Had an accident in work car - Rear ended but was it my fault?

diable

gaz_jones wrote: »

My excuse (come on, everyones got to have one when posting on this board :rotfl: ) for my bad driving was a long day at work followed by a traffic filled journey home. My instincts kicking in and making me forget I was in an auto didn't really help either.

There is no excuse for bad driving, what would you say if you came up to a pedestrian crossing outside a school and instead of braking you sped up and run over some children, would you then tell the Police about traffic jams and a long day at work and laugh about it?

The van driver may be technically in the wrong as he didn't stop in time or may have been to close to you but I would not expect someone to suddenly brake for no apparent reason on a slip road where there is no traffic in front of that driver.

Jeeez, someone smashed in to the side of me on a roundabout spun me 180 degrees sending me backwards on the wrong side of the road and her excuse was "I don't think it was my fault as I didn't see you"

At the end of the day bad drivers kill people.

epsilondraconis

It is the fault of the driver that ran into the back of you.

Inactive

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Its got nothing to do with the OP's driving. The fault for the accident rests entirely with the driver of the van.

End of.

Agreed 100% the following drivers fault, he ran in to the back of a stationary car. end of.

Paradigm

gaz_jones wrote: »

On the form I have to fill out it asks who I feel is responsible for the accident. I feel its me but going by yours and everyone elses opinion I think maybe I should put his?

Of course you say it was his fault, it was! There is no excuse for running in the back of anyone, the van driver hasn't got a leg to stand on!

Ignore posts like this...

Trust wrote: »

probably go down to a 50/50

Him driving too close, inability to stop
You careless driving, you stopped away from a junction with no prior warning

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

You should bear some of the blame as it sounds like your poor driving/lack of knowledge of the vehicle was a major contributing factor.

Whether you are fully to blame depends on the gap between you and the van and whether he was neglient in being too close. whilst he should expect some stuff should he expect what you did?

both complete bull sh!te.

Perhaps the best post yet on why some people shouldn't be allowed to drive is this....

diable wrote: »

The van driver may be technically in the wrong as he didn't stop in time or may have been to close to you but I would not expect someone to suddenly brake for no apparent reason on a slip road where there is no traffic in front of that driver.

At the end of the day bad drivers kill people.

Yes bad drivers do kill people... I just hope I'm never in front of you on a motorway & have to brake when YOU don't expect it.

Are driving licences given free with sugar puffs these days?

Inactive

Paradigm wrote: »

.

Are driving licences given free with sugar puffs these days?

It would appear so, any driver that cannot stop in time for a vehicle that is stopping or has stopped for any reason is not fit to be on the road.

thescouselander

Of course its not the OP's fault, the van should have left enough stopping distance end of story. What if the OP had to do an emergency stop for some reason - the crash would have happened then too.

Hintza

Technically i think you are all correct but well done gaz for holding his hands up and admiting he was also at fault.

gaz_jones

Hintza wrote: »

Technically i think you are all correct but well done gaz for holding his hands up and admiting he was also at fault.

Thanks very much mate :beer: I know I was stupid to go for the clutch but instincts kicked in and because I have been driving a manual for the last 3 1/2 years my brain just blanked out it was an auto.

There is no excuse for bad driving, what would you say if you came up to a pedestrian crossing outside a school and instead of braking you sped up and run over some children, would you then tell the Police about traffic jams and a long day at work and laugh about it?

The van driver may be technically in the wrong as he didn't stop in time or may have been to close to you but I would not expect someone to suddenly brake for no apparent reason on a slip road where there is no traffic in front of that driver.

At the end of the day bad drivers kill people.

I know the OP doesn't make me sound like a good driver I feel I am a very competent driver. At that moment my driving was terrible because of the clutch incident but in general my driving is of a high standard.


There was traffic infront of me on the slip road however they were moving.








Thanks verymuch for all your opinions everyone. I am goign to ring the police and report it on my lunch break and having a meeting with work at 10am to discuss my worries. Apparanlty the company have left a message for me to clal them and 'they didn't sound happy' so I will tell the police about that too. I am not going to contact him (on the advice of a post on here) and just let the insurance company talk to them.


Thanks for the help everyone. I'll keep this thread updated.

Hintza

I remember a number of years ago a case reported in Germany (I can't remember the exact details) where a guy slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting a Dachshund and the judge decided that he was driving dangerously as hitting the Dachshund was preferable to slamming on the brakes in traffic. The argument then went on about what size of dog would have warranted hitting the brakes and i think they decided if it had been a German Shepherd then he should have braked. You can imagine the uproar that followed. :rotfl:

Paradigm

gaz_jones wrote: »

Thanks very much mate :beer: I know I was stupid to go for the clutch but instincts kicked in and because I have been driving a manual for the last 3 1/2 years my brain just blanked out it was an auto.

Been there done that Also the reverse... drove an auto for a few years then got into a manual & wondered why I was kangarooing to a stop, using the clutch helps

gaz_jones wrote: »

Thanks verymuch for all your opinions everyone. I am goign to ring the police and report it on my lunch break and having a meeting with work at 10am to discuss my worries. Apparanlty the company have left a message for me to clal them and 'they didn't sound happy' so I will tell the police about that too. I am not going to contact him (on the advice of a post on here) and just let the insurance company talk to them.


Thanks for the help everyone. I'll keep this thread updated.

Just tell the police the facts, DO NOT admit any liability, this is frowned on by all insurance co's!

At the end of the day it doesn't matter why you stopped... whether it's because you were unfamiliar with the car or you had seen Pixies dancing around a tree. The van driver should have been driving with Due care & attention & the fact he hit you shows he clearly wasn't!