If you hit a car in front of you it will normally be classed as you to blame as you did not leave enough room to stop if anything was to happen which unfortunately sounds like the case. Sometimes annoying but it's the way the insurance companies work.

 

oops........think you are stuffed there.
still a lesson learned, early morning everybody is half asleep and pissed about having to go to work, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.
what pisses me off, is when roundabout is blocked, I let people who want to go round out, only for them to pull in front of me and block the whole thing :evil:

 

I'm not sure how the freelancer driver thinks you cut him up if you were behind him, but either way it's your responsibility to make sure you have ample stopping distance between you and the car in front, so I don't think there's much point you trying to fight it.

I think in the heat of the moment people sometimes don't realise that the best option might be to just miss their turning or exit if they find themselves in the wrong lane.

 

Yep, I think that's your fault in the eyes of the law.

 

Unfortunately, as far as the law is concerned, you're at fault. Especially without any further evidence to prove otherwise. If you had dashcam footage, or could somehow get traffic cam footage of the accident, and it showed that the Freelander effectively 'caused' the accident due to unnecessary braking, you *may* have a slight chance of fighting it (although, even with such 'evidence', you'd probably still be found at fault for not leaving enough space).

 

Yeah, I am going to have to get a dash cam now.

It was more frustrating as both guys and even my insurance company claim I was in the wrong lane, I even went back just to reassure myself I could go straight on in the right hand lane..but I guess that's irreverent anyway.

 

How many exits did you pass before your exit?

Accidents on roundabouts are notoriously difficult to prive.

 

Hi,

Just the 1, there is work going on at the roundabout, so looking at Google maps there WAS only 1 lane for straight on (left), but I went back today and there is now 2 lanes (must have been changed in the past fortnight) but no sinage on the exit to say 'merge in turn'

tbh it's the fact I didn't leave enough stopping distance, I'm pissed the guy did it on purpose, but I should have just backed off and let the left lane clear before exiting the RB. I won't even go in the right lane next time..especially if other motorists don't seem to realise what's going on!

 

Sounds like you could be a victim of a "Cash for Cash" scam......

 

Sounds like you could be a victim of a "Cash for Cash" scam......

Yeah, think my daughter is in that boat right now too. Merc kept braking in front of her, and eventually she hit it. The impact only cracked the numberplate of her Focus, and put a small split in the Merc's valance. Fortunately she took pics, as the Merc driver is now claiming for a complete rear bumper, cross member, battery earth strap, and a broken neck!!! Takes the p*** totally.

To the OP, judging by the costs on a similar impact I had last year, you're up to about £2k in damage there I suspect. Did you take pics of the Freelander too? Make sure you send them to your insurance company, but it's the whiplash claim you have to watch out for. My bump was at about 5mph, similar damage to yours but no bonnet damage, and my insurers are expecting to have to pay out about £4K to each of the two passengers. Also takes the p***.

 

I would say even if you don't have a dashcam take lots of pictures, and if your smartphone has a voice record function try talking to all the other parties involved, asking what their version of events was, and record it. The insurance company might have to ignore it as inadmissible evidence, but I think it all helps apportion blame.

In 2012 I ran into the back of a taxi at about 20mph on the M25 (50mph limit due to roadworks) which had braked to avoid a car in front of it which stopped suddenly for no apparent reason. Talking to the lead car driver (an asian gentleman) he said he stopped because he was feeling unwell and thought he was going to pass out, so stopped to avoid an accident possibly killing someone. Due to the roadworks there was no hard shoulder, so he stopped in the inside lane, conveniently right beside a load of road workers (aka 'witnesses'). He declined an ambulance or doctor afterwards as he was feeling "much better".
Here's my recording:

 

Sounds like you could be a victim of a "Cash for Cash" scam......

Ive been thinking about this as a Freelander and a bike would be ideal vehicles for it..also they guy had his insurance details on his phone abut 30 seconds after the incident. But the fact he was looking in his mirrors swearing at me whilst slamming on makes me think it was just road rage, and if there was a Saxo he wouldn't have seen it stop anyway as he was too busy looking at me waving his hands out of the window!

 

Man up, accept you drove into the back of somebody and just deal with it and move on, it may sound harsh but its the way it is. Make sure your insurance repair will use second hand parts aswell, otherwise if parts and labour come to move than 55% market value they will write the car off

Good luck sorting it out.

 

It is a difficult one...

As someone said above i think sometimes people need to not be afraid to just go round the roundabout or miss the junction etc...

Is it worth a letter to the council saying there is 2 ahead lanes onto the roundabout and only one off?

Sounds like it is just going to be something that you have to accept though. As others have said i hope you took several photos of both cars...

 

If your in Leeds, was it by any chance the horsforth or Rodley roundabout because they all have lanes that merge into one and are shockingly congested in the morning with the constant roadworks at the moment.

Your at fault sadly but one of those situations that happen a lot and you often think sometimes when driving if the person slammed on would you stop in time probs not. Just unfortunate at the time.

Cheers

 

Hi,

Yeah was the Rodley RB. I might ring Colas (doing the work) just to let them know and try make it easier for other drivers.

I did accept liability etc yesterday, just discussing it more than anything.

 

My dad wash involved in a crash for cash, luckily it was his friend driving not him. Pretty much the exact same situation as you've described! Some one pulling off a roundabout slamming brakes on claiming there was another car. Saying that about 4 people got out holding their necks :lol:

The police investigated and found out the driver had got 6 claims on the go or something stupid. So if it was a crash for cash it'll soon flag up.

Annoying thing is I think you still have to claim off your own insurance. The car my dad was in had someone go into the back of them at the same time so they managed to claim some back off that person's insurance.

But I think you just got unlucky and had some prick slam their brakes on because they own the road and are always in the right.

 

So, my car is a total loss. I asked about 2nd hand parts and my insurance company wouldn't do it, I asked about repairing the bonnet + bumper and they wouldn't do that either...

I am hoping I will be able to buy it back as I can get a headlight off ebay and the garage my Dad works at reckon they can have it sorted for about £300/£400.

...does anyone have any experience of Tesco insurance? Do most companies offer this on a CAT D?

 

I'm amazed that even for a car of it's age they have written that off!!

Was the car previously a CAT D?

 

i had me Honda civic type r written off for a dented wing. like one on ebay for £40 would have had it sorted. its loonacy!

document the damage with pics. then when you wish to re-sell etc you have evidence of the damage and that it was minimal and may not take such a knock price wise.

 

I'm amazed that even for a car of it's age they have written that off!!

Was the car previously a CAT D?

I know, it was in mint condition too (bodywork and interior) 69k on the clock, not a CAT D either.

 

They wrote a 55 plate V6 TT of for a minor bump?! Madness!

Insurance companies make no sense! They should start repairing cars and lowering insurance premiums. Instead of wasting money writing off perfectly good cars!

Best you can do now is wait for their super low pay out offer reject it and wait for the real one to come then buy the car back and repair it.

 

ps I was with Tesco insurance also!!!!!! when I managed to get hold of the engineers report they had priced up a new wing. headlight. bonnet. there was zero damage to them at all apart from a light paint mark that would have been buffed out. they write cars off for fun!

 

They had it valued around 4.5/5k (insured for 5.5k)

Although to buy a similar car in this area I am looking about 7k on Auto trader (there is only 2 atm..both from dealers)

 

they have probably prices for a new bonnet/bumper/headlight. plus the hours for repair. sent it over the edge - but surely it must be close!

deffo buy it back and repair it, be a shame to move on only to find it back on sale in a few months on autotrader after a lick of paint and a few new parts.