3Rd Party Liability Dispute - BUS Company

poobear16

Ok I was hit in the rear back passenger door by a small bus who completely caved in the door of my Picasso. I was travelling behind the bus on a normal two way road and this particular bus should have indicated to turn right into a road on the r/h side enabling any other vehicles to drive along the nearside (L/H side) of the bus safely. This particular bus however indicated to pull over to the left hand side of the road and stop also where a bus stop is, however this particular bus stop on the left isnt designated for this particular bus in question. Therefore had no reason to stop here firstly and secondly it isnt a "Hail & Ride" stop either. No one got of or on the bus either. Anyway I drove round the outside of the bus and my vehicle was two thirds past the bus when the corner of the drivers cab impacted with my rear passenger door causing enough damage to write my car of. I parked up safely and requested his details he refused to provide his name and stated that all I need was the reg number of the bus and his bus company. Great I also obtained a witness whilst there. Now I have since been told that they are disputing liability! I have requested the CCTV footage directly from the bus company in question but I am yet to receive it funny that. Is it normal for bus companies to dispute this when its so clear cut. Also I have not even seen the bus driver in question to date but the bus is still be driven about with the minor damage on the bus:o

InsideInsurance

There sounds to be a lot of noise in your description of the circumstances which you really should lose as reading it gave me a perception of what you were going to say which you wouldnt have liked to hear my response based on that perception. Where the bus normally goes/ if it can stop at other stops or not is totally irrelevant and including it may not help your case.

So much more simply.....

You were following a bus. It indicated, pulled into a bus stop and stopped. You overtook the stationary bus and whilst doing so it pulled out from the stop hitting your N/S/R door?

Presumably you are also alleging that he didnt indicate that he was pulling out either.

You need to wait to hear what their version of events is. If you believe there is CCTV and they arent willingly sharing it then do a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act of the CCTV for £10, though the rules for SARs of CCTV is complex it may assist in getting it for you.

Quentin

If they are disputing liability then your insurance will presumably be involved as they will want to claim off you if they consider you liable.


So make sure your insurer is informed of the incident.


If you have comprehensive cover then it may be easier to make a claim off your own policy, if not then if you have legal cover see if that can be used to pursue your claim against the bus company.

kingstreet

poobear16 wrote: »

I drove round the outside of the bus and my vehicle was two thirds past the bus when the corner of the drivers cab impacted with my rear passenger door

Was the bus moving, or stationary?

forgotmyname

kingstreet wrote: »

Was the bus moving, or stationary?

That was my thought from the OP it reads that it may have been a case they overtook and caught the bus. But not liable.

As mentioned the fact it wasnt his stop has no bearing on the incident. Maybe his stop was occupied?

Was it moving?

rs65

As has been said, a lot of irrelevant detail. Can you expand on this bit?

poobear16 wrote: »

Anyway I drove round the outside of the bus and my vehicle was two thirds past the bus when the corner of the drivers cab impacted with my rear passenger door causing enough damage to write my car of.

Did you hit it? Did it hit you?

poobear16

Ok sorry if I have confused some people. Ok the particular bus in question indicated left and pulled over to the left then stopped at a bus stop on Road "A" that wasn't designated for him and secondly isn't NOT a hail and ride stop either. At this point no one got on or off the bus. The particular road in questions safely allows other cars etc to pass on the o/s of the buses at stop A. I proceeded to pass the bus on the o/s as he wasn't indicating to pull out at which point he decided to pull out and hit my rear passenger door. What ever way you look at this he has done the following: failed to use his indicator, failed to use his mirror and failed to look over his shoulder. The particular bus stop for this bus is in a road directly opposite on the r/h side of the road so basically he should have been in the middle of the road in the filter lane indicating right as his bus stop "B" is 150-200 yards down in a completely different road.

poobear16

kingstreet wrote: »

Was the bus moving, or stationary?

The bus was stationary at the bus stop then decided to pull out at which point I was already passing him so too speak

poobear16

rs65 wrote: »

As has been said, a lot of irrelevant detail. Can you expand on this bit?



Did you hit it? Did it hit you?

He drove into me

poobear16

InsideInsurance wrote: »

There sounds to be a lot of noise in your description of the circumstances which you really should lose as reading it gave me a perception of what you were going to say which you wouldnt have liked to hear my response based on that perception. Where the bus normally goes/ if it can stop at other stops or not is totally irrelevant and including it may not help your case.

So much more simply.....

You were following a bus. It indicated, pulled into a bus stop and stopped. You overtook the stationary bus and whilst doing so it pulled out from the stop hitting your N/S/R door?

Presumably you are also alleging that he didnt indicate that he was pulling out either.

You need to wait to hear what their version of events is. If you believe there is CCTV and they arent willingly sharing it then do a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act of the CCTV for £10, though the rules for SARs of CCTV is complex it may assist in getting it for you.

This is exactly what happened and yes failed to indicate also the bus company dont understand what he was doing as this was NOT his bus stop. I have requested the CCTV and to no avail. Insurance company are now dealing with it. Dangerous driving and driving without undue care and attention as my insurance company puts it.