Lorry driver tried to run me into oncoming traffic

Justintime · 12 Jul 2019 at 01:09

Basically, i was at a 2 lane junction, one with left and straight on lane and right and straight on lane, on the other side it was a single lane. I was in the right behind a lorry. He proceeded forward and went straight and so did i. There was a haulage 6 wheeler in the left lane who sped up and proceeded to push in and push me into the oncoming lane, scuffed rear arch and small dent on the front passenger door. initially i just thought he pushed in the mirror though. I stopped, beeped and flashed and he sped away.
We stopped at a traffic light, i went to ask wtf, he then told me i was in a right only lane, but i've googled it and its not then as i'm walking back to my car in front of the lorry he inched it forward as if to hit/intimidate me, he did this twice.
I called the haulage firm and they told me they will check the camera and get back to me tomorrow and the guy even agreed even if was in the wrong thats not the way to be doing things and apologised on behalf of the company.
I was given a number by a witness who later texted me back when i texted him, he said that i should call the police as its some form of assault and leaving the scene of an accident.
Makes me mad as i had my 9 month old in the very area near the wheel arch he scuffed (back passenger seat, passenger side) and it could have been a worse outcome.

Any ideas on a likely outcome? Just stressed about this.

jsmoke · 12 Jul 2019 at 01:12

Claim insurance. Maybe a noob driver who doesn't know what's he doing.

Thekwango · 12 Jul 2019 at 01:14

Call Police, give give account of what happened and witness contact details.
Or
Make your way to said haulage company and kick several colours of crap out of the piece of **** driver.
Probably best go with the first option though.

Edit: as to outcome, anyone’s guess. I’d hope the haulage firm sack him and the police arrest him on multiple charges and make them stick.

Rroff · 12 Jul 2019 at 01:22

Can't offer advice but because of stuff like this I got a cheapy dashcam

Diagro · 12 Jul 2019 at 07:25

I'd welcome this. Because I'd happily have my car repainted by their insurance

But, ofc, if my son was with me I would be going crazy at them.

singularity · 12 Jul 2019 at 07:38

Call 101 see what they say, at least get a reference number.

wesimmo · 12 Jul 2019 at 07:41

Yeah he needs charging with whatever they can do if your account is how it happened.

Using a lorry as a weapon, even if he'd technically been in the right, is plain dangerous.

Semple · 12 Jul 2019 at 07:43

I would certainly report it to the police. They don't take intimidation lightly, especially from a trucker!

Assuming the company has cameras on the vehicle that covered the incident, I'd hope it captured everything and they offer a full repair.

Quartz · 12 Jul 2019 at 08:18

Report it to the police and save your dashcam footage. Ideally, once you've copied yuour record to your PC, take out the SD card and put it in a safe place as evidence.

Nasher · 12 Jul 2019 at 08:29

And dont edit or delete anything on the SD card.

ChroniC · 12 Jul 2019 at 08:57

Does the single lane have a blend in arrow? Otherwise a Google maps might be interesting as surely there must be some arrows on the floor to say who has the right of way. Wouldn't like to say unless I saw thst, you could have been in a right turn only lane.

Maundie · 12 Jul 2019 at 10:47

Without knowing the signage and arrows on the roads it's impossible to apportion blame, also normally as lorries are much larger than cars and take a lot more to stop it's self-preservation to allow them to proceed whilst ranting from your vehicle.

I guess without dash camera footage your only hope is that the witness collaborates your story otherwise insurance wise it could just go 50/50.

Also the amount of people who try to undercut lorries (and dangerous overtakes) is insane because they don't want to get behind one (I'm also usually guilty of this as well) and you can understand why some truckers get frustrated.

Justintime · 12 Jul 2019 at 18:12

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.623...4!1stexpM-SZosD09lgXU87cHg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

lane in question

singularity · 12 Jul 2019 at 18:17

Justintime said:
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.623...4!1stexpM-SZosD09lgXU87cHg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

lane in question

OMG police immediately

Also unlucky , it amazes me how some people actually behave, I always assume I'm not the lucky one and they do it all the time

Rroff · 12 Jul 2019 at 18:22

I'm assuming the lorry essentially undertook you closing the gap in the left lane? while the highway code [now] recommends merge in turn under these circumstances I'm not quite sure what the situation is here - I assume you were ahead of him entering into the merge point?

Justintime · 12 Jul 2019 at 18:26

Yes was ahead of him, not even 'rushing' just doing about 15mph following the other lorry then he sped up with the righteous indignation that it was a right only.

200sols · 12 Jul 2019 at 18:32

Regardless who was right or wrong, using the lorry as a weapon of intimidation is wrong, shame you have no camera footage I expect he would be looking for a new job if you did.

singularity · 12 Jul 2019 at 18:38

Justintime said:
Yes was ahead of him, not even 'rushing' just doing about 15mph following the other lorry then he sped up with the righteous indignation that it was a right only.

hmm so it was deliberate then

Justintime · 12 Jul 2019 at 18:49

singularity said:
hmm so it was deliberate then

Oh i have no doubt of that.

ShiWarrior · 12 Jul 2019 at 19:10

i bet you wish you had a dashcam now

i would call 101, tell them what happend , get a reference number