Car Incident - Who's liable?

jamesaudi

Hi guys, im after some advice regarding a collision a few weeks ago.

It happend on a roundabout with 5 exits (including the direction i was traveling from), i was traveling toward the exit directly opposite the one i was approaching from and was in the left lane, the one you would usualy use if you were continuing in the same direction.
I was traveling around the roundabout when a car pulled straight out infront of me, i had to brake extremely hard to just stop in time within inches of the person who pulled out infront of me. Then i was hit from behind by another vehicle. (on an angle. he hit the rear drivers side corner) luckily the person who pulled out infront of me had moved or i would have ploughed into them.
The driver who hit me claims i was in the wrong lane on the roundabout, but he admitted liability at the scene. saying he didnt stop in time. Nobody was hurt, i suffered minor whiplash (week off work after hospital visit)
Police were not called and no witnesses came forward although it was a busy time.
He is now saying its my fault and will not accept liability. Who is at blame?
Even if i was in the wrong lane should he not have been traveling at a safe speed/distance to stop. i managed to stop in time so why didnt he?

Anyone got any ideas? Many thanks

J

Burlesque_Babe

I would say he is. He didn't leave sufficient space to stop safely in an emergency.

jamesaudi

thats what i think, the direction of impace suggests he was creeping in behind me and was too close when i had to suddenly brake.

Should i contact him or is this likely to make things worse / stir things up

Many thanks

davetrousers

It is up to the insurance companies to decide who is to blame, simple as that!

You don't stand at the roadside discussing who was at fault!

raskazz

On the facts presented, the driver who went into your rear is at fault. He should have left sufficient stopping distance between his vehicle and your vehicle.

Riq

He is, regardless of lanes that cannot be proved.
What can be proved is he was driving too close to you.
He loses, you win.

imo.

raskazz

Do not contact the third party under any circumstances. Let your insurer deal with it all. If you do contact him in order to interfere with negotiations then you will probably be breaching your policy terms.

pinkpig08

I was always under the impression that if a vehicle hit you from behind it was their fault, as they should have left enough room to stop in case of sudden braking.

davetrousers

raskazz wrote: »

Do not contact him under any circumstances. Let your insurer deal with it all. If you do contact him in order to interfere with negotiations then you will probably be breaching your policy terms.

Yes I agree leave it it to the insurers.

jamesaudi

thanks raskazz. i wont contact the other party then.
It just seems my insurers are doing !!!!!!-all about it, ive been phoning daily and it makes no difference.
Driving me nuts.

jamesaudi

although there were no witnesses, he was with his partener. is she a witness or would her account be too biased to take into consideration?