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Original poster

really scared - what's the worst that could happen

69 replies

imscaried · 10/10/2006 18:50

I was in a car accident today. Was waiting at a busy roundabout in the left lane and wanted to go in in the right lane. Some cars were approaching from the right so I stopped and was stationary. A bus came from behind and crashed into me. My car went flying into the middle of the roundabout.

When I got out one of the passengers got off the bus and told me I had been in the wrong lane.

I called the imsurance and had to tell them about a speeding fine in May that I had not told them about.

Am worried now about what could happen, could I go to jail?

OP posts:
TwigTwoolett · 11/10/2006 08:17

if you are hit from behind it is ALWAYS the other drivers fault

ALWAYS!!!!

passenger was a pratt .. ignore

Original poster
imscaried · 11/10/2006 08:21

Thanks Twig I am feeling much better now, MNers are the best

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tissy · 11/10/2006 08:38

the exact same thing happened to me... waiting at a roundabout, hit by a bus driving into the back of me. The bus driver said he "thought I was going to pull out". It doesn't matter what lane you were in- he drove into you. End of story. Get your injuries checked out and documented (local casualty or GP). Mention them on insurance claim, you should get compensation for those as well as the damage to your car.

throckenholt · 11/10/2006 08:53

the insurance company should ararnge someone to check out your car in the next few days - and may designate someone to mend it, or say it is a write-off and arrange compenstaion payment. If you have a replacement agreement they will arrange that too. You will have to fillin a form with your version of events - including a diagram. If it needs mending you will have to pay whatever your excess is, then the insurance will pay the rest. They then claim it back off the bus company's insurance - may take a few months.

It should not affect your premium if you were not at fault, and they can claim of the other insurance. Not sure what effect the speeding points will have though.

Get the gp to checkout whiplash injury - my mum had that and it took about a year of checkups before they finally assessed compensation.

Try not to let it dent your confidence in driving. As a professional driver the bus driver should have done a better job.

Original poster
imscaried · 11/10/2006 09:05

thanks tissy and throckenholt, I am really ignorant about these matters so it really helps to get more info.

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Freckle · 11/10/2006 09:14

How the hell did the passenger know you were in the wrong lane? Did they know where you wanted to go?

I suspect they were just pee'd off that they had to get off and wait for another bus.

Do get yourself checked out by your gp. Whiplash can come on some time after an impact, so keep an eye on how your neck feels.

threelittlepumpkins · 11/10/2006 09:22

do you have LEI with your car insurance? Or maybe with any breakdown membership? If so that will cover you for legal advice, and sometimes a courtesy car whilst yours is off the road. DEFINITELY the bus driver's fault, so try not to worry. Hope you're ok- see a doctor to be on safe side. hth

figroll · 11/10/2006 09:36

I don't think any magistrate would imprison you for being the victim of a loony bus driver who should have been looking where he was going. If someone had been coming round the island, you could have been killed (like a friend of mine was two years ago). My friend's killer was prosecuted for dangerous driving, so may be it will be the bus driver who ends up imprisoned.

Hope it hasn't upset you too much and glad you weren't injured.

Original poster
imscaried · 11/10/2006 09:53

thanks freckle - got appt with gp soon,

hadn't thought of that threelittlepumpkins, I will look into it, thank you,

figroll that's terrible about your friend. I just feel really nauseous thinking about what might have happened, also got the whole insurance thing hanging over me and won't relax till it's hopefully cleared up.

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threelittlepumpkins · 11/10/2006 09:59

If you are an AA or RAC member you will almost certainly have it and they will really help

gigglinggoblin · 11/10/2006 10:11

his insurance company paid for her car to be fixed which meant his premiums increased the following year. not a big deal at all, i really think you have nothing to worry about

Original poster
imscaried · 11/10/2006 10:13

thanks gggoblin, can you tell I'm stressed. Trying to calm down though, just grateful that no-one was badly injured.

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Original poster
imscaried · 12/10/2006 10:24

bump in case anyone has legal knowledge and/or relevant experience.

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Blu · 12/10/2006 10:30

Good grief, of course you won't go to prison! It doesn't even sound as if it was your fault - and in what sense were you 'in the wrong lane'? You were choosing to change lanes - a perfectly legal manouvre! The bus hit you when you were stationary - it's the buses fault. You need to get all the details on paper for your insurance co, including a diagram.

Sunnysideup · 12/10/2006 10:46

I would say don't worry - if the bus drove into your back end, this is ALWAYS the other driver's fault....and you were stationary, which my driving instructor told me also lessens your resonsibility in any crash.

hoolagirl · 12/10/2006 10:50

Hi, imscared, i deal with RTA claims and you are not at fault, make sure you tell your insurer's that you are injured, am i right in saying that you were stationary when hit? Definetly not your fault, don't worry.

Original poster
imscaried · 12/10/2006 11:20

thanks all, your advice is really helpful

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Original poster
imscaried · 27/11/2006 10:45

Just an update - had a letter from the insurance company asking for a description and sketch of the accident. They said the other side are disputing my side. Does anyone know what happens if this happens - who decides and what are the consequences? TIA

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lulumama · 27/11/2006 10:50

hi - this happened to me...when i had an accident that was someone elses fault, they admitted liablity at the scene..they were at a give way, and i was on the main roadl, and they drove into me,so legally;.;.was their fault.. i had to provide sketch etc.. they still found in my favour...i think it is standard practice..x

LIZS · 27/11/2006 10:55

Don't worry. It is normal to have to give a sketch(es) and written account, surprised it has taken this long for them to request it tbh. Think the various companies will then liaise and decide, but each will be trying to minimise their own costs hence the dispute.

tissy · 27/11/2006 11:01

don't worry, it's not unusual for them to dispute.

The bus went into the back of you- what is there to dispute? Just send back a drawing and description of what happened, and leave it with them.

I had an accident last year where I was pulling out of a side road, and a car overtook another car on the main road (at the same time) so we collided head on on my side of the road. The tosser who was overtaking said it was my fault, as I shouldn't have pulled out, but the car that I could see was miles away, and didn't hit me- the tosser overtook without looking, and did! He then produced a "witness" who wasn't in the car with him at the time (if he had been I would have taken his details), and tried to claim for damage that his car didn't have. Insurance company found in my favour.

TBH, I would expect that bus company would find it cheaper to pay up than argue too long about this.

Original poster
imscaried · 27/11/2006 11:01

thanks so much lulumama and LIZS

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LadyOfThePoinsettias · 27/11/2006 11:05

me and dh were talking about this kind of thing the other day.
if someone drives into you, it is their fault. it means they were not paying attention and something to do with stopping distances.
apparently, even if you slam the anchors on for no apparent reason and someone goes up the back of you it is their fault.

Original poster
imscaried · 27/11/2006 11:08

x-posted tissy, that's awful inventing a witness . I just hope it's sorted out soon in my favour.

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Original poster
imscaried · 27/11/2006 11:09

thanks ladyofthepoinsettias, I hope you're right. I'm always very nervous of this kind of thing and doubt myself, thinking I should have done something differently.

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