Wife Forced Off Road By Supermarket Lorry

[Squink]

I suspect I know the answer to this, but looking for opinions. My wife got forced off the road a couple of weeks ago by a lorry from a major supermarket chain cutting over three lanes on a busy roundabout. There was no contact, but my wife had to drive up onto the verge to avoid being crushed and in the process sustained damage to a front tyre. Since she drives our children round in this car I changed both tyres so she'd have a matching front pair and duly advised the company in question that I'd like them to pay the £110 cost for two tyres.

They are asking me to provide more information, but now I am concerned that if I pursue it this will be logged in a central insurance database and I'll be obliged to list it as a 'no fault' claim for her next renewal, thereby pushing her insurance price up for the next five years. She's not long passed her test so this would probably add up to far more than the price of the tyres.

Am I shooting the family finances in the foot by pushing them on the matter?

 

[[TW]Fox]

This hardly seems worth it for 100 quid given the risk as you say of it progressing to a claim or being outright dismissed anyway due to no evidence.

 

[Semple]

Any witnesses, or dashcam footage of the incident? Did your wife get the reg plate of the lorry?

I would imagine this would go down a route of lack of evidence. If it's one of the big three chains, they must get hounded with claims all the time from people claiming damage.

 

[Squink]

This hardly seems worth it for 100 quid given the risk as you say of it progressing to a claim or being outright dismissed anyway due to no evidence.

I generally agree, but he left my wife in tears and also had the temerity to sound his horn at her after the incident. All of which leaves me a bit angry. I'd initially hoped they'd just chuck some vouchers at me to avoid their good name being besmirched and to make me go away, but apparently not.

 

[Squink]

Any witnesses, or dashcam footage of the incident? Did your wife get the reg plate of the lorry?

I would imagine this would go down a route of lack of evidence. If it's one of the big three chains, they must get hounded with claims all the time from people claiming damage.

She got the lorry number and we've had a letter of apology, but I've been told that the driver denies the incident. Naturally enough, most people would do the same.

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

I worked for Sainsbury's online for many years and people would claim all sorts against our drivers. "damaged my gate" "hit our wall" "scratched my car" etc etc. Whether or not the driver actually owned up and there was evidence, almost every time they'd pay-out whatever the demand was.

Works even better if you say you're a customer and will shop elsewhere if this isn't sorted.

Chances are if you keep pursuing, send them the tyre invoice etc. they will just send you a cheque for the tyres and your insurance will never be the wiser.

I'd also take your fight to the ceo if you feel like you are being fobbed off.

 

[Nasher]

Keep pushing them and they will pay out. It's cheaper for them to pay for a new tyre than waste valuable man hours arguing with you over it. Especially if you keep escalating it. It's peanuts for a corporation like that.

 

[Frozennova]

I'm playing Devils advocate a little (We don't know the road or the circumstances) but most experienced Road users would have given a lorry a wide berth on a roundabout knowing full well that they do need to swing wide and need both lanes on a lot of roundabouts.

I wouldn't entertain passing a lorry on a roundabout until I'm absolutely sure of his Road positioning

 

[GinG]

Sounds like the lorry would have been turning, wife came up alongside him not giving enough berth for him to swing out as they do.

Your word against theirs I am afraid. Lack of experience maybe.

 

[GinG]

I'm playing Devils advocate a little (We don't know the road or the circumstances) but most experienced Road users would have given a lorry a wide berth on a roundabout knowing full well that they do need to swing wide and need both lanes on a lot of roundabouts.

I wouldn't entertain passing a lorry on a roundabout until I'm absolutely sure of his Road positioning

Haha great minds

 

[Mujja]

I'm playing Devils advocate a little (We don't know the road or the circumstances) but most experienced Road users would have given a lorry a wide berth on a roundabout knowing full well that they do need to swing wide and need both lanes on a lot of roundabouts.

+1 because as the OP say's, she is a new driver and this left her in tears.

