A friend has been in an accident...
Discussion
Just got a text from my partners best friend, her boyfriend has been in an accident, no injuries but no witnesses and the old lady won't admit fault.
A small roundabout with two lanes on entry, two exits (left and right) and the right lane can be used for either. He took the right lane, was indicating left for the first exit (which has two lanes and is clearly marked) when te lights changed he went left and the old lady in the left lane hit him front passenger rear quarter, right along to front wing.
Police have said insurance will fight it out, insurance company have said it will probably be a 50-50 and they will lose 2 years no claims? This just seems b
ks, she had front end damage, he has full passenger side damage. She has entered his lane from the incorrect lane etc...
Surely insurance companies can see when things look so obvious? They don't even sound like they want to argue too much!
Any advice anyone can give on a good way to approach this? The old lady even said 'I don't know the area very well but you hit me'?? What??
A small roundabout with two lanes on entry, two exits (left and right) and the right lane can be used for either. He took the right lane, was indicating left for the first exit (which has two lanes and is clearly marked) when te lights changed he went left and the old lady in the left lane hit him front passenger rear quarter, right along to front wing.
Police have said insurance will fight it out, insurance company have said it will probably be a 50-50 and they will lose 2 years no claims? This just seems b
ks, she had front end damage, he has full passenger side damage. She has entered his lane from the incorrect lane etc...Surely insurance companies can see when things look so obvious? They don't even sound like they want to argue too much!
Any advice anyone can give on a good way to approach this? The old lady even said 'I don't know the area very well but you hit me'?? What??
In reality I think it would go 50/50.
Although lane wise your friend might be correct, I'd always be ultra defensive on a roundabout where the 2 left hand most lanes allow a left turn.
Roundabouts and their usage (and signage) varies a lot - sometimes the Left Hand Lane is for left and straight on, sometimes left only.
Although lane wise your friend might be correct, I'd always be ultra defensive on a roundabout where the 2 left hand most lanes allow a left turn.
Roundabouts and their usage (and signage) varies a lot - sometimes the Left Hand Lane is for left and straight on, sometimes left only.
McHaggis said:
In reality I think it would go 50/50.
Although lane wise your friend might be correct, I'd always be ultra defensive on a roundabout where the 2 left hand most lanes allow a left turn.
Roundabouts and their usage (and signage) varies a lot - sometimes the Left Hand Lane is for left and straight on, sometimes left only.
+1Although lane wise your friend might be correct, I'd always be ultra defensive on a roundabout where the 2 left hand most lanes allow a left turn.
Roundabouts and their usage (and signage) varies a lot - sometimes the Left Hand Lane is for left and straight on, sometimes left only.
CoolC said:
So the old dear was in the left lane, which is a left turn only, but wanted to go right?
Even so, I'd be very nervous being in the right lane wanting to turn left.
Maybe she just wanted the next exit?Even so, I'd be very nervous being in the right lane wanting to turn left.
OP - can you find out which roundabout it was and post a Google maps link? It's the only way we can give a clearer analysis.
I've nearly, but not quite, had a couple of accidents like this when turning off a roundabout. Prevented by looking to make sure there was no-one coming up on my left hand side with the intention of carrying on around the roundabout in the outermost lane. There are people, especially frightened people, who think it's safer to go 3/4 the way round a roundabout in the outside lane all the way.
singlecoil said:
There are people, especially frightened people, who think it's safer to go 3/4 the way round a roundabout in the outside lane all the way.
Yes, I see it quite often. On my way to work there are a few roundabouts on a section of dual carrigeway. The bulk of the traffic is going straight over and both lanes are indicated as being for straight over traffic. However on more than one occasion I've seen a car join a roundabout in the LH land and go to take the third exit, 3/4 of the way around, cutting up a car in the RH lane going straight over. It pays to observe the behaviour of any driver on the left if you intend to go straight over in the RH lane. It's normally possible to predict if they're are going to do something silly. Donatello said:
Just got a text from my partners best friend, her boyfriend has been in an accident, no injuries but no witnesses and the old lady won't admit fault.
