Just had a crash, who's fault is it? Need advice please

sarahg1969

I hope the OP wrote down his version of events as soon as he could after the collision. The problem now is that so many people have commented, and he's had so much time to think about what might have happened, the story may well not be straight in his mind any more.

Jamie_Carter

sarahg1969 wrote: »

I hope the OP wrote down his version of events as soon as he could after the collision. The problem now is that so many people have commented, and he's had so much time to think about what might have happened, the story may well not be straight in his mind any more.

You are probably right. But he should know if he saw the other car indicating before the collision, or during.

dggar

sarahg1969 wrote: »

I hope the OP wrote down his version of events as soon as he could after the collision. The problem now is that so many people have commented, and he's had so much time to think about what might have happened, the story may well not be straight in his mind any more.

Presumably he gave an account to his insurance company shortly after the event on the 7th Oct. and they will have asked him some questions at the time.

I would have thought that any major deviation from his initial account would set off alarm bells with his insurance company.

redux

My insurer told me years ago that accidents at roundabouts tend to be settled on a 50/50 basis, as once they compare the stories which may or may not conflict it turns out to be nearly impossible to clearly attribute blame to only one party.

For my case at the time, I pointed out that the accident was actually not on a roundabout, but 100 yards before it, so that reasoning didn't apply to me.

demonted

A number of comments place an element of blame on the Driving Instructor!

Well, It's my believe that although there are two exit lane on the first exit, the second exit lane is for motorist who have joined the round at the previous junction who are intending on going straight on, it's not there to allow vehicles to overtake and take the same exit.

Although op states they remained in their lane, they did in fact cross the path of the diving instructor who also remained in their lane.

It's my believe that the driving instructor just like a truck or bus driver would do, is join the roundabout into the first lane, remain in first lane and only required to indicate on exit, however, the driver instructor was probably indicating right to show their intention as not exiting at the first exit and would have probably indicated left after passing the first exit if the collision had not occurred.

I'm sure even the highway code gives a similar example of remaining in the first lane and only indicating when approaching the exit.

From my own experience, all vehicles on the roundabout have priority when making an insurance claim, even if joined out of sight at another junction, the vehicle to join the roundabout last is normally considered to be at fault.

Tilt

If you look at the traffic island concerned you will see that lane 1 tapers off at each exit which means that if you intend to stay on the round-a-bout past the next exit, then you are in the wrong lane if you stay in lane 1. As each exit also has two lanes, then there should be no reason why a car in lane 2 (middle) cannot leave the round-a-bout at the next exit because any vehicle in lane 1 should be taking the same exit.

Jamie_Carter

demonted wrote: »

A number of comments place an element of blame on the Driving Instructor!

Well, It's my believe that although there are two exit lane on the first exit, the second exit lane is for motorist who have joined the round at the previous junction who are intending on going straight on, it's not there to allow vehicles to overtake and take the same exit.

Although op states they remained in their lane, they did in fact cross the path of the diving instructor who also remained in their lane.

It's my believe that the driving instructor just like a truck or bus driver would do, is join the roundabout into the first lane, remain in first lane and only required to indicate on exit, however, the driver instructor was probably indicating right to show their intention as not exiting at the first exit and would have probably indicated left after passing the first exit if the collision had not occurred.

I'm sure even the highway code gives a similar example of remaining in the first lane and only indicating when approaching the exit.

From my own experience, all vehicles on the roundabout have priority when making an insurance claim, even if joined out of sight at another junction, the vehicle to join the roundabout last is normally considered to be at fault.

I'm afraid the part in bold is wrong. The first lane is for vehcles taking the first exit (or second depending on road markings). If you are taking a third or fourth exit, then you should be in the right hand lane.

demonted

I disagree.

I do a similar movement/manoeuvre often, yet I have a quick car and I take advantage of its performance, yet I believe it's wrong as I'm
technically over taking the car to my left, although I remain in my lane, I have to ensure that the vehicle to my left is not driving straight on, thus not taking the first exit.

I believe on such a roundabout, regardless of lane markings, unless stated "only" the driving instructor can remain in that lane and take the second exit.

As for joining the roundabout in the second lane, that's for either exiting at the second exit (straight on) or exiting at the third exit.

Can you image a bus or truck doing what you suggest, joining the roundabout in the second lane then on exit changing lanes to be in left hand lane, due to the size of vehicle it's not really practical or acceptable, yet although cars do this often, that doesn't make it correct.

Imagine a bus joining the roundabout onto first lane, then change to the second lane while on the rounabout only to need to return back to the first lane to exit at the second exit.

Although, the op is referring to cars, I'm sure if the driving instructor was driving a bus, the OP would have accepted the manoeuvre by the driving instructor and held back.

After all, if the OP intended to use the first exit, why join the roundabout using and from the second lane ?

To drive quick, you have to think quick with eyes over your shoulder as well as using mirrors, it also helps to have a quick car too.

demonted

Jamie carter, only wrong by your definition
I base my findings on the highway code.

dggar

I thought we'd put this thread to bed.

These theoretical points would be better suited on this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4223115