Crash! Boom! Bang! - Car accident, who's at fault?

[NothingOnButTheRadio]

Had a car accident earlier. Wondering what your thoughts are.

Car A had slowed down to turn into the first road on the right and was indicating.

Car B was turning left .

Not unusual to have a steady stream of traffic (lights further up the road.

Car A began turning. Car B ploughed into the side of Car A. Both drivers accusing the other. Both vehicles I'd think are write-offs.

Obligatory drawing - yes, I'm shit at drawing!

Car A

That doesn't sound like the same accident. Did your DH turn right across the path of the person who hit him? That wouldn't be usual if you're slowing for a cyclist.

I’m guessing car B was too busy looking for upcoming traffic on his right side, pulled out without checking for you turning on his left.
Deffo his fault!

car B

Most of the people saying 'car B' haven't understood what happened here. They seem to think that car A was turning into the same side road as car B was coming out of.

@thedancingbear

Most of the people saying 'car B' haven't understood what happened here. They seem to think that car A was turning into the same side road as car B was coming out of.

Despite the diagram and OP saying this:

Car A had slowed down to turn into the first road on the right and was indicating.

Car B was turning left .

The vehicles are labelled. 🤷‍♀️

Car B

@thedancingbear

Most of the people saying 'car B' haven't understood what happened here. They seem to think that car A was turning into the same side road as car B was coming out of.

Nope, I understood fully thanks. Car B was at fault assuming that car A had already started to cross the middle line.

@thedancingbear

Most of the people saying 'car B' haven't understood what happened here. They seem to think that car A was turning into the same side road as car B was coming out of.

Why do you think people would think that?

The diagram shows there are two roads and the OP says this too.

Car B is at fault.

Why do you think people would think that?

Because several people have said that's what they first thought.

Nope, I understood fully thanks.
Car B was at fault assuming that car A had already started to cross the middle line.

You can't make that assumption, however.

As a non driver this is a super interesting thread.

I think it's B.

gets popcorn

Vehicle B at fault in my opinion. Hope you feel better soon OP. x

Shit drawing, crap description of events, and confusion with left/right make it impossible to make judgement. Please try to make it clear as
to what actually happened and let us know the timing of events.

What's the left / right confusion?

I have previously said B has right of way as is only joining traffic on their side of the road/not crossing a carriageway. Car A should observe B is about to join main road and will have right of way over Car A.

However, more importantly than right of way is judging what you think is likely to happen - given how close the two separate turnings are I wouldn't have risked it.

Next time the OP is in exactly same situation at this road would OP make exact same decision? Being sure you have right of way is an important part of driving but is so often ignored or misunderstood that the most important part of driving is reacting/anticipating/avoiding.

Even if OP still believes they had right of way then a gravestone saying : but it was my right of way - wouldn't be any solace. React/anticipate/avoid is always more important - leave for the insurance to sort out as one thing's for sure OP didn't anticipate a likely outcome that lots of other people would have.

How often do we arrive at roundabouts to find someone to the right just sat there bewildered. Someone has to move first so someone who technically doesn't have right of way has to enter it knowing it is a risk and they would be deemed wrong by insurance, however the person to the right is going to sit there all day if someone else doesn't move first. However, we would probably by then seen the face of the ditherer and decided they are unaware they are causing a problem and decide to move quickly on to and off of the roundabout.

So you can be technically in the wrong but have correctly anticipated an outcome and avoided a collision. The OP didn't do either - whether she had right of way or not she ended up with - we assume by description so far - a car head driving head on into the side of OP vehcile.

Car B was at fault assuming that car A had already started to cross the middle line

It's not exactly fair to say car B is at fault based on a totally random assumption, is it? We have no idea whether OP had already started to cross the middle line because she hasn't come back to clarify anything.

Car A is at fault.

@NoWordForFluffy

*Nope, I understood fully thanks. Car B was at fault assuming that car A had already started to cross the middle line.*

You can't make that assumption, however.

No I can’t. But I can understand a simple diagram and description. As none of us were witnesses to events, none of us can really say who was at fault. We can only make assumptions.

My assumption - judging by the evasive nature of OP's replies and her disappearance - is that she cut across him and is liable.

Sorry for lack of updates. Insurance, car dealer trips, hire car, leasing company...

I was car A. There are two side roads on the right (from my position as driver of A). There's a roundabout I'd come off perhaps 50-ish metres distance away hence I was moving forward slowly due to close proximity of the side roads.

As soon as I exited the roundabout I indicated right and was driving 5mph or so. Car B (a Ford transit van) was waiting at the second side road whereas I was turning into the first.

There was a decently sized gap in the traffic for me to begin turning. The van driver hit from passenger door to end of car. It made my car spin, thankfullyi somehow stamped on my brake otherwise I would've said hello to a tall brick wall.

Police breathalyser us both, I blew a 2, B driver a 5. Police confirmed this isn't unusual .

I hold an IAM Advanced Driver membership, and main road -> side road has priority over side road -> main road. Police officer concurred.

My cars been declared a write-off, no idea about the van. So I'm in the car market again when I get the hire car in a couple of weeks time!

I'm ok, bit of whiplash and back pain.

• So A was turning into the first road on the right. B was emerging from the second road on the right and crashed into Car A's passenger side.

Is that right?*

Yes! Far better job of explaining it better than I managed!

Car b. Should have seen your signal and waited til you made your turn

I'm ok, bit of whiplash and back pain.

Plus the broken bones?

Car B

I assume Car A cut the corner, but regardless Car B should have read the road properly before moving

If the police agreed with you, I'm not sure why you are posting tbh