A small roundabout with two lanes on entry, two exits (left and right) and the right lane can be used for either. He took the right lane, was indicating left for the first exit (which has two lanes and is clearly marked) when te lights changed he went left and the old lady in the left lane hit him front passenger rear quarter, right along to front wing.
Police have said insurance will fight it out, insurance company have said it will probably be a 50-50 and they will lose 2 years no claims? This just seems bks, she had front end damage, he has full passenger side damage. She has entered his lane from the incorrect lane etc...
Surely insurance companies can see when things look so obvious? They don't even sound like they want to argue too much!
Any advice anyone can give on a good way to approach this? The old lady even said 'I don't know the area very well but you hit me'?? What??
Is your friend's boyfriend an inexperienced driver?A small roundabout with two lanes on entry, two exits (left and right) and the right lane can be used for either. He took the right lane, was indicating left for the first exit (which has two lanes and is clearly marked) when te lights changed he went left and the old lady in the left lane hit him front passenger rear quarter, right along to front wing.
Police have said insurance will fight it out, insurance company have said it will probably be a 50-50 and they will lose 2 years no claims? This just seems b
ks, she had front end damage, he has full passenger side damage. She has entered his lane from the incorrect lane etc...Surely insurance companies can see when things look so obvious? They don't even sound like they want to argue too much!
Any advice anyone can give on a good way to approach this? The old lady even said 'I don't know the area very well but you hit me'?? What??
Whilst it does seem the old lady is more at fault for the actual collision, it's fairly naive driving to assume she would be turning left. Experience would teach you that you're always at risk turning left from a right lane, even if the road allows you. I've been in that situation before and my gut instinct has made me perform a 'go around' the roundabout.
mrmr96 said:
TheEnd said:
If he was in the right hand lane, he'd need to cut across the left lane to exit, and it looks like he did and cut up the woman.
Did you even read the OP?He clearly states that the markings indicate you can take the first exit from the right of the two entry lanes.
Not sure on fault myself. I think 50/50. She was in the wrong lane, but he cut into her from the sound of it.
What he really needs to do is to drive defensively. By having someone next to you on the roundabout you put yourself at risk. Be slightly in front or behind them you have a bit of room to manoeuvre, especially when performing what is not a natural route on a roundabout.
What he really needs to do is to drive defensively. By having someone next to you on the roundabout you put yourself at risk. Be slightly in front or behind them you have a bit of room to manoeuvre, especially when performing what is not a natural route on a roundabout.
TheEnd said:
mrmr96 said:
TheEnd said:
If he was in the right hand lane, he'd need to cut across the left lane to exit, and it looks like he did and cut up the woman.
Did you even read the OP?He clearly states that the markings indicate you can take the first exit from the right of the two entry lanes.
surveyor said:
Not sure on fault myself. I think 50/50. She was in the wrong lane, but he cut into her from the sound of it.
What he really needs to do is to drive defensively. By having someone next to you on the roundabout you put yourself at risk. Be slightly in front or behind them you have a bit of room to manoeuvre, especially when performing what is not a natural route on a roundabout.
Yep, no matter who is to blame, an accident is always inconvenient, and if if you win, you lose, in respect that you have a car that has been repaired, as opposed to one that wasn't.What he really needs to do is to drive defensively. By having someone next to you on the roundabout you put yourself at risk. Be slightly in front or behind them you have a bit of room to manoeuvre, especially when performing what is not a natural route on a roundabout.
I was always taught ...
1. Not to get alongside people on a roundabout (opk, not always possible, but I stick to it when it is)
2. Don't overtake on a roundabout (ok, massive ones are fair enough, but not little ones)
3. If exiting from the right hand lane - make sure no one can hit me if they do anything they shouldn't, if in doubt, go round ...
There is a r/about on my way home, two l;ane in, and both lanes can exit straight ahead.
The above has saved me numerous times from people going right from the left lane, which is very clearly against the road markings.
M
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