Hi
Really stuck and need some advice
On sunday 2pm I had some idiot young kid come speeding up behind me on a 30mph single carriageway, which heads towards a large roundabout. He began driving too close and was acting impatient.
The single carriageway splits into 3 lanes as it goes to the roundabout. So end up with:
Left lane to go left and straight ahead (12 o clock)
Middle lane to go straight ahead (12 o clock)
Right lane to go right to M5
I indicated and checked mirrors to move into left hand lane. I was looking in mirrors a lot anyway as idiot behind was worrying me a bit. Idiot behind blasted me with his horn whilst I did this, and was way too close. My last thought was "ignore him, he can overtake in his middle lane he is staying in anyway".
So I entered roundabout. He floored it up along side me really close, he was straddling my lane and the middle lane. He blasted his horn again, in my view he was being aggressive and "trying to teach me a lesson". He went to roar past, and I don't know if he was trying to cut in front of me (think he was) but he ended up slamming into the front wing and wheel of my car at speed.
I was pushed right of the roundabout into the gravel, and debris from his car was raining down on my windscreen. He screeched to a stop, turned around and gave me a smirk and the thumbs up!!
It made a massive bang and load of traffic waiting to pull out at next exit saw, but no one stopped or followed us. Great.
He drove on so I followed him and went into a supermarket car park.
The first thing he said when he got out of his car and saw the state of mine was "oh my god, this is all my fault I cant believe this." among other babbling.
I asked what did you do that for, and why were you driving like a idiot and honking me. He said, "sorry, I shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry".
I took out my phone and took pictures and asked for his details and he immediately took umbrage. He said there was no need for it, and "I don't have to give you my address" and kept arguing with me. He reluctantly gave me a name and a mobile number, and said he "thinks" he is with Admiral. (Checked later, he IS insured, thank god).
I said my insurance was Churchill so they would get in contact and get his details for me then. He said, "DONT use confrontation here, going through insurance is confrontation and bad things happen when confrontation is used!". He insisted on paying me cash if I get a quote and call him.
Then he suddenly accused me of causing it by swerving right in front of him!
I said I was indicating and keeping left, out of his bloody way anyway! He said. "yeah you indicated but moved right and I couldn't avoid you".
I asked if that was really the case why not brake then and how then did you not hit the back of me instead of the front?" Then I had a better idea and told him to come with me to the petrol station on the roubabout and look at their CCTV.
He refused and just told me to call with a quote and he would pay it.
I went to the petrol station alone but their CCTV didn't catch us, they said we would be out of sight.
I was 100% well into my lane!
Anyway my friend knows the other driver and told me to go official and not trust him as "he is trouble, always has been".
I reported it to my insurance company anyway, as I'm not getting into trouble for anyone. Or so I thought....turns out my insurance company has put me at fault!
They said if no witnesses come forward to confirm I was in my lane OR to confirm his aggressive driving then its his word (lie!) against mine and they will put liability on whoever made a manoeuvre (me, even though as I moved left I was bloody moving clear out of his path anyway!!)
They don't seem bothered that he hasn't reported it, refused to give details, and used a threat!
I put notices out on social media but despite several shares by the public no one has come forward.
I'm so upset, I'm a careful driver, I do high mileage (22000/yr) and I pay high insurance on top of that as I'm self employed. I built up 8 years NCD, taken courses, and was really looking forward to lower insurance now I'm 25+ :-(
So angry I got a "own fault" claim too! They even told me they'll pay out to that ***hole!
Got a bit of hope - turns out my insurance got the location wrong, and after they found the correct roundabout they used an outdated diagram of the lane layout.
They told me to take photographs of the location, which might save me if I'm lucky, but the best we can get is 50/50 unless he admits full liability (which I very much doubt!!)
So seeing as I'm going to get done either way, is it a good idea to cancel the claim for now and see if he pays?
A garage quoted £500 if theres no underlying damage. I had a mechanic check it over and he thinks it is OK however.
Shall I text him the details of the garage and ask him to pay them? Don't wanna let him know my bank details unless I have to :-/
Please help. On my own here, don't know who to ask!
