pani_k

iTrader: (1)

The other night on the way to my maths tutor, I had an accident. There was a bus stationary at a bus stop and I went to overtake. Pulled up slowly checked my mirror, waited for two cars to pass and then there was a clear space. Went to move out and out of nowhere a BMW 3 series Coupe just appears and I hit his rear wing. I believe he was trying to overtake me and the bus at speed and thus I caught him whist moving out which I was doing so very slowly as well.

At the moment I'm totally devastated and I am more worried about the insurance side of things than anything. The car is an old micra so I couldn't care less about that but to say I'm gutted that I have to make a claim in my first year of driving is a really big understatement at the moment. Just want people's thoughts on my situation.

And the really bad thing is that on Sunday I'm due to go and pick up my new car which I was absolutely over the moon about until this happened. I just hope this doesnt ruin everything I've planned for (really upset)

cossie04

iTrader: (1)

It happens to the best of us m8.

Was you indicating when you was waiting to pull out?

What area (city centre, in the sticks?) and what was the speed limit?

Ed.

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

I saw the bus stopped from 30-40 yards away and slowed down and immediately indicated and waited for a clear space. Was doing 30-32mph and no more in a 30mph limit, slowed right down to around 5-10mph before I deemed it safe to pull out. Obviously not

Happened on The Roundway, Tottenham N17

dojj

iTrader: (3)

tell us in the morning when you've had a night to sleep on it

things tend to be much worse/better afterwards

and that's what insurance is for

as long as you ain't hurt that's the main thing (the adrenaline is what's making you feel sick and funny)

cossie04

iTrader: (1)

Hard to say really. Did you look in your wing mirror as you pulled out?

It does sound like that the guy in the BMW was in a bit of a rush and thought he could overtake both of you before you had a chance to pull out TBH.

Any witnesses?

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

nah no witnesses but this happened thursday night. I've had time to think about it and have concluded that the BMW was definitely speeding for that to happen since he looked like he was going at a fair whack anyway and so he must have been behind me and tried to overtake us both for him to appear there and I am adamant that there was a clear space. I was looking in my wing mirror for roughly 4-5 seconds. I watched one car pass, then another, then there was a space. So I went for it and then he suddenly appears. And I clipped his rear wing just behind his alloy which means he almost passed me. So I said to my insurance he tried to overtake me and the bus which is probably what happened anyway.

I am a bit of a cock as well because I was in a huge panic when it happened and apologized like a knob. But anyway, I hope it turns out OK in the end.

SillyFezzaMk1

iTrader: (1)

If the BMW driver was coming a bit too fast and was trying to overtake you and the bus & you had your indicator on then I'd be inclined to 'find' a witness and verify he was doing in excess of the speed limit and driving erratically....then you might get a 50/50 blame settlement...which will fair better when you come to renew you insurance.

Cheers
Dan

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

will be a bit hard mate and when I spoke to a family friend who is an insurance broker, the fact that this guy was driving a 2006 BMW 3 coupe and was in his 40-50s goes against me in that im 18 and hes a lot older and more experienced. The only thing I have in my favour is that he has the more powerful car and tried to overtake me at speed.

matts1

You'll get a 50/50 claim mate at best.

I had this, had witnesses etc, still lost

In my case I was in a cross junction, 3 lanes wide, im in the middle. The lights my way switched to red, so I went to move into the right hand lance and down out of the junction,

A taxi jumped the red lights behind me and clipped my wing as I pulled out. I had seen him, but never thought he would jumo the red

Basically they said that i moved into his lane and therefore I am to blame, shit happens I am affraid, Had it been over again, I would have paid for the repaires, but on a bmw coupe, ouch, let the insurance deal with it.

But it does sound like you will be held responsible

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

I know that its probably going to come back to me and I'm shitting it. The car would probably cost a bomb to repair and so it isn't worth it especially on a 2006 BMW. But I know he's going to say I just pulled out without looking in my blind spot and thus hit him.

matts1

Just say you had your indicator on, had waited for a gap, went to pull out but that he was travelling alot fast than the speed limit and that you had expected and you didn't have time to react.

See what the insurance want to do.

At the end of the day mate, it will cost you a bit on you policy, but it aint the end of the world,, just be abit more cautioius in futures and remember, twats can be anywhere, so never let your gaurd down.

In my 12 years on the road I have had

A guy paniced when the police stuck blues and two on, he raced up the inside of me as I was moving over for the coppers, I hit him, so my fault.

Guy jumped a red light, i t-boned him, took 3 years, but won the case

Hit a lampost via being a twat

Hit the cab as mentioned

A bus hit me as it was driven by a polish child virtually

Matt

rssteve

was this road 2 lanes. i think thats how i understand it? if so he probably (may have) been in your lane and when there was a gap just switched to other lane, at which point you hit the side of him. He was there first so not much you can do. are you sure he didn't drive past you then try and turn into your lane abit too early.

had a mate a few years ago and he drove into back of guy. they swopped details and he didn't bother to call his insurance. He finally got a letter and just ignored then denied having any accident. turns out they just gave up.

bigchez

Will go down as your fault I'm afraid. I work in accident management, and the problem you have is there is no way to prove his speed, even if he was speeding. You've moved into his lane and hit him.

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

thanks for all your input guys. This is a 2006 BMW so the guy ain't going to give the case up by any means. I know that everything is going against me in terms of my claim so I'm not setting my hopes high for a decent outcome. I just don't won't to be arse-raped when it comes to renewal which is next may.

And the car on the policy is no longer a 1.3 15 year old nissan micra. Its the new car I'm getting which is a Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec MP3

R5FORD

iTrader: (1)

FIND a witness..simple solution

kirstyKA

Can't you ring your local bus station, and find the driver who was driving the bus stopped at that time and on that day?? Maybe if you find him, he could be a witness for you?

Terry Tibbs

I'm sure I saw him travelling in exess of the speed limit that night and clearly wasn't driving with due care and attention..

Graceland

So basically the Nissan was uninsured when you was driving it then

R5FORD

iTrader: (1)

see YOUR his witness

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

No it wasn't. It was insured at that point and the claim was sent through before I had changed the policy to have the focus on it. I might just phone the bus station to see if the driver can be found

Graceland

I see said the blind man.

The way you worded it made it look like you wasn't insured thats all

dojj

iTrader: (3)

surely you were "stationary with the handbake on waiting for the bus to pull away when the bmw driver hit your car when he sweared to avoid the oncoming motorist (which is why you didn't overtake the bus in the first place, being a sensible driver and all "