Just had an accident, who was to blame?

Pestilence · 10 Mar 2014 at 16:26

Hades said:
I'm voting 50/50. While it is the responsibility of the person behind to overtake safely and you should avoid overtaking on a junction, the incorrect indication may have caused the other driver to believe you would be turning left not right.

In that case, though, you just slow down slightly and allow the car ahead to complete their turning maneuver. Then they're gone from your path and you can speed up to your heart's desire.

There's no need to start overtaking and crossing lanes like a twit when you can just wait six seconds.

Hades · 10 Mar 2014 at 16:34

Pestilence said:
In that case, though, you just slow down slightly and allow the car ahead to complete their turning maneuver. Then they're gone from your path and you can speed up to your heart's desire.

There's no need to start overtaking and crossing lanes like a twit when you can just wait six seconds.

I totally agree. But my guess is that the insurance company would argue that the left indication contributed to the drivers belief that the car in front was about to slow down before turning left. So it would be safe to overtake on the right.

Sasso · 10 Mar 2014 at 17:01

jumping on the bandwagon giving the blame to the guy behind, but yeah that left indication could have thrown him off as stated, some people do it to indicate to the people behind to pass/overtake.

but yeah see what they guy behind did was ASSUME it was safe to overtake. never assume xD always ANTICIPATE. Anticipate that the guy in front has no clue and give them lots of space xD that and driving like he wanted to feel your insides didn't help

SarGara · 10 Mar 2014 at 17:26

Pestilence said:
In that case, though, you just slow down slightly and allow the car ahead to complete their turning maneuver. Then they're gone from your path and you can speed up to your heart's desire.

There's no need to start overtaking and crossing lanes like a twit when you can just wait six seconds.

There might not have even been a left turn though, we don't know if the OP was at a cross roads with turning on both sides or just a side road he intended to turn into.

If there wasn't a left turn and he indicated left, then it reads as in a slower car indicating to pull over to allow a faster traveling car to pass (which he did rightly or wrongly).

Pestilence · 10 Mar 2014 at 19:03

SarGara said:
There might not have even been a left turn though, we don't know if the OP was at a cross roads with turning on both sides or just a side road he intended to turn into.

If there wasn't a left turn and he indicated left, then it reads as in a slower car indicating to pull over to allow a faster traveling car to pass (which he did rightly or wrongly).

Ah, yes; quite true!

Still, in that event I fall back to the old stalwart: Never trust an indicator!

Antony101 · 10 Mar 2014 at 19:12

Indicating is only showing that you intend to turn and slow down for said turn.

You don't indicate to let the person behind you know he can floor it past you. You are expected to indicate and inform the other road users and pedestrians of your intent to change direction, but you also hold the right to change your mind.

It's not a sign posted and marked lane. You don't have to commit.

Destination · 10 Mar 2014 at 19:12

His fault, indication does not matter, he overtook which caused a collision.

Kenai · 10 Mar 2014 at 19:28

The indicator issue is almost a side issue, the bit that I think will make it go 50/50 is the fact you didn't check your mirrors before committing to a maneuver as instructed by the highway code.

Obviously you shouldn't have to as no one should be overtaking at a junction but as demonstrated aptly by this particular gentleman, they still do.

Madeddie · 10 Mar 2014 at 19:39

Would agree not your fault ; you may of caused some slight confusion but he should have kept his distance, if he did then there would have been no damage.

PMKeates · 10 Mar 2014 at 19:45

Potential for 50/50 here if you formally state you indicated left. I know of a case that went 50/50 after much wrangling because the driver behind refused to acknowledge any indication, even though the driver in front insisted they did indicate correctly.

SarGara · 11 Mar 2014 at 09:53

Antony101 said:
Indicating is only showing that you intend to turn and slow down for said turn.

People indicate to pull over on the side of the road in 30 zones all the time without turning off, parking on the street, pulling up outside shops etc. You wouldn't overtake on the right in this situation then? :confused:

Pestilence · 11 Mar 2014 at 10:00

SarGara said:
People indicate to pull over on the side of the road in 30 zones all the time without turning off, parking on the street, pulling up outside shops etc. You wouldn't overtake on the right in this situation then?

Nope, you wouldn't. You slow down and wait for them to complete whatever it is they're doing. If they've pulled in fully to the side but are still protruding, then you of course may need to cross the line a little to get around them (ergo, 'overtaking'), but to just assume they're going to complete the action they've started without issue and impatiently gun it out round the right is asking for... well, exactly what's happened here.

Haggisman · 11 Mar 2014 at 10:39

SarGara said:
People indicate to pull over on the side of the road in 30 zones all the time without turning off, parking on the street, pulling up outside shops etc. You wouldn't overtake on the right in this situation then?

Not instantly, no. If you're at all unsure about what the person in front of you is doing, back off and give them the space to complete their manoeuvre. There are too many idiots on the road trying to cause accidents because they're so desperate to shave 2 seconds off their journey time. :rolleyes: