Car crash on roundabout - who’s at fault?

[WeGoAgainIVF]

Hi, I’m wondering if anyone would mind letting me know what they think about this situation and who’s at fault.
I had a car accident last week and I’m stressing out waiting for the insurance companies to settle the claim. I know this can go on for weeks so I would be grateful for any input as to how it might go!
To be unbiased I’m not going to say which car I was driving.

Car X enters roundabout in right hand lane to go straight on (on this particular roundabout you are able to go straight on in both lanes).

The traffic in the left hand lane was queuing to get on the roundabout but had left a space for traffic approaching the roundabout from the left to enter.

Car Y entered the roundabout between the cars in the left hand lane, while Car X was already in the right hand lane, speed unknown but at a guess 30mph, maybe a bit more. Car Y collided with Car X.

Car X didn’t know exactly how fast they were going. Car Y said they had been on a long journey, it was dark and Car X was black.

Who is at fault?

Car Y.

There are loads of black cars on the road, if they can't see them in the dark then they shouldn't be driving.

Car Y, what an insane defence!

Y

I can't picture the scene from your description. Can you add a diagram please?

So Car X was to the right of Car Y? If so Car Y should have given way to the right. I think from what you are saying it's Car Y at fault, especially if Car X was already on the roundabout. We might need a diagram!!

Y

Always give way to traffic from the right when entering a roundabout.
If they were entering between queuing traffic, they should have been extra careful edging out into the RH lane.

You need Big Jobber and his liability videos. I can almost hear his voice, discussing who was proceeding correctly in their lane!

Which lane did they collide in?

I had exactly this accident as car x. Despite car y denying fault and the whole process taking months to sort out, it was settled in my favour and driver Y found at fault.

The time taken was because no one seemed in a hurry to do anything, not because it was complicated. Really infuriating but there was no issue about fault in the end

I have read this several times and can't quite figure out the scenario, but if I have understood correctly, Car X was already on the roundabout and to the left of Car Y, so that automatically puts Car Y in the wrong?

Y

Y

Y
black car is irrelevant (unless they had lights off)

Cars already on a roundabout have priority unless otherwise indicated (and that is usually a traffic light)

So Car Y pulled onto a roundabout that wasn’t clear and not giving way to the right? Obviously their fault.

Did Car X have its lights on?

Y, they need to give way to traffic already on the roundabout and entering from their right. Colour is irrelevant.

Diagram?

Car Y is at fault, as they collided with another vehicle already established correctly in a lane and did not give way to the right when entering a roundabout.

That said, there is the possibility of a 50-50 liability split if no evidence of the circumstances can be provided and it comes down to verbal evidence.

Car Y. Car X was already on the roundabout and therefore had right of way.

Clearly Y. The car on the roundabout had priority.
The colour of the car is irrelevant- black cars are perfectly legal.

If I have understood the description correctly from an insurance point of view car y is at fault.

With my driving instructor hat on, I would say sure car y, but car x has seriously dropped the ball - that situation was a threat they absolutely should have been aware of and have allowed for.

Going past a stationary queue at at speed is always risky. Cars pulling through the queue without proper observation (what we have here) or people changing into the moving lane to make progress without proper observation.

Aargh, that was supposed to say to the right of Car Y!

Well as most roundabouts are lit anyway not sure that being dark and x driving a black car is a defence anyway

Unless Car X didn't have their headlights on... Car Y. You give way to traffic already on the roundabout.

(If no headlights on, car Y is justified in saying the xar wasn't visible)

Car Y is at fault, obviously. What an asinine defence.