Thoughts on accident, who's at fault?

Norman_Castle

Witnesses stating the van mounted the kerb to undertake would help you.

londonTiger

z1a wrote: »

Because if you do you get hounded by ins. co. constantly by phone, then maybe asking you to go to court as a witness.
I will never do this again unless there is a serious injury involved.

I was simply asked to give my version of events over the phone and then send back a written statement.

It's hardly being hounded. Insurance company are very careful when contacting witnesses, as was the case when I was involved in the accident and I asked them to speed up contacting the witness and the insurance company told me they have to be very careful to not annoy them otherwise the witness might decide not to bother.

They will contact and leave a voicemail and then wait for witness to get back (give them ample tyime before contacting witness again).

You will NOT be asked to go to court as a witness becuase minor accidents never go there - it's very expensive for both insurers.

Also, have some curtosy, you wouldn't like it when you have been a victim of a collision on the road and the car behind you who saw everthing, casually overtake you and speed off.

You should burden yourself with the responsibility to be a witness to an accident if you see it. Just like you are forced to be burden with dealing with an accident when someone drives into you.

z1a

"You will NOT be asked to go to court as a witness becuase minor accidents never go there - it's very expensive for both insurers."

Oh, I must have dreamed it then, because I WAS asked if I would be willing to attend.

Amazed you know more than me about the incident I witnessed.

mattyprice4004

T-Sil wrote: »

ooooookay I think I am going to step away from this thread for now. It's gotten a bit OTT honestly.

Thank you to the people that replied, I do appreciate all of the views. I didn't come here looking for an argument so I am going to leave it there.

Loosely translated as you can't take criticism for your (obviously lacking) driving skills?

Instead of running away, take the information given and put it to good use. You made a stupid move, another stupid driver was there too, stupid driver x2 = crash.

Jesus, if someone gives me constructive criticism I take it on board and thank them, not throw my toys out of the pram like a 2 year old.

foofi22

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Loosely translated as you can't take criticism for your (obviously lacking) driving skills?

Instead of running away, take the information given and put it to good use. You made a stupid move, another stupid driver was there too, stupid driver x2 = crash.

Jesus, if someone gives me constructive criticism I take it on board and thank them, not throw my toys out of the pram like a 2 year old.

Doesn't sound like he's throwing his toys out the pram to me, there's only so much 'analysis' from strangers on the internet someone can take.

Although don't let that stop you having a go at him!

Jamie_Carter

T-Sil wrote: »

I would say I was middle to left of the lane, because there were two cyclists riding double width that I had spotted on approach to the turning..

Maybe you should have planned ahead more, and pulled in behind the cyclists. This would have protected your path, and made your intentions more clear.

Jamie_Carter

T-Sil wrote: »

Actually he mounted the curb on the left hand side. He was going fast too. My car was literally rolling, I was hardly driving it because I saw him speeding up alongside me.

Because of the parked cars on the left, it is single file road then when space becomes available I guess you can then filter out, even though the road markings are not there until later on.

I am not trying to shy away from blame here, I think it was a mix of lots of different things on a very busy road. I just wanted to get an idea of others perception

Did you not check your nearside mirror before moving to the left?

Jamie_Carter

OddballJamie wrote: »

From this view it does look like people seem to treat the road as two lanes
http://goo.gl/maps/3lEMf

Also on the other side of the road
http://goo.gl/maps/vTcWB

OP did the van come from the side road just before McDonalds?

Looking at the various photos, the OP had plenty of time after the parked cars, to pull in behind the cyclists. It appears that they may have been trying to pass the cyclists before turning left in front of them, but failed.

Jamie_Carter

DUTR wrote: »

In fairness, you don't know if anybody else witness an event that lasted a few seconds, and if nobody was fatally injured, why would someone want to have the added agro of completing statements and possibly attending court, it's all time for something they are not involved with.

Because they would probably expect you to do the same if the situation was reversed.

Jamie_Carter

T-Sil wrote: »

Thanks everyone for all of your responses. It certainly is interesting to read all of your different views!

I actually went back to the road today to have a look, and there is no way that section of the road is a double lane.

I do take on board the fact I could have been positioned better and closer to the left. However looking again at the distance between the end of the parked cars, the first left turning and the turning into Mcdonalds, it's probably only about 20 meters in total. I was going about 20mph, saw the cyclists, slowed down over to the left. I think it would have actually been impossible for me to have seen the cyclist and pull in behind them, without doing some sort of emergency stop!

Anyway, we will see what the insurance company say and hopefully the witness will back up what he said on the day - that he undercut me.

I am a bit concerned that I spoke to the witness AFTER the van driver had zoomed off. I hope he doesn't think I have made him up!! lol.

Thanks again everyone, I'll let you know the outcome!

This doesn't add up. Especially when you look at the photos.

Also you haven't explained how the van didn't hit the cyclists who had just passed you???