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Lorrene10 · May 29, 2011, 09:50 AM

Hi, if there are two cars on a tight country lane with no white lines down the middle of it and trees on either side of them, it is tight to pass as both cars slow down to get pass and clip each others wing mirrors, is this classed as an accident and if either driver kept on driving is this classed as leaving the scene of an accident, and if it is reported to the police what would be the out come. Thanks

tickle · May 29, 2011, 10:05 AM

Clipping mirrors with minimal damage to either car, and I am talking EITHER car, how do you decide who was in the wrong if both cars were in the same situation and moved on ? I don't think you can class this as an accident, or hardly leaving the scene of an accident.

Tick

Fr_Chuck · May 29, 2011, 11:44 AM

If they hit ( assume clip means hit) each others mirror,
1. is there damage, broke mirror, scratched paint

If so yes it is a accident, very minor but still an accident.

As to whose fault, is the road wide enough for two lanes of traffic ? That would need to be measured and afirmed.

One of both should have completely stopped to allow safe travel

tickle · May 29, 2011, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

One of both should have completely stoped to allow safe travel

Yes, so it is basically a no fault occurrence. They are both to blame.

tickle · May 29, 2011, 02:03 PM

Have been thinking about this one, and one of the rules of the road is that the person on your right has the right of way. This applies to international situations as well and we don't know where the poster is from. So if she was on the right, then he/she should have given the right of way in a tight road situation. If she didn't, then she was at fault, or the other driver didn't, so where does that leave this situation. A gray area.

AK lawyer · May 30, 2011, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by tickle

... This applies to international situations as well and we dont know where the poster is from. So if she was on the right, then he/she should have given the right of way in a tight road situation. ...

Huh? Assuming it's the U.S. Canada, etc. each car was on the other's right. This rule would't help at all.

To answer OP's question:
1. Yes it's an accident.
2. Depending on the wording of the leaving the accident scene statute, it could be a violation of the same.
3. The police might have given both tickets for something such as careless driving. One or both drivers were at fault for failure to move over sufficiently.

I find it hard to believe that a public road would be as narrow as you describe, without "one-way road" signs or something. It's more likely that the road is wide enough for the cars to pass each other if done so carefully.

JudyKayTee · May 31, 2011, 05:59 AM

Well, the two categories are accident and deliberate event. I am assuming this is an accident.

I'm a liability investigator - BOTH parties are liable. BOTH parties were responsible for either pulling as far to their right as they could to avoid the accident or (if that did not allow enough clearance) not backing down the roadway (instead of both attempting to pass) until there was clearance or room to back off.

Either party could have backed up. There is no excuse for a Mexican standoff. Now, if someone argues that the road was wide enough for the vehicles to pass and one of them was too far toward the middle, that's an argument for accident investigators to look at. I'm just assuming what the OP says is true - the road is too narrow for two vehicles to pass.

I would find liability to be 50/50 - each party paying for his/her own vehicle.

If there is damage to the OTHER vehicle and you do not stop and exchange info you have left the scene of the accident. Damage to "you" and no damage to "them" - in NY (after you check) you can keep going. Why would you without getting their info? I have no idea - but people do just that.

tickle · Jun 1, 2011, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by AK lawyer

Huh? Assuming it's the U.S., Canada, etc. each car was on the other's right. This rule would't help at all.

Gee, actually if you think really hard you could assume it is UK. They drive on the right side, and some roads in the back country are actually just tracks, and at times one driver has to move as far over to the left, stop, and let the other pass as safely as possible.

AK lawyer · Jun 1, 2011, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by tickle

Gee, actually if you think really hard you could assume it is UK. They drive on the right side, ...

Those few that do don't last very long.

tickle · Jun 1, 2011, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by AK lawyer

Those few that do don't last very long.

Okay, so I'm reaching... left

Lorrene10 · Jun 2, 2011, 12:03 PM

Thanks for your answers, and yes this was in the UK, and I had no damage to my mirror it was only scratched, do know about the other car as he was more concerned with me leaving the scene of an accident.

JudyKayTee · Jun 2, 2011, 01:04 PM

Do know or don't know about the other car?

My advice still stands. I don't think the Country matters.

tickle · Jun 2, 2011, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Do know or don't know about the other car?

My advice still stands. I don't think the Country matters.

Glad I was correct about the location being the UK, AK. At least I got that part right, eh.

Judy, if you have ever driven in the UK on country roads you will know about the very narrow country roads, two cars cannot pass each other on some of them. Perhaps the OP was a visitor and didn't realize the implications of touring on the backroads of England, or perhaps the other driver was visiting and didn't realize what it entailed.

It is usually a breadth of say, seven sheep sometimes, and sometimes you have to vy for the right of way with several animals. :)

Tick

tickle · Jun 2, 2011, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Lorrene10

Thanks for your answers, and yes this was in the UK, and i had no damage to my mirror it was only scratched, do know about the other car as he was more concerned with me leaving the scene of an accident.

Which one of you was the visitor to the UK? Just interesting in knowing.

Tick

Lorrene10 · Jun 4, 2011, 06:52 AM

Hi tickle, yes you are right the lane was very narrow, this lane was probably made well before cars were on the road so it is not wide enough for one car in some places let alone two, and it was an oap that was the other driver and he did live in the uk it was just a clipping of two mirrors nothing more, with no damage that I am aware of.