My car was hit by a lorry. Who is at fault here?

[Trexraaa]

I approached a junction with a lorry waiting at it. I thought the lorry was going right due to its positioning on the road. I know they have to go wide but this guy was literally in the middle of the road. He wasn’t indicating. I’m going left so I pull up on the left side of the junction where I am now side by side with the lorry. I am stationary and checking left and right for a gap to go. The lorry then decides to go left and crashes into the side of my car. I must have been in his blind spot for him not to see us. That’s my car written off but at least we are all ok. Am I at fault?

Something the lorry driver should have done

I was always taught to check my blind spots and mirrors before moving off but I’ve never driven a lorry..

But you’re at least 17, probably older. So
you’ve been around long enough to see repeated news stories of cyclists, motorbikes and cars being crushed because they’ve driven up the inside of a lorry. A lot of lorries even have a wee sign at the back saying not to drive up their side like that.

The reason people keep getting killed is that lorry drivers cannot see you.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/9044736/do-you-know-which-of-these-cars-this-lorry-driver-can-see-quiz-question-reveals-large-vehicles-blind-spots-to-keep-you-safe/amp/

fun game for you, OP.

Depends on whether there were two lanes or not. If only one official lane you are at fault

Blind spots in a lorry are huge.

If it was a single lane road, it's entirely your fault for driving up the side of the lorry. If your car has been written off just be grateful you aren't hurt and chalk it up to experience.

I imagine it will be 50:50 most things are these days.

Lorry should’ve indicated and you shouldn’t have gone up the side.

Depends what he is driving. A 7.5t should be able to get around most corners without swinging out especially if it's a junction that has separate lanes so enough room to go forward before turning the wheel to clear the back end. However if it's a HGV with a removable trailer on a 5th wheel the trailer will swing out as the cab turns. The driver will require much more room to allow the trailer to clear any road signage/traffic lights etc hence straddling lanes

its not physically possible to see down the whole length of a lorry though. There will always been areas you can’t see.

it does sound like you would benefit from familiarising yourself with blind spots of different vehicles

I guess you mean look over your shoulder kind of thing? Unfortunately unless you get out of a truck you can't see the blind spots. Unless the truck is fitted with sensors the driver can be oblivious. They should constantly be checking mirrors anyway but humans made mistakes.

The lorry can check their blind spots and mirrors before setting off but still be unable to see a tiny car - especially if you'd positioned yourself far enough to the front left side of the lorry to try to exit the junction yourself - you'd probably not be visible at all!

Lesson learnt is don't try to undertake a vehicle that has reached a junction before you, especially a large vehicle with limited mobility and visibility.

Definitely your fault op. If he was in the right filter lane and went left it would have been a more grey area. As it was only one lane and he was already positioned at the junction I strongly suspect you will be found to be at fault.

For those who aren't sure where the blind spots are. Unfortunately it's not always obvious to know which trucks are fitted with blind spots sensors either from a distance.

In that case you are at fault.

Doubt it. She has since stated it was a single lane road not dual.

I'm sure the Highway Code says you should never rely on another driver's indicators to determine whether it's safe for you to make your move so I'm not sure how much impact if any that would have on fault with regard to the accident. Especially as it's a single lane and the lorry was there first.

Glad you are safe though OP.

Remember: if you can’t see their side mirrors then they can’t see you.

It sounds like you were probably at fault in this scenario unfortunately.

The lorry should absolutely have been indicating which might help you when it comes to the insurance but it's a known fact that they generally can't turn left on a tight road like a car can so need to swing right slightly beforehand to give them a wide enough swing when turning left. Putting yourself right in the way and within a likely blind spot was very dangerous and silly.

Thankfully though, it seems like no one was badly injured. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, we've all made stupid snap decisions behind the wheel, although some more severe than others. Call this a learning curve, now you know for next time.

Stay safe OP.

Unfortunately if you do this on your driving test you will fail for ‘not keeping up with the traffic’ .

I think you thank your lucky stars that you were not injured or killed.

You were also lucky that you learn this lesson when everyone was going slowly as if it were at speed, you would be unlikely to be still with us.

No indicators but you make any assumption - you can't it's really dangerous to do so, even without a blind spot.

My driving instructor's rules was "If something that's bigger & more powerful than you can't see you on the road, you are fucked". It's an unlit pedestrian verses a car scenario too.

Count your blessings.
You drove into a truck's blind spot and expected him no to hit you.
You are at fault.

Why on earth did you pull up next to a LORRY in a single lane?! This is entirely your fault. You shouldn’t have been anywhere near him.

He wasn't indicating. How were you to know? He should have indicated and checked and he didn't.

Yes, you shouldn't have driven to the left, but IMO he's at fault for not indicating.

That’s when you’re driving behind them. When you’re sitting at their side, you can see their mirrors but they still can’t see you. Don’t confuse the OP further.

Lorry's are notoriously bad about indicating and driving generally IME - always give them a wide berth.
Interesting with positioning tho; looks like they could have positioned better if they were intending to turn left! Follow up with insurance - be honest and see what happens!

Indicators are for situations like this. I think the lorry is at fault.