This is the problem with 2 busy lanes of traffic moving along at the same speed.

One lane , straight on only, outside lane for straight on or turn right.

Woman in outside lane suddenly decided she'd rather be in the inside lane last night,,,while I was 2/3rds alongside her.

Decison to be made within a nano micro of a fraction of a second.

Hit her in the side as she swoops in front of me, with the possibilty of turning her car over, or head for the kerb.

Think I made the right decision by belting and mounting the kerb tbh

After the initial shock and noise of alloy munching against concrete, and general stuff flying around the cabin, I got out to inspect the damage..

Mrs woman obviously saw this and almost unbelievably stopped in a lay by 200yds further on.

I trundled after her, and she actually admitted full responsibilty with full apologies, stating that she didn't check her mirror, didn't look sideways, in fact, didn't look at all.

Can't get more honest than that I suppose.

My hands were shaking that much that she wrote her details down for me, and is willing to pay for the damage...new alloy at least, as the existing previously unmarked one is totally mullered now.

My fiath iin humanity has been partly restored after this tbh.

Lets hope she sticks to her word and doesn't try to back out of it.

At least she accepted blame initially.

IMHO you made the right choice.

Let's hope she also does ?

IMHO you made the right choice.

Let's hope she also does ?

Indeed. Didn't really have time to think and consider the options tbh. Just seemd the natural thing to do.

Thinking back after, it could have been horrendous, probably more so for her than me if I'd hit her broadside.

Wagon following her on this busy route for N.Wales turn off.

If she'd flipped....well I really don't want to go there tbh

Well a new alloy, tryer and probably a wishbone (a few hundred quid there) is a lot less bad than a T-Boned other driver.

Rigt decision but such a shame that you were forced in to it :(

New alloy, wishbone and alignment at least I would have said, get it inspected by a professional and keep in touch with witnesses in case she backs out.

All the best

Poor driving by the woman but all fairness to her, she has stopped and started to sort it out with you. How many would have just driven away?

Poor driving by the woman but all fairness to her, she has stopped and started to sort it out with you. How many would have just driven away?

99% I'd have thought.

I think I was more shocked that she pulled over than the incident itself on reflection.

I really couldn't get angry with her as she was so full of remorse and sorrow the second she got out of her car.

Just been past the same spot. Nice white gouge on the kerbstone now to remind me every time I pass it...every day.

Going into the main stealer tomorrow to see if I can chuck it on their ramp for a butchers for a couple of minutes.

Seems to be driving straight and ok...touch wood.

Hopefully she won't change her mind about paying when you tell her the cost to replace the wheel and repair any suspension and steering damage.

It's very common for people to offer to pay, and in their mind they think it's going to be £100 all in, and later deny all knowledge when it's not.

Hopefully she won't change her mind about paying when you tell her the cost to replace the wheel and repair any suspension and steering damage.

It's very common for people to offer to pay, and in their mind they think it's going to be £100 all in, and later deny all knowledge when it's not.

Indeed.

Heard of sevaral cases similar to this over the last few months...accepting FULL responsibilty at the time, and then they start talking to 'bar room lawyers'

Tell you something. Incidents like this should be used for extending the never ending learning curve of the hazards and consequential ammendments to your driving skills.

Not actually my fault granted, bur what did I actually take on board to hopefully prevent this scary momenet from reoccuring?

Do NOT dither around half way alongside another motorist,out of their full view that's what.

Either hold right back, get fully alongside, or undertake, as permitted in two lanes of steady or slow moving traffic, especially when the outer lane is specific for turning right too.

I have learnt from this. Think I may even start using my headlights in such circumatances in future too.

Edited 4 August, 201213 yr by Mr Ree

Tell you something. Incidents like this should be used for extending the never ending learning curve of the hazards and consequential ammendments to your driving skills.

Not actually my fault granted, bur what did I actually take on board to hopefully prevent this scary momenet from reoccuring?

Do NOT dither around half way alongside another motorist,out of their full view that's what.

