Car insurance problem - what are my rights?

vaio

tincat wrote: »

..........I did not turn in the face of oncoming traffic. There was one lane of oncoming traffic, and I was patiently sitting in the dedicated right turn lane. When the van in the oncoming traffic lane stopped to let me through, should I have not gone? ........

you did turn across oncoming traffic and should have waited/gone slowly until you could see.

Would be a different story if there were traffic lights but the fact a van let you through does not give you right of way.

As there is an inevitable claim on the way (which is almost certainly going to go against you) your insurance will want paying for the whole year.

You say you have a new policy on hubby's car, make sure they are aware of the earlier accident

tincat

vaio wrote: »

you did turn across oncoming traffic and should have waited/gone slowly until you could see.

Firstly, thank you for at least answering my questions.

I did go slowly. Once I saw the cyclist coming, he was about 20m away, (this was when my bonnet was already blocking his path). There was no way I could get out of his way fast enough, and as I was moving forward, he hit my passenger door. So I know he covered that 20m in about 2 or 3 seconds.

I don't see how the best driver in the world would have been able to avoid what happened as there was no way to see him or any other cyclists even had I waited 5 minutes as the van and the other cars blocked any sight of the inside lane. The only way the accident could have been avoided was if the cyclist had looked up.

Would be a different story if there were traffic lights but the fact a van let you through does not give you right of way.

Fair enough. What could I have done differently?

As there is an inevitable claim on the way (which is almost certainly going to go against you) your insurance will want paying for the whole year.

You say you have a new policy on hubby's car, make sure they are aware of the earlier accident

They are thanks

noh

What you could and should have done is waited until you had a clear line of sight.
You took a chance and edged across slowly. Many of us may have done the same.
Unfortunately the fault is yours it doesn't matter what speed the cyclist was travelling or whether or not he was looking ahead.

vaio

tincat wrote: »

......I don't see how the best driver in the world would have been able to avoid what happened as there was no way to see him or any other cyclists even had I waited 5 minutes as the van and the other cars blocked any sight of the inside lane. The only way the accident could have been avoided was if the cyclist had looked up.

Fair enough. What could I have done differently?......

With 20/20 hindsight and in a perfect world you would have waited until you could see.

Maybe let the van go as I'd guess that would have obstructed your view.

rs65

tincat wrote: »

The van driver and someone else were witnesses for the police and after a couple of months I got a letter from the police that they were satisfied I was not at fault.

What did the letter say? Did it say you weren't at fault or did it say they are taking no action against you?

paddedjohn

OP, as an aside, when you insured your husbands car with Shiela's wheels did you tell them you had ncd to use?

tincat

paddedjohn wrote: »

OP, as an aside, when you insured your husbands car with Shiela's wheels did you tell them you had ncd to use?

Do you mean no claims bonus?

Yes - I had to insure hubby's car about 4 weeks after the accident. He's already moved to USA as had to start work, and we were told once he moved, the insurance couldn't stay in his name even though I was still here.

I included it as an incident when I got the quotations, and had to send them full details of the incident along with my previous 7 years no claims bonus. They accepted me as a client and my premiums are cheaper than they were with Budget. The incident is declared on my insurance papers.

paddedjohn

If your old policy is still running then you cant use your ncd on your new one, can you?

tincat

I don't know. First I've heard of it.

What does ncD stand for? Sheila's wheels know that the old policy hasn't been closed because of the possible claim, and they accepted my 7 years no claims bonus. They also know that the car I had the accident with has been taken over by my relative and is no longer mine so don't see what the problem is?

ETA: paddedjohn, are you suggesting I have done something wrong with the new policy? I have to go to bed now, so will have to reply tomorrow.

paddedjohn

You can only use your no claims discount on one policy at a time so you are currently using it on your first policy but Shiela's Wheels may well mirror your entitlement on this new policy.