Thanks :-(
Really stuck and need some advice
On sunday 2pm I had some idiot young kid come speeding up behind me on a 30mph single carriageway, which heads towards a large roundabout. He began driving too close and was acting impatient.
The single carriageway splits into 3 lanes as it goes to the roundabout. So end up with:
Left lane to go left and straight ahead (12 o clock)
Middle lane to go straight ahead (12 o clock)
Right lane to go right to M5
I indicated and checked mirrors to move into left hand lane. I was looking in mirrors a lot anyway as idiot behind was worrying me a bit. Idiot behind blasted me with his horn whilst I did this, and was way too close. My last thought was "ignore him, he can overtake in his middle lane he is staying in anyway".
So I entered roundabout. He floored it up along side me really close, he was straddling my lane and the middle lane. He blasted his horn again, in my view he was being aggressive and "trying to teach me a lesson". He went to roar past, and I don't know if he was trying to cut in front of me (think he was) but he ended up slamming into the front wing and wheel of my car at speed.
I was pushed right of the roundabout into the gravel, and debris from his car was raining down on my windscreen. He screeched to a stop, turned around and gave me a smirk and the thumbs up!!
It made a massive bang and load of traffic waiting to pull out at next exit saw, but no one stopped or followed us. Great.
He drove on so I followed him and went into a supermarket car park.
The first thing he said when he got out of his car and saw the state of mine was "oh my god, this is all my fault I cant believe this." among other babbling.
I asked what did you do that for, and why were you driving like a idiot and honking me. He said, "sorry, I shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry".
I took out my phone and took pictures and asked for his details and he immediately took umbrage. He said there was no need for it, and "I don't have to give you my address" and kept arguing with me. He reluctantly gave me a name and a mobile number, and said he "thinks" he is with Admiral. (Checked later, he IS insured, thank god).
I said my insurance was Churchill so they would get in contact and get his details for me then. He said, "DONT use confrontation here, going through insurance is confrontation and bad things happen when confrontation is used!". He insisted on paying me cash if I get a quote and call him.
Then he suddenly accused me of causing it by swerving right in front of him!
I said I was indicating and keeping left, out of his bloody way anyway! He said. "yeah you indicated but moved right and I couldn't avoid you".
I asked if that was really the case why not brake then and how then did you not hit the back of me instead of the front?" Then I had a better idea and told him to come with me to the petrol station on the roubabout and look at their CCTV.
He refused and just told me to call with a quote and he would pay it.
I went to the petrol station alone but their CCTV didn't catch us, they said we would be out of sight.
I was 100% well into my lane!
Anyway my friend knows the other driver and told me to go official and not trust him as "he is trouble, always has been".
I reported it to my insurance company anyway, as I'm not getting into trouble for anyone. Or so I thought....turns out my insurance company has put me at fault!
They said if no witnesses come forward to confirm I was in my lane OR to confirm his aggressive driving then its his word (lie!) against mine and they will put liability on whoever made a manoeuvre (me, even though as I moved left I was bloody moving clear out of his path anyway!!)
They don't seem bothered that he hasn't reported it, refused to give details, and used a threat!
I put notices out on social media but despite several shares by the public no one has come forward.
I'm so upset, I'm a careful driver, I do high mileage (22000/yr) and I pay high insurance on top of that as I'm self employed. I built up 8 years NCD, taken courses, and was really looking forward to lower insurance now I'm 25+ :-(
So angry I got a "own fault" claim too! They even told me they'll pay out to that ***hole!
Got a bit of hope - turns out my insurance got the location wrong, and after they found the correct roundabout they used an outdated diagram of the lane layout.
They told me to take photographs of the location, which might save me if I'm lucky, but the best we can get is 50/50 unless he admits full liability (which I very much doubt!!)
So seeing as I'm going to get done either way, is it a good idea to cancel the claim for now and see if he pays?
A garage quoted £500 if theres no underlying damage. I had a mechanic check it over and he thinks it is OK however.
Shall I text him the details of the garage and ask him to pay them? Don't wanna let him know my bank details unless I have to :-/
Please help. On my own here, don't know who to ask!
Thanks :-(