

“Yeah, I just tried to phone my husband, but I’ve not got credits in my phone.”

As she used my phone to call her husband I pulled the bumper on my car away from the tyre so I can drive home.

All the while she stayed in her car. Luckily the stuff coming out from under her bonnet was steam from the burst rad rather than smoke as I had initially thought.

She thanked me for saying that I’ll not be claiming against her and also for lending her my phone. I asked if she needed a lift home and she said “no, I’ve spoken to my husband, he’s on his way down.”

The first thing I done when I got home was to put the kettle on. I needed a coffee after that. What a journey. I moved my head side to side to ensure I don’t have whiplash. As the kettle was boiling I called the insurance company. Explained to them what happened, gave them the details of the witness just in case the woman tried something funny, and said that I don’t want to make a claim as I don’t think it’s worth it. I told them my car is rubbish and I was thinking of changing it soon anyway.

“I respect your decision sir, but have you considered what this woman would have done if you had gone into the back of her? She would certainly have made a claim against you. We have a solicitors firm who work closely with and we can get them to give you a call. They’ll talk you through what needs to be done and assist you in getting compensation. You may not feel the pain your neck right now, but it may show it’s face in a day or a weeks time. If it does, please feel free to call us and we will arrange to get you the compensation you deserve. The average pay-out at the moment is £3,000.00”

“Look – thanks for your advice, but I can’t feel any pain at the moment so I think it’s pointless speaking your solicitors”

“You do realise sir, that insurance companies have money set aside for instances like this one. And if you’re thinking of getting a new car the compensation can go towards it.”

WOW, I thought. They do have a way of making it sound tempting. “Thanks again, but if I’m not mistaken, I’m only entitled to the compensation if I’m actually injured right? You’re not suggesting that I ‘pretend’ to be in pain are you? Are you on commission?”

“No sir, that’s not what I’m suggesting. I’m only making you aware of the services we provide. We operate under the strict guidelines of the FSA and would never advise that our clients mislead anyone in insurance matters”

YEAH YEAH….!!!!! I thought to myself as I thanked her and hung up the phone.