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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
Original poster
WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 12:50

Oh, and my car is apparently uneconomic to repair, so a write off 🤦

OP posts:
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

MyMilchick · 30/06/2025 12:54

Actually what the hell was she doing? the third exit isn't even an exit so she would be going back the way she'd come from

Original poster
WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 12:54

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

That's exactly what I thought.
I'm baffled by her telling me after the crash that she was going straight on. If she had, all would have been fine. I wonder if she actually lost control now. She was a lovely lady, dealt with me having hysterics very kindly!

OP posts:
Okdaisy · 30/06/2025 12:54

She is completely at fault. Hope you are ok.
Great diagram!

Original poster
WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 12:55

MyMilchick · 30/06/2025 12:54

Actually what the hell was she doing? the third exit isn't even an exit so she would be going back the way she'd come from

Doesn't make sense does it?!!

OP posts:
SillyMillieMops · 30/06/2025 12:55

Rule of thumb is if you’re exiting after ‘12 o’clock’ you should be in the right hand lane.

TimeForTeaAndG · 30/06/2025 12:55

Sounds like she probably should have been in front or behind you in the right hand lane and realised that she was in the wrong lane. But, insurance will probably 50/50 it as it's a roundabout.

Original poster
WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 12:55

Okdaisy · 30/06/2025 12:54

She is completely at fault. Hope you are ok.
Great diagram!

Thank you, yes I am OK.

OP posts:
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

MrsPinkCock · 30/06/2025 12:57

That diagram melted my brain!

I think it depends - are the roads marked? Is there a sign telling you which lane to be in for which turn off?

I can’t see how, when there are two lanes, you’d be in the left hand lane to turn right, though!

parietal · 30/06/2025 12:57

she did a rather dumb and unpredictable turn. You went into the side of her. Let the insurance company sort it all out and move on.

I hope you aren’t feeling too shaken up.

MrsPinkCock · 30/06/2025 12:57

That diagram melted my brain!

I think it depends - are the roads marked? Is there a sign telling you which lane to be in for which turn off?

I can’t see how, when there are two lanes, you’d be in the left hand lane to turn right, though!

Original poster
WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 12:57

TimeForTeaAndG · 30/06/2025 12:55

Sounds like she probably should have been in front or behind you in the right hand lane and realised that she was in the wrong lane. But, insurance will probably 50/50 it as it's a roundabout.

Edited

Really? I think if they try to put any liability on me I'm going to fight it. In my head, she caused the crash so she bears responsibility for it. I do wonder if having the same insurance company is a plus or a minus in this situation.

OP posts:
Fratolish · 30/06/2025 12:58

She was absolutely in the wrong lane. I don't know how an insurance company would view it though. Could they argue you should have ensured the way was clear before you exited?

I've had a similar experience but could see the driver in the wrong lane, effectively blocking me from exiting so I just had to go all the way back round the roundabout again.

Original poster
WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 12:59

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

I did check the inside, it was as I slowed to cross the inside lane that she appeared in front of me! I did brake but couldn't stop in time.

OP posts:
MageQueen · 30/06/2025 13:01

Honestly, I think you were both wrong. Unless it's a three lane roundabout? YOu should have been in the left hand lane to turn left by then, and she should have been in the right hand lane. She is MORE wrong, but if i was your insurance company I would consider this joint liability.

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.

Original poster
WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 13:01

MrsPinkCock · 30/06/2025 12:57

That diagram melted my brain!

I think it depends - are the roads marked? Is there a sign telling you which lane to be in for which turn off?

I can’t see how, when there are two lanes, you’d be in the left hand lane to turn right, though!

No signs telling you which lane to be in, although going right would mean you are going right round the roundabout and there's no way you'd be in the left lane for that!

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 30/06/2025 13:01

She was in the wrong lane, but if you hit her in the side, you drove into her. Insurance will almost certainly call it as 50:50.

MsDDxx · 30/06/2025 13:02

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

I voted YABU, because although she was in the wrong lane, you have to be aware of your surroundings and when driving, you can’t “expect” or “assume” where someone is going and act on that alone. You clearly didn’t check your mirror before turning. You DO have some liability here, even though she was making the initial error.

Original poster
WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 13:03

Just to clarify, the right lane on the roundabout feeds into the right lane crossing the bridge, which then feeds into turning right at the 2nd roundabout! The same for the left lane feeding onto left lane of bridge, then left onto local road.

OP posts:
MsDDxx · 30/06/2025 13:03

And yes, you should have been in the left lane by the time you were turning to exit as well. Both wrong here.

MsDDxx · 30/06/2025 13:03

WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 13:03

Just to clarify, the right lane on the roundabout feeds into the right lane crossing the bridge, which then feeds into turning right at the 2nd roundabout! The same for the left lane feeding onto left lane of bridge, then left onto local road.

Ignore my second comment then 😁

BoredZelda · 30/06/2025 13:05

WiggyClawsThe2nd · 30/06/2025 12:59

I did check the inside, it was as I slowed to cross the inside lane that she appeared in front of me! I did brake but couldn't stop in time.

Show quote history

Yeah, I do think there will be a liability here. She is 100% wrong, but accident avoidance is also required of a driver. It feels unfair but will be down to where she hit you. If she hit the front of your car, I’d say that was a failure to check properly when exiting, only if she hit the rear of your car would there be no fault from you.