Which lane should you be in? Diagram!

[CactusUmbrella]

If you were driving from where the red arrow is towards the roundabout, and going straight ahead to where the green arrow is, which lane should you be in?

Context is that I had a collision on this roundabout over 2 years ago, still hasn't been resolved and is now likely to go to court! Other driver claiming they were in correct lane, I believe I was...

Definitely left

Left lane unless otherwise marked.

Em, she's asking for opinions and was trying to be impartial in her first post. Did you read any of her updates? She knows the ROTR better than the person who crashed into her who is supposedly a professional driver.

Typically left lane for left and ahead but if you collided within the roundabout itself then it doesn't really doesn't matter what the approach situation is. You should always beware of drivers (within the roundabout) who may change lanes unexpectedly. You will find this in the HC. Can't quite understand why it would end up in court unless there's proof of some form of recklessness - Did someone get injured as that may explain the need to prove liability.

Without road markings I would use the left lane however, if the car in front of me approaching the roundabout was signalling to go left then I would move into the right hand lane to go straight on. Always supposing other traffic movements permit this. It should always be safety first!

We had an accident which went to court and judge considered how the road is generally used and ruled in our favour. I think taxi needed to be aware of you on his left and is at fault.

Update

The third party has contacted my insurer's solicitors today and offered 50/50. The hearing is next week.

On one hand, I've been dealing with this for 2.5 years and I am fed up of it. Avoiding a hearing would be nice. On the other hand, it was not my fault, and I've waited 2.5 years for this!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Let Harry Hill be your guide: "FIGHT!"

50:50 my arse.

What has your solicitor said? Knowing only what you have written on this thread previously, I would think they are calling your bluff in the hope that you settle now and avoid the costs of next week. I’d be tempted to reject their offer and see what they come back with (but that’s only my opinion)!

From what I remember the consensus was you were in the right. The fact is, it is an ambiguous roundabout in terms of markings but the other car drove into you. They had the option to go around if necessary to avoid you and the position themselves better when they came back around , you had nowhere else to go on your left. I’d fight it and see what arguments they make.

My reading would be that now they are close to the hearing, they think agreeing 50/50 with you is their best option – and they think there's a real risk they will get a less favourable result at a hearing. I'd turn it down and see what happens. However, you may just want the stress done with - and fair enough.

Obviously left lane. Taxi drivers think they own the roads!

My DH was a driving instructor and was in the police he said you were definitely in the right. The other car could only exit in the right hand lane if there were 2 lanes to exit into (green arrow route). Stick to your guns, be clear and concise and go to Court. They are only offering to settle 50/50 as they know they haven't got a hope of winning and hope you will except rather than go to Court.

If the hearing is next week I'd stick it out until then! You were clearly in the correct lane, I think they're just trying their luck now. You don't want to pay 50% if you don't need to

Stick it out OP, they’re hoping you will accept their offer because they know you’re in the right.

I agree. They're hoping you'll be twitchy about the hearing and decide to cut your losses to avoid it. Reject the offer, it's not the right or fair outcome.

Absolutely stick it out. They are at it.

I've gone back and rejected 50/50! I will be attending court! I think worst case scenario is really settling 50/50 after the hearing anyway, so I may as well try and fight my corner. It would be very hard for them to argue that I was totally in the wrong (as I wasn't ).

I also suspected that maybe they were reconsidering their chances, realising they might lose and that's why they've offered 50/50.

Will update when I've got a result next week! 😬

All the best for next week!

They have clearly been advised to offer to settle.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

They are offering 50:50 because they are reasonably convinced that the court will find it to be more like 75:25 against them or even 100:0.

Good luck OP!! We had an offer of 50/50 when someone drove into the side of our stationary work vehicle 😂. It was on camera as well. We rejected (obviously) and they ended up just paying out 100%. Let us know how you get on.

I think that’s what’s going to happen.

Presumably you aren't directly affected either way are you? Surely the insurance has already paid for your repairs and the only thing being decided in court is whether his insurance company or yours is ultimately responsible for the bill? You shouldn't really need to care what the court outcome is?

@DexaVooveQhodu

Of course I care what the outcome is. If it's 50/50 or decided that it's my fault, that will impact my car insurance premium even more (although it remains impacted either way). This was advised by the solicitor representing my car insurance provider.

In addition, and more importantly to me, I paid my very high excess at the time and my car insurance is seeking to get this back from the third party! I'd like my money back!!