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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think I have no liability here? (diagram attached)

532 replies

WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 12:46

I think I'm fairly sure on this but can't stop panicking so I thought I'd ask on here.
Friday night I had a car accident. It was a real shock and it's only now that I've stopped to think about it that I'm feeling really really cross.
In the diagram I'm the blue line, the other driver is the green line. The thick lines show where we went, the thin lines indicate where you would have expected us to be going. Given that the lady tried to tell me she'd been going straight on when obviously she didn't makes me wonder if she had a mad moment!
Anyway, this particular roundabout leads onto a bridge over a dual carriageway. On the other side of this bridge you can go left onto a local road, or right to join the dual carriageway.
When we joined the roundabout, the other car was to my left. Neither of us indicated before joining the roundabout, however I did indicate left after I passed the 1st left exit as I was planning to go over the bridge and turn right to join the duel carriageway. As I was about to leave the roundabout the lady turned in front of me to head back round the roundabout and I hit her in the side of the car. Slow speed, maybe 15 mph.
It turns out that we have the same insurance company just to complicate matters.
I'm pretty sure that she is liable for this accident, what do you all think?

YABU: you are liable
YANBU: you are not liable

AIBU to think I have no liability here? (diagram attached)
OP posts:
Thread gallery
38
tumblingdowntherabbithole · 30/06/2025 16:34

WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 16:33

She did move in front of me! As I came level with the hatched area on my right to exit she pulled across in front. That lane curves off the roundabout, and doesn't continue on the roundabout!

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You said she was in the hatched area, not that she'd pulled across you Confused

Original poster
WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 16:33

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 30/06/2025 15:54

@howaboutchocolate she didn't move in front of the OP - the OP crossed into her lane/area to exit the roundabout and smashed into the side of her.

She did move in front of me! As I came level with the hatched area on my right to exit she pulled across in front. That lane curves off the roundabout, and doesn't continue on the roundabout!

OP posts:
SockFluffInTheBath · 30/06/2025 16:28

There’s a huge roundabout by my work where you take the left hand lane for the 1st- 4th exits, middle for 5th, and right for 6th, but it’s signed and painted that way. If all else fails you have eyes OP, my daughter failed her driving test for not looking in this same scenario (thankfully no numpty #2 going for the same exit). I’d expect 50-50 from the insurance.

limescale · 30/06/2025 16:25

Jonesboot · 30/06/2025 13:01

As you were exiting at the second exit, also it's straight ahead, I've have expected you to be in the left lane to be honest. But I think you'll be knock for knock because even if she was in the wrong place, you are responsible for checking that your exit is clear.

That exit has 2 lanes.

omz · 30/06/2025 16:14

Also - OP, have you checked Google Maps to se how the lanes are marked (satellite view)?

cherrycherrypickin · 30/06/2025 16:07

LakieLady · 30/06/2025 15:54

My thoughts exactly.

If you'd checked your nearside mirror before turning OP, you'd have seen her.

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She wouldn't even have needed to check her mirror. The OP hit the other cars door so she must have been in front of the OP

BumpyWinds · 30/06/2025 16:04

ItsSoHot · 30/06/2025 16:01

Unless you’re at one of the roundabouts in Exeter where that is signed up as the correct routes. Causes chaos

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We have a Magic Roundabout in our town and although not officially labelled, everyone does turn right in the left hand lane on many of the roundabouts. I do, because everyone does, but I always hang back if someone doesn't know the local "rules"! (Basically it's every man or woman for themselves!)

BumpyWinds · 30/06/2025 16:03

Unless it could make your other posts identifiable OP, it might be better to share the actual location so we can interrogate Google Street View!

ItsSoHot · 30/06/2025 16:01

MyMilchick · 30/06/2025 12:52

She's completely in the wrong, you can't take the third exit and be in the left hand lane

Unless you’re at one of the roundabouts in Exeter where that is signed up as the correct routes. Causes chaos

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 30/06/2025 15:58

LakieLady · 30/06/2025 15:54

My thoughts exactly.

