Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Your Story vs Mine

Last Saturday, we went to Kallang Leisure Park for lunch. Its underground carpark was almost filled to its brim and about 6-7 cars ahead of us were queueing to go into the carpark.

As the boys and I were getting rather hungry (they had had CL lessons in the morning), we decided to park at the surface carpark instead. What a waste of time it would be, we thought, to wait in the queue in the hot, hot sun. Afterall, there were plenty of carpark lots in the surface carpark just next to the building.

So, R turned into the surface carpark. We eventually ended up following a black Honda (was it Steam?) and a silver car (I cannot remember what car that was) into this particular lane where there were some trees providing shade to some lots. Very soon, the Black Honda got itself a lot in the shade and reversed into it.

The silver car right behind him waited, of course, till the black Honda was done. Then it lingered a while before moving off again. We waited patiently behind the silver car. R noted that the parking lot next to the black Honda was also under the shade. So R decided that once the silver car was gone, he would take the shady lot next to the black Honda.

Soon enough, the silver car went off. Then, R engaged his reverse gear and was moving back when he realised that the space in the shady lot was in fact quite 'small' and it would be quite a squeeze to park there.

Just then, suddenly, I saw to my horror, a red car reversing right into our front! I started to yell but it was too late. R, who was looking back across his shoulder, turned to see what the commotion was. The red car had struck us on our right corner!!!!

The red car stopped, of course, and immediately went forward again. Then out came its driver. He was a middle-aged man, whose first words were," Aiyoh, so bad, ah? I didn't see you; I just saw a car go by, didn't see you. You also didn't see me, right?"

F*** him! What audacity to say such 'I didn't see you, you also didn't see me' bullshit! The truth is: You revsersed into us!!!! You, Bloody A**hole!

Our car sustained a half-foot long scratch on our front bumper and bad scratches on the front corner of the right headlights cover. The right corner of the bumper looks like its paint has been chiselled/scrapped off! Luckily, there was no dent or broken parts.

R's exchange with the driver took some time. R took some photos of both cars and their respective positions (note: the a**hole had already moved his car forward the minute he hit us!). The bloody a**hole's wife copied R immediately, and went busy shooting photos using her handphone. Then, after exchanging particulars, the a**hole drove off. And we chose another lot and parked there.

Lunch didn't taste so good that day, but the boys cheered up later because they got to play a game of bowling at the bowling centre. I also placed a booking for a bowling session with CP, YP and the gang the following week - I had promised WS and WP that I will bring them bowling one of these days, when we previously told them about WF's party at the bowling centre.

After sending WY and WF to class after the bowling, R and I went to the Nissan workshop to get some advice about the scratches. The discussion with the service staff was rather lengthy (the man was so long-winded!), but conclusion was that he would help us file a report with our insurer (to pre-empt any claim by that a**hole driver of the offending car) and get the mechanic to 'touch-up' the bumper scratch. As for the headlights cover scratch, we will just leave it for now.

The car has, by now, been touched up already. I have yet to see it, though. So I really don't know how well the 'pimple cream' (as R calls it) works for the scratch.

I felt quite helpless when I discussed with R that the a**hole driver of the red car should really be made to pay for 'proper' rectification works to our bumper and headlights cover. But R says that this will be futile because the a**hole is sure to contend that it was more of us bumping into him than he reversing into us.

So, what good is this 'Your Story vs Mine' thing? Even though we know for a fact that ours is The Truth. Got no evidence, so Lies = Truth anyway?! Fed-up!

(This thing makes me wonder why I chose to be a lawyer. And still remain one.... sian, ah!)

2 comments:

KayAngMo said...

Ya lor, truth does not matter in these cases. Did you have an eye-witness? No? Then forget it, call it a lesson.
Unfortunately most, if not all, Singpaporean drivers will do this sort of "your fault not mine", even if their conscience tell them otherwise. Why? Call it education.
If it is no bodily harm or injury then forget it la. I can sympathise with you but that is all we can do. Since the man and his woman already did the defensive finger pointing, you should just hope he does not turn around and accuse you of crashing into him and claiming against you! Walao-eh? Life is like that. Forget it. Another way is to get someone of high authority to call him and ask him to settle outside, say a few hundred dollars, etc. But then you have to go to the "darkside"...do you know any mafia, ah bengs? No? Then swallow this bitter pill lor.

KayAngMo said...

BTW, since you are lawyer and work in the civil service, you have no lobangs in the legal circle meh? What? You damm straight kind one hor?

Another lesson: be powerful (well connected) or be humble (sometimes/mostly painful).

Or lodge a police report, backed up with some lawyer letter.??

Just trying to rub it in...

:D