Hi

I have just been hit by a 4x4 Freelander car, while on a roundabout. The geezer was in the wrong lane and then decided to take a left exit from the roundabout while i was in the left lane, taking the next exit. He dented my beautiful brand new (3 months) old Fabia. I was pretty traumised as i have never been in an accident and was quite upset afterwards. He claimed it was my fault as he said he was entitled to leave that exit (even though he was in the right lane approaching the roundabout!) and he says he was indicating left (which he wasn't!). He gave me his insurance details, but before departing he asked me to get a quote first and he will settle up before going to insurance.

Is this wise or am i better going through his insurance ? Someone has told me it will also bump up my insurance, although i am completely faultless.

Soles

Hard to say Solesister.

Firstly, which exit were you both taking relative to where you joined? If it was the first exit then, unless it's signposted otherwise, he should have been in the LH lane only, and if there are 2 "left turn lanes" he should have stayed in lane whilst exitting.

If it was the second exit, we get into some tricky territory, since there don't seem to be any witnesses, and there are issues regarding who created the overlap between the 2 vehicles.

If it was the 3rd or subsequent exit, I'd say it was your fault, because you were almost certainly in the wrong lane.

On the claim point, I'd be leary of accepting an offer to leave the insurance out, because that could well cause problems later. Also, just why is he offering to pay for your damage if you were at fault?

Thanks for your reply Ken.

He was in the right hand lane waiting to enter the roundabout, and i was in the left lane, he was taking the first exit and i was taking the second exit. I assumed he was either taking the same exit as me or going around the roundabout to a exit beyond me, hence that's why he was in that lane. The left lane was empty and that is why i went into it. I think he knows he was at fault, ie no indication and in the wrong lane and that is why he is offering to pay or not go through insurance. Surely that is a sign of liability or is he hoping we go 50/50 on this one.

I am now a bit wary of this affecting my chances of selling my car at a later date as insurances do record that the car has been in an accident, albeit, the damages is a dented passenger door.

Following that, he was very much at fault. Even if just for information, you must inform your insurance, but it shouldn't affect your NCD unless he raises a claim and basically lies.

I know this doesn't help you, but I could have been caught the same way.

People are doing this all the time on a big roundabout by me. They'll try to shift from the far right hand lane (3 lanes) to take the next exit and start getting all wound up when they realise someone who knows how to use a roundabout is in the left lane and blocking their path. I just keep on my way and make them wait until I've passed before they can exit, while they hold up all the other traffic in the right lane. The lanes are clearly painted with flow lines as well so you have to be seriously stupid, or just rude and ignorant in most cases, to get it wrong :confused:

I wouldn't accept his offer unless you've got all the insurance details and if he then decides to send you a personal cheque for the damage, wait until it clears. Your insurance shouldn't be affected at all. He might try to lie his way out of it but from what you say, there were only 2 lanes, he was trying to get to the 1st exit and your car is dented on driver side. Seems obvious what happened. Good luck

Edited 9 October, 200817 yr by Jigger72

I am now a bit wary of this affecting my chances of selling my car at a later date as insurances do record that the car has been in an accident, albeit, the damages is a dented passenger door.

Sorry, I misunderstood, it was your passenger door that got damaged? How did that happen then if you were in the left lane?

Sorry, I misunderstood, it was your passenger door that got damaged? How did that happen then if you were in the left lane?

I've only just noticed that too. In which case all bets are off, and everything else I've said is withdrawn unless it's an LHD car.

But how did the passenger door get knocked, unless, like you say, it was LHD :confused:

whatever the case go through your insurance company. if you dont straight awya and he messes you about and you try and claim later it may harm your chances of a claim going your way.

Sorry, I misunderstood, it was your passenger door that got damaged? How did that happen then if you were in the left lane?

Maybe a rear passenger door on the RHS?

Unless the O.P is getting rear driver's side door as the passenger's door.

Even if it is repaired through the insurance company this will not effect value come sale time. It will not be recorded unless they write it off for some reason.

You legally only need to tell the buyer if the ask but you don't need to tell the facts otherwise.

The fact he has lied already about indication etc then I wouldn't trust him to give you moey for the repair when not going through the insurance company.

25 sec penalty applied post race.

as for the claim. it will go 50/50 and no friend will be phoned.

without any witnesses then 50/50 would be my guess, even though he his obviously accepting it was his fault by not wanting to deal with the insurance. Give him 48 hours to cough up then go through the insurance (unless your personal excess is too high to make it worthwhile if it is 50/50)

I've never had an accident or claimed on insurance etc - but I cannot understand why it would be 50/50? The damage is there for the insurers to see on both cars. So how could it possibly be argued anything other than the freelander drove into the rear door? Did the OP somehow drive sideways into the freelander?!

Maybe a rear passenger door on the RHS?

Doh! Good call …

and he says he was indicating left (which he wasn't!).

Either way having an indicator on doesn't give you a right of way, it's up to you to check with the mirrors and over your shoulder before moving.

Taking the first exit from the right hand lane...

Erm what a ****. Also since you were there even if he did have the right to pull over, he should have checked his mirrors, which he obviously didn't.

To blame you is just rude and you should explain to him what a knob he is.

Big heavy car a freeloader, surprised you didn't get any soft tissue injuries

I'd insist go straight to your insurance and do as much as you can to not let them settle 50:50.

I'd say that the damage to the rear door of your car and the leading edge of his car would suggest that he hit you anyway so he will hopefully be on a sticky wicket.

Also go back to the roundabout and get pictures of any signs or road markings that indicate which way you can go from each lane.

It's fairly standard that you can go left or straight on from the left lane and also fairly standard that you can't take the first exit from the right lane.

It's fairly standard that you can go left or straight on from the left lane and also fairly standard that you can't take the first exit from the right lane.

I'd go as far as to say that you can't turn left from the extreme RH lane unless the only legal turn from that entry is a left turn!!

There are several roundabouts on the way to work on which the road markings allow a left turn from both the extreme left lane and the right lane. The road on the 1st exit (left) is a dual carriageway so lane 1, goes into the left lane and lane 2(right lane) goes into the right lane. The markings are such that the only lane to used travelling straight on or right is the right lane, the left one being strictly left only. The road layout is like this to help traffic at peak times and avoid unneccesay queueing.

Ok, if very well signposted to allow strangers to the area to sort themselves out for a stupid lane arrangement.