Accident !

[scully91]

I am in a long 3.5 tonne van with a trailer at the rear, i am at a roundabout and am in the left lane going straight on. The roundabout is small so means i must use up both my outside and the inside lane. I leave the roundabout well ahead of the driver on the inside lane. The rear right corner of my trailer hits the front left corner of the driver attempting to "sneak up" the inside of me.
My question is..... Who is at fault? Clearly i was well ahead of the other driver when you consider my length compared to hers. Should i have had any notification on my trailer ie LONG VEHICLE...or is it just simply my fault or simply her fault?
Help greatly appreciated http://forum.rac.co.uk/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Conor]

I drive an artic pulling a 45 foot trailer. People do that to me all the time yet I've managed to avoid hitting them.

From your description, it sounds like they ran into you.

BTW, the inside usually refers to the passenger side just to save confusion. I understand you mean the drivers side?

[Lorian]

I am in a long 3.5 tonne van with a trailer at the rear, i am at a roundabout and am in the left lane going straight on.

You really shouldn't type while driving :D

[Zazen999]

My advanced driving instructor once told me 'don't be a lorry sandwich' - meaning it is common sense that large vehicles, esp when moving in anything other than a straight line - need room. And to let them go, hold back until it is safe.

I am a bit confused as to which lane you were in etc; but if the driver behind you went into you - on a roundabout - then what could you have done???

[Hintza]

My eldest passed her test last year (2nd attempt) but failed on the first occasion in a situation similar to this.

She shot up the outside of an artic at a roundabout and was deemed not to have given him enough room to complete his manouvre (sp). Think I would be tempted to argue your corner.

[Markyt]

Highway Code clearly states that trailers and long vehicles etc may need additional room on roundabouts, and that drivers need to be aware that they may straddle lanes . Looks like the other driver hadn't read it.

http://www.findleys.co.uk/highway_code/roundabouts.html

[redux]

When I'm towing a trailer, I just won't be alongside a lorry at a roundabout, and quite often hold back when I'm just in a car. It's easy enough to accelerate past them after the roundabout, so why hurry before that.

And some other drivers just don't appreciate the path that the trailer will take, and the difference between rear and centre-axles. So if yours is centre-axled, they'll probably say the back suddenly swung out.

You'll need to talk to your insurers about rebutting any claim against you, but it may affect your no-claims bonus anyway. My broker once said to me, most disputes at roundabouts, the insurers just reckon it averages out to 50-50 and probably won't contest it.

[Mumstheword]

I dont know what advice the highway code gives in this matter, but I'd be tempted to take up both lanes at the approach to the r-abt if I was you in future.

Obviously you cant always do that:)

[Conor]

I dont know what advice the highway code gives in this matter, but I'd be tempted to take up both lanes at the approach to the r-abt if I was you in future.

Obviously you cant always do that:)

I've had to do that a lot. You wouldn't believe some car drivers. I've been carrying wide loads of steel plate which is low enough to turn their car into a convertable if they were to hit it yet they still try to pass me on a roundabout, even though it's obvious their car won't fit.

[cyclonebri1]

Hi Scully,
Your just not going to get the definative answer here I'm afraid as the details you have given are a bit confusing I'm afraid. Its of little account anyway as it's obviously going to be on insurance issue and you must leave it up to them to fight out responsibility between the 2 of you. Golden rule is not to accept responsibility, the insurers have that job.

Just 2 observations, people have kind of made the assumption that you were driving an artic, not your problem as you made that bit clear, but in actual fact it was an average size van and a trailor.

2ndly at least the situation is simplyfied, and this is an assumption on my part,by the fact that the trailor remained attached to your vehicle. The insurance liability for your van will then cover that. Had it become detached it's a whole different game.

Anyway once the insurers have a sketch of the road and vehicles etc the correct judgement should be made. If I were you I would get back there and get some photographs if possible with your or a similar vehicle negotiating the roundabout, take some measurements also. Best of luck with it but dont worry it will be sorted:beer:

[Conor]

Just 2 observations, people have kind of made the assumption that you were driving an artic, not your problem as you made that bit clear, but in actual fact it was an average size van and a trailor.


So because I'm a lorry driver, you think I'm so thick I don't know he was driving a van? I've made no such assumption. I was merely saying that I drive an artic and have to deal with this daily.

