[wilf leek]

Nuke- we all make mistakes, sometimes some of us pay a touch more for them. Glad you are in one piece, if a little battered.

I am no suspension guru, but yes, IMHO, lack of rear anti-roll bar would cause the car to handle very differently at or apporaching the limit. Complete change of under/oversteer characteristics. Without knowing any further details (no, I am not asking) I would guess this is what made the car behave differently this one time.
Hope someone better qualified than I will chip in.

Mend well and soon. The car doesn't matter - your wife and child care more about you.