Either hold right back, get fully alongside, or undertake, as permitted in two lanes of steady or slow moving traffic, especially when the outer lane is specific for turning right too.

I have learnt from this. Think I may even start using my headlights in such circumatances in future too.

I think you've definitely hit the nail on the head with this post and in this "where there's a blame there's a claim" culture we live in, the first thing we often hear in the event of an accident was "it wasn't my fault", even if in such situations most of the accidents can be avoided with a bit of forward planning and defensive driving. As you've highlighted, considering whether you are visible to other traffic if they choose to use their mirrors and also what your options are if they don't can make the difference between an accident occurring or not. It's also looking for clues that might lead you to suspect that they are looking to change lanes (where is the driver looking, does the chassis language suggest they know where they're going, using the brakes where you wouldn't expect them too, indicator flicks on, etc) The horn can also be used as a pro-active tool, rather than the more common reactive one, to improve your "visibility".

Chris

It's strange Chris.

I like many others have probably, no, definately drawn up half way alongside another vehicle in these circumstances many many times, but the incident that I described has never ever happened to me before, even though it has run through my mind....what IF.

Crazy that it's taken this to actually wake me up and to be more defensive in future.

I shudder to think what might have been if it had been a HGV, but there again, I suppose we all expect HGV drivers to be as proffesional and careful as we'd imagine the vast majority are.

Using mirrors is an absolute essentiality, 100%

So no whiplash then ?

Surely you should be paying her for this valuable service ?

Just as well you didn't have her-in-doors in the "2nd ****ie" seat at the time, otherwise you be shelling-out and getting your ore-illes bent.

Nick

So no whiplash then ?

Surely you should be paying her for this valuable service ?

Just as well you didn't have her-in-doors in the "2nd ****ie" seat at the time, otherwise you be shelling-out and getting your ore-illes bent.

Nick

Someone has suggested that the woman might try suing me for post traumatic distress!

Someone/something has really got it in for me this week!

Just been 'attacked' by a herd of cows on their way back on the road for milking.!

Doesn't appear to be any damage, but too wet to see for proper inspection.

Felt the van rock and had to readjust the mirror casing.

Next?

Volcanic eruption directly underneath me p'raps?

should have mooved over

should have mooved over

Very funny.

Couldn't. Only just wide enough for two cars and a cow. Hedge's both sides too.

I rear ended a bloke on the motorway once, everyone all stopping, I didn't realise and tried to go for a gap that someone else did.

Luckily he was a decent chap and accepted my offer to replace his bumper (because that was all that was damaged) and he sent me a bill once he had gotten it repaired.

Cost me £300 to sort his car out.

The real kicker was: - it cost me £700 to fix mine

Lesson learnt...

Will interesting to see if she follows it all the way through and pays up.

I deal with one or two insurance claims every month on the fleet and have to say that 95% of the time what someone says and then does are two completely different things. We had one minibus catch the rear of a 10 year old beetle last week. It broke the indicator light which the driver was more than happy for us to fix. A week later and she is in a credit hire car at £100+ per day and has aready visited the doctor complaining of whiplash. It's a joke. Credit hire, no win no fee and costs even for a £300 fix and a £2k fake whiplash claim will be a claim of £5k plus...

They say one thing then speak to others who say it's worth thousands and in goes the claim.

They all start out with the best intentions, until they think about it and talk to others.

I run a drive recorder now and when someone pulls out on me I brake as hard as possible. Then if there is no space we have an accident.

I don't go off the road or change lanes in an emergency because you end up going from an accident that isn't your fault to one that is.

Such as in this case. If she decided to stop contacting you it's down to you driving into the kerb.

I shall find out within the next few days when the alloy gets repaired.

Regardless as to who pays, it's GOT to be done as it looks a mess, albeit only in a cosmetic way.

£35 quoted, and I know the guy, and seen the work he does for BMW, and they won't have 2nd rate work done for their fussy customers.

Still no sign of whiplash here btw.