If you'd checked your nearside mirror before turning OP, you'd have seen her.

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Exactly.

She shouldn't have been where she was, but that doesn't mean she should be smashed into.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 30/06/2025 15:54

@howaboutchocolate she didn't move in front of the OP - the OP crossed into her lane/area to exit the roundabout and smashed into the side of her.

LakieLady · 30/06/2025 15:54

CyberStrider · 30/06/2025 12:56

I think she is in the wrong but I'd also expect them to rule that you should have checked your inside before exiting. I would expect 50/50

My thoughts exactly.

If you'd checked your nearside mirror before turning OP, you'd have seen her.

howaboutchocolate · 30/06/2025 15:53

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 30/06/2025 15:49

Just because the other driver was in the wrong place, doesn't mean the OP can just drive into the side of her.

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Even if she moved in front of the OP at the last minute? You can't just turn into incoming traffic.

The roundabout looks like it goes like this. The OP was following the red line and staying in her lane.

AIBU to think I have no liability here? (diagram attached)
tumblingdowntherabbithole · 30/06/2025 15:49

howaboutchocolate · 30/06/2025 15:38

No she didn't, because that lane ended. She has said multiple times that there were cross hatch markings and the outside lane did not continue last the exit.

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Just because the other driver was in the wrong place, doesn't mean the OP can just drive into the side of her.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 30/06/2025 15:47

howaboutchocolate · 30/06/2025 15:38

No she didn't, because that lane ended. She has said multiple times that there were cross hatch markings and the outside lane did not continue last the exit.

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But that still doesn't give the OP the right to drive into a vehicle, however incorrectly placed, in the lane she wanted to cross..

ThreenagerCentral · 30/06/2025 15:46

She was in the wrong lane, but it was your action that caused the collision. I think you’re liable.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 30/06/2025 15:44

WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 15:00

There's no traffic able to join at 9. It's an exit only.

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Which is why I put "not this one" in parentheses :)

But that doesn't change the fact that OP changed lanes on the roundabout and collided with someone, however incorrectly, in the other lane. So I still reckon 50:50 is a good outcome for the OP

myplace · 30/06/2025 15:43

OP, do come back when this is resolved. I would love to know what they say.

LillyPJ · 30/06/2025 15:43

I think the term 'outside lane' is also confusing here. In the UK, where we drive on the left, the left hand lane is called the inside lane and the right would be the outside. It's very confusing that the lane on the outside of a roundabout is actually the inside lane!

YepIChangedMyNameForThis · 30/06/2025 15:42

She was wrong but I also think you should have been in the left hand lane to go straight on.

omz · 30/06/2025 15:41

You CAN turn right in that lane, IF the lanes and lines are appropriately marked

Being that it happened on a roundabout, expect it to go to 'disputes', because that's what happens with roundabouts

I don't suppose either if you had a dashcam?

howaboutchocolate · 30/06/2025 15:39

LillyPJ · 30/06/2025 15:38

Where was the other vehicle going then? There must have been a lane that continued round the roundabout!

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Cutting across OP to get into the right hand lane to continue round the roundabout.

LillyPJ · 30/06/2025 15:38

Shekoni · 30/06/2025 15:31

No - the left hand lane only went straight on, it didn't continue around the roundabout so it ended at that exit. So the OP wasn't crossing a lane, she was continuing in her lane.

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Where was the other vehicle going then? There must have been a lane that continued round the roundabout!

howaboutchocolate · 30/06/2025 15:38

Fratolish · 30/06/2025 15:36

Exactly. I think some of us have confused matters by referring to left and right lane. The op had to cross the outside lane of the roundabout.

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No she didn't, because that lane ended. She has said multiple times that there were cross hatch markings and the outside lane did not continue last the exit.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 30/06/2025 15:37

howaboutchocolate · 30/06/2025 15:27

OP didn't move lanes, though.

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Yes, she did. She was crossing the lane/area where the other car was to exit the roundabout.