[cyclonebri1]

So because I'm a lorry driver, you think I'm so thick I don't know he was driving a van? I've made no such assumption. I was merely saying that I drive an artic and have to deal with this daily.

Yipee bait taken.

Lets look at this again, my post was addressed to the OP, you didnt ask for help for your problems.

You mentioned artics which has totally confused people, and has nothing to do with the OP

I deliberately did not address this to you and as such did not imply YOU had made any assumptions.

Hopefully that has cleared the air regarding to why I replyed to the OP in an attempt to provide clarity.:beer:




So now to you connor,

After your last onsluaght against me after again I asked the op to provide additional detail, numerous MSers contacted me to say what a !!!!!! you were. I disagreed, giving you the benefit of the doubt, unfortunately you have today confirmed what I suspected and others have confirmed.


I don't thing you are so thick as to not know if he was driving a van or a lorry, It doesn't matter. It appears that you are so thick that no rational minded individual would differentiate. I now just think that you are thick full stop.

Just IMHO of course,

Apologies to MSE, but jerks like this need to be told. Have a nice day connor

PS what a pity the swear filter does not allow the word wa..nk.r

[scully91]

I think Conor should take a back seat in this thanks. That would very nice nice of you. Im not sure if your just helping, or telling everyone your a trucker but i dont want a load of debate over what is NOT the problem.
I was in the left lane and my vehicle cut over into the right lane of a small roundabout (about 20 foot across)
If you want to look then put in tachbrook park drive into google maps and its the island where the road goes off into a massive car park and on the approach from the left i was where the black car is and the other person where the white car is right beside me but i MUST state i was well ahead of the other person and left the roundabout way before the car that is portrayed here as the white car and they just dived up inside me and it was way too late

[cyclonebri1]

I think Conor should take a back seat in this thanks. That would very nice nice of you. Im not sure if your just helping, or telling everyone your a trucker but i dont want a load of debate over what is NOT the problem.
I was in the left lane and my vehicle cut over into the right lane of a small roundabout (about 20 foot across)
If you want to look then put in tachbrook park drive into google maps and its the island where the road goes off into a massive car park and on the approach from the left i was where the black car is and the other person where the white car is right beside me but i MUST state i was well ahead of the other person and left the roundabout way before the car that is portrayed here as the white car and they just dived up inside me and it was way too late


Ah the inside of the roundabout, effectively your offside.

Honestly I don't think it matters at all what we think, it sounds like you were using as little road space as you could, and there was no space for another vehicle alongside. If the other party disputes this they will have to take it to insurance co's. Stand your ground but have all the measurements and details at the ready.

No one injured it seems so don't worry so much;)

[Conor]

Have a nice day connor



I take it that basic literacy wasn't taught at your school? Nouns are capitalised. And it's one 'n' in Conor...it's not as if my name isn't clearly displayed.

[mrbadexample]

I take it that basic literacy wasn't taught at your school?

Nor yours, by the look of things. :rolleyes:

Nouns are capitalised. And it's one 'n' in Conor...it's not as if my name isn't clearly displayed.

Proper nouns are usually capitalized. The convention of capitalizing all nouns was previously used in English, but ended circa 1800.

Sentences should not be started with a conjunction. :rolleyes:

[anewman]

Here's a link to where OP describes on Google maps to make it easier http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=tachbrook+park+drive&sll=53.798256,-1.522683&sspn=0.006793,0.006942&ie=UTF8&ll=52.280322,-1.547085&spn=0.001759,0.001735&t=h&z=19&om=0

It sounds to me from OP's description like the other driver hit them by not staying behind leaving OP room?

[cyclonebri1]

Here's a link to where OP describes on Google maps to make it easier http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=tachbrook+park+drive&sll=53.798256,-1.522683&sspn=0.006793,0.006942&ie=UTF8&ll=52.280322,-1.547085&spn=0.001759,0.001735&t=h&z=19&om=0

It sounds to me from OP's description like the other driver hit them by not staying behind leaving OP room?


I'd go with that, but it is going to be a case of one sides argument against the other. Deny, and the responsibility, give your reasons as clearly as you can, supply the google link with penned in positions etc, and let the ins take care of the rest. Do I take it there were no witnesses?, I guess not as they would have to be in exactly the right place to actually see what happened. If not state this to the insurers as the other side may try to raise one out of the woodwork.