Side-swiped during overtake

[theboss]

Involved in a minor collision this afternoon. The scene is a NSL rural A road, a mile-long perfect straight. I’m car 4 behind 3 other cars with a large gap between cars 1 and 2 doing 45-50. There is an oncoming vehicle still some distance away. I plan to overtake cars 2 and 3 then slide into the large gap to let the oncoming car pass, before I take the lead car.

As I’m passing car 3 immediately in front of me the driver has a similar idea and pulls out whilst simultaneously indicating. I brake and sound horn whilst moving right but she comes all the way into me making unavoidable contact.

At this point we’ve both slowed, the oncoming vehicle is obviously still moving towards us so I pull in ahead of the car which just collided with me and we pull over a mile or so up the road in a village to swap details.

On inspection my car miraculously has what appears to be very minor damage with some dent to the front N/S wheel arch and slight damage to the alloy. The woman’s car has considerably more damage to both her driver’s and O/S passenger door.

I’m not sure how this is likely to play out with insurers. She claimed I was “in her blind spot”, we exchanged details and left it at that. Now I’m wondering if the story is likely to change and blame apportioned to me.

Anyone had any similar?

[theboss]

Thanks all

Good point re suspension - I only just had new front lower wishbones replaced a few months ago. I’ll have the whole setup checked out. It feels fine to drive but something could have taken a blow.

[theboss]

Oakey said:

My brother had this happen when he was on his motorbike. Same scenario, he was overtaking slow moving traffic and a female driver had the same idea and pulled out on him causing him to crash. It went to court and he was found at fault although he thinks the copper who attended knew the woman who pulled out and that he was stitched up.

The thought certainly did cross my mind that a motorcyclist in my position would have been very vulnerable indeed. Luckily I was wrapped in a 2t steel cocoon which didn’t flinch when driven into.

[theboss]

Didn’t think it would go away that easily.

I put my car in for a repair quote with BMW. New M5 front wing and a wheel refurb + new tyre where my car was sideswiped rapidly turned into several thousand pounds and my excess is £1000.... so I let their claims management team pick it up, they obtained an admission of fault from the third party and went off and had the work done.

Now the third party insurer is trying to put me at fault for this no doubt so they can share the cost with my own insurer 50/50.

Presumably all the crap I signed from the claims management co makes me liable for their fees if it doesn’t get settled.... fun and games...