The importance of Witnesses

CHR15

I had an incident where some guy crashed into me on a roundabout.
I immediately called my Insurance and emailed wtih a full narrative, google links, photos etc.

I was going straight across the roundabout, the guy to my right decided to take an early exit and hit me. I couldn't avoid it as the first I saw was his car clout my front wing (I did know he was in the lane but he should have gone the same direction I was travelling remaining on my right).

Sadly, despite all the witnesses behind, and those waiting to enter the roundabout, nobody stopped to offer to be a witness.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZY_MUKc7FQlWzh6xkybjuYxMB2nTGCld/view?usp=sharing

You will see from the above what he did, where I was going and how the lanes are marked.

This took place 4 Months ago and today I discover the other driver has lied to his insurers so I am left to share liability with this clown.

My first accident in 30 years of driving, not my fault but I have an At Fault claim against me. :mad::mad::mad:

Lessons to learn - Immediately video everything so you can capture reg numbers of witnesses.
Video the immediate discussion - He would have voided his own pack of lies if I had recorded the exchange of words afterwards.
Fit a dashcam (I have now).

Aylesbury_Duck

I think only the last of your recommendations would help in this instance. Insurance companies are not going to start tracking down people to ask for witness statements simply because you provide them with a registration. Filming/recording a discussion in the immediate aftermath might not work either. The other party could simply say that their garbled apology/admission was made in the heat of the moment and without properly reflecting on the accident.

CHR15

You're probably right but the discussion afterwards consisted if him insisting both lanes can go into the Retail Park, the whole disussion was about his rights to exit at that point.
He lied and said he never inteneded exiting but was going around the roundabout.

spiro

I had a claim like this some years ago. My insurance wanted to go 50/50 but I was pushing to go to court to prove I was not in the wrong. I spoke to their motoring legal department and he said the painted lines round roundabouts are not worth the cost of the paint. You always have to assume anyone is going to take any exit.

missile

Likely outcome in this situation is 50/50

Jackmydad

CHR15 wrote: »

You're probably right but the discussion afterwards consisted if him insisting both lanes can go into the Retail Park, the whole disussion was about his rights to exit at that point.
He lied and said he never inteneded exiting but was going around the roundabout.

I had one nearly 30 years ago. Definitely not my fault.
Witness lied. Probably been "got at" or was known by the other driver.
Whatever I was said to be "to blame" by the insurance when I (really!) wasn't.

Little you can do about it without proof.

Move on from it.

Crabman

I keep a paper pad and pencil in the central console but seriously question whether in the event of a collision I'd be able to note down reg numbers of the other party as well as witnesses. Around Birmingham the number of hit and run collisions is staggering, which may be coupled with the number of drivers being caught without a valid licence or insurance.

Seems that in today's world of serial and selfish liars, a front and rear dashcam setup is the only real foolproof option.

I've seen too many threads on here where insurers simply can't be bothered but wonder what happens if many customers push the cases to court (i.e. forcing the liar to commit perjury - a criminal offence).

missile

Crabman wrote: »

Seems that in today's world of serial and selfish liars, a front and rear dashcam setup is the only real foolproof option.
....

Best modification, I have made to my car. :T