Ask Me Help Desk - Traffic issue: accident

Traffic issue: accident

I approached a roundabout where the road is marked left lane to turn left, right lane for left and straight ahead. I was in the right hand lane going left and indicating appropriately. On entering the roudabout, a cyclist came from my rear left side to go staright ahead and as I turned he hit my front left wing. Have I done anything wrong? He now wants £165 to pay for the bike and damaged clothing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonylee11

I approached a roundabout where the road is marked left lane to turn left, right lane for left and straight ahead. I was in the right hand lane going left and indicating appropriately. On entering the roudabout, a cyclist came from my rear left side to go staright ahead and as I turned he hit my front left wing. Have I done anything wrong? He now wants £165 to pay for the bike and damaged clothing.

You are in the UK and I am a liability investigator in the US, but I'm going to tell you what my experience is.

You've got two lanes, one dedicated left (#1), one left OR straight (#2). You are in #2, making a left (which is legal and appropriate). Bike is behind you on your left (US driver's side, UK passenger's side) to go straight (in the dedicated left lane, #1) and turned into you.

You were in the proper lane. He was not.

I don't see any responsibility on your part. Your damage (and expenses) are HIS fault - as are his.

The only problem could be the "car not under control" insurance/legal argument, but I don't see that here. A reasonable person would not expect someone to continue straight from a left-hand turn only (#1) lane.

Do I have it right?

Thanks for clarifying that, Judy. My previous post was from misreading the question, so I removed it.

Under UK traffic law you MUST give way to the right, so the BIKE should have given way to YOU.
Also as he was trying to go straight on in a left turn lane he is also in the wrong.
AND failing to see your indication.
All told he is in the wrong and trying it on with this claim.

Best advice is to document everything and back it up with pictures.

This should help as well: http://www.findleys.co.uk/highway_code/roundabouts.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickJ

Thanks for clarifying that, Judy. My previous post was from misreading the question, so I removed it.

I actually had to diagram it out to make sure I was getting it straight. Bike has MORE responsibility here than in US because he approached from the left - not the driver's side but the passenger's side in the UK.

On a totally separate topic I find these 'round abouts to be very, very dangerous - I have at least one accident a week based on soemthing similar. For whatever reason when motorists find themselves in the wrong lane on a 'round about they simply panic (for some reason) and cut over instead of just going around again and getting into the right lane.

When I drive they make me cringe!

The UK has had them for many, many years and, as such, we're quite used to them.
There are one or two that change the game, but on the whole they are easy enough to use.
The USA uses lights on junctions in the same way we use roundabouts..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curlyben

The UK has had them for many, many years and, as such, we're quite used to them.
There are one or two that change the game, but on the whole they are easy enough to use.
The USA uses lights on junctions in the same way we use roundabouts..

- Maybe the "newness" is the source of the problems here (in the US). No one seems to remember how to drive when approaching one.

They are few and rather far between in my area (NY). I didn't realize they were so common in the UK.

I would think they are more expensive to install and maintain. Any thoughts? (I know it's off topic and maybe should be a discussion, but I am interested.)

They work pretty effectively in Italy where I have most of my experience with them... nothing is perfect... but traffic lights have their issues and stop signs have their own as well.

And trust me... Italian drivers will scare the hell out of a lot of people.

I've just never driven in counties where they drive on the wrong side of the road .

Traffic Islands (Roundabouts) help to keep the traffic flowing more so than lights do.
We utilise them a lot more, but we do rely on driver courtesy more than orders.
Always Giveway to the RIGHT ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothy

They work pretty effectively in Italy where I have most of my experience with them...nothing is perfect...but traffic lights have their issues and stop signs have their own as well.

And trust me...Italian drivers will scare the hell out of a lot of people.

I've just never driven in counties where they drive on the wrong side of the road .

Just for your info - "they" think WE drive on the wrong side of the road.

I, of course, agree with you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Just for your info - "they" think WE drive on the wrong side of the road.

I, of course, agree with you.

(Tongue in cheek) We do drive on the RIGHT side of the road... (pun intended).

tonylee11, if you were not cited for the incident, and you are in the right based on the above, then you should tell the rider of the bike that he was at fault and that you are not going to pay for his damages.