At fault for accident?

Helpmeforum

Hi I'm new here so if I've done something wrong just politely let me know . So earlier I was in an accident on a roundabout and after calling my insurance company they immediately sent me an email saying that I'm likely at fault, I disagree with this decision and don't understand how they could come to the decision so quick.

The roundabout was single lane and the exit Road was three lanes, as I was leaving the roundabout but before completely on the exit Road the rear side of my car got hit by another car. Now I looked in my mirror and was indicating left to be in the left most lane (and no-one was in my mirror) so unless they sped up from behind me to get in the same lane there shouldn't have been an accident (remember the roundabout is single lane). The insurance has said I cut them up but how could I cut someone up who wasn't there at first and shouldn't have been there. Am I really at fault or have they come to an incorrect decision. I just want more opinions on this as I feel it's extremely unfair. Many thanks and sorry for long post.

Manxman_in_exile

"Rear side"? Do you mean "near side"?

Helpmeforum

Sorry, The rear passenger side of my car and the front driver side of theirs.

facade

Helpmeforum wrote: »

Now I looked in my mirror and was indicating left to be in the left most lane (and no-one was in my mirror) so unless they sped up from behind me to get in the same lane there shouldn't have been an accident

There are large area around the car that you cannot see with the mirror- these are called "blind spots".


The plan is to try to adjust all 3 mirrors so that the areas they show overlap, but there is still an area close to the rear of the car in line with the roof pillars that is plenty big enough to hide a car. You can sometimes see the hidden vehicle with a glance over your shoulder in the direction that you are about to move.


Still, I'd expect more like 60 (you):40 (them) on the blame, as you have got to be pretty stupid to follow close behind and to the side of someone on an island and not expect to get cut up, and indignantly claiming "They cut into my lane" after the crash is less effective than simply braking to let them move across and avoiding it

G_M

Since you say the roundabout was single lane, and you were still on the roundabout when the accident happened, I don't see how you could have cut the other driver up.


He drove into the rear of you.


He may have been in your blind spot, as explained by facade above, but tat would only be likely if eiher


1) he was in an adjascent lane into which you moved (and you say it was a single lane roundabout) or
2) he had just joined the roundabout and drove into you - and clearly he should have given way since you were already on the roundabout.


But given that your explanation here is somewhat ambiguous, it seems likely that your explanation to your insurer was also ambiguous - hence their (possiby erroneous) decision).

waamo

Have you got a google street view image of this single lane roundabout that has an exit with 3 lanes?

Marvel1

Helpmeforum wrote: »

Now I looked in my mirror and was indicating left to be in the left most lane (and no-one was in my mirror)

In your blind spot maybe.

alfie1950

If your insurance company think you are at fault you probably are.
At the very least it would go 50/50 so you would lose your NCB and face a rise in premiums anyway.

Helpmeforum

Sorry it is very difficult to explain, it happened on the roundabout but we were both trying to exit into the same lane. He wasn't there at first but was when I started the maneuver. I appreciate all the replies and would share more however after a recent call with the insurance company, even with a dispute I'm liable unless I can prove he was speeding. Only 'proof' I have is the plastic trim of my car being shunted towards the front by an inch or so. Also seemed odd that the first thing the other driver said to a random persons car he just hit was, it's okay I'm losing my license due to speeding anyway XD.

Obviously I'm just stressed and wanted more views on the matter but now I know nothing can be done it's just something I have to deal with unless I find cctv in the area.

DoaM

The only way you can be liable (where a 3rd party hits the rear of your vehicle) is if you changed lanes to make the exit off the roundabout. (i.e. cut across into their lane - which it sounds like they are alleging). So to allow us to confirm your thoughts you'll need to give us the Google streetview link to the place of the incident.

As you're a new forum member you'll need to drop the http and www parts, and maybe break up the link. Someone here will fix it into a clickable link.

Helpmeforum

Ww (dot) google (dot) com (Forward Slash) maps (FS) place (FS) B3063,+Bournemouth+BH8+8SJ/@50.7327896,-1.8724979,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4873a1e5ed8d09a9:0x1684fd3c6f0f2ffa

I came from the right lane of the road opposite the one with three lanes