 

[Squink]

I'm playing Devils advocate a little (We don't know the road or the circumstances) but most experienced Road users would have given a lorry a wide berth on a roundabout knowing full well that they do need to swing wide and need both lanes on a lot of roundabouts.

I wouldn't entertain passing a lorry on a roundabout until I'm absolutely sure of his Road positioning

This is a proper big roundabout, as wide as a motorway and controlled by lights on the roads leading onto the roundabout and also with lights at various stages around it. As one set hits red, the next hit green immediately. The lorry driver was going right and was in the right hand lane, went through a set of lights just ticking onto red (time is money, pal) as my wife was joining the roundabout. He then cut across all three lanes into the left hand lane where my wife was. He simply didn't see her in his haste to jump a set of lights and save himself 2 minutes wait. She's only part time so this muppet cost her two days wages before she even got to work.

My only concern is claiming off them and then being obliged to declare it as a no fault accident.

 

[Rroff]

I'm playing Devils advocate a little (We don't know the road or the circumstances) but most experienced Road users would have given a lorry a wide berth on a roundabout knowing full well that they do need to swing wide and need both lanes on a lot of roundabouts.

I wouldn't entertain passing a lorry on a roundabout until I'm absolutely sure of his Road positioning

I used to sometimes get a lift (far more comfortable than a bus or taking the train - sooo much leg room ) with the drivers when visiting remote sites if they were going my way - incredible how little consideration some drivers give to lorries - I know not everyone can understand the needs of manoeuvring a vehicle like that but some stuff is just so utterly stupid and lacking in common sense its unbelievable.

If its anything like where I worked they should have tracking of the lorry and if you can provide a time/date and place that matches up and proof of the damage they'd usually pay up within reason.

 

[Squink]

For the avoidance of doubt you could comfortably get three articulated lorries around the roundabout side by side without them cutting across lanes. It's for the supermarket's insurance team to decide whether they believe me or not. It's for OCUK motors to advise whether it'll be financially bad for us in the long run.

 

[p1RATE]

Have you given them any personal information? Reg and your wifes name? If they dont have this then it will never get logged as an insurance claim. I would avoid handing that information over if at all possible.

As there was no contact and there is no real evidence of the driver doing something reckless you don't actually have a case against them to pursue it. You are entirely relying on their good will.

If i were in your position i would chalk it up to experience and move on thankful that it only cost £100. Continue pursuing it by all means but personally it wouldn't be worth my time.

I suspect as you said the lorry beeped at your wife afterwards there was perhaps some lack of judgement on her part but that's just speculation, particularly as he is a professional driver and she has only recently passed her test. But everyone seems to drive around in a bubble of rightness

 

[Iamzod]

Are their lorries not fitted with dash cameras? I see no end of HGV's with cameras on the back now, i'd be surprised if they didn't.

What roundabout is it?

 

[muon]

Already on the roundabout or entering the roundabout on the same entry as the HGV?

If it's the former then obviously the HGV should give way, but if it is the latter then no sympathy. Should give it plenty of space if driving behind, not drive up to it's side.

 

[Squink]

What roundabout is it?

Testo's roundabout. The lorry coming from the Tyne Tunnel side, my wife coming from the Newcastle Road entry. Note that her lights were green and the only way there should have been moving traffic coming from her right was if they'd skipped a set of lights on the roundabout itself.

I've more or less decided not to pursue it. I'll simply not shop at the supermarket the driver was representing

 

[norm]

Forced off the road?? What a wild exaggeration. Articulated lorries are slow lumbering beasts especially on roundabouts. If you can't anticipate their movements and stay out of their blind spots you shouldn't really be on the road.

 

[Squink]

Forced off the road?? What a wild exaggeration.

So if a lorry that was two lanes over, indicating right suddenly cut left over two lanes while running parallel to you, you would allow it to hit you? Or would you take evasive action even if you ended up on the verge? It's not always possible to anticipate other drivers especially if they are doing something the opposite of their indication.