Collision with a car during my commute. Who is liable?

[steveindenmark]

"I nipped through the gap" sort of sums it all up.

Actually, you didn't, you collided with a vehicle manoevering in the road.

Why didn't you stop until he had finished manoevering, instead of trying to squeeze through?

 

[ianrauk]

If his car was stopped when you squeezed through, it's your fault. If he closed the gap while you were passing, it's his fault.
.

This^^

 

[Simpleton]

Cars fault, unless the car was stationary and you clipped the bumper on the way through?

By rights he should have stopped ( as you would do on a test) and let you go.

 

[midlife]

Cars fault, unless the car was stationary and you clipped the bumper on the way through?

By rights he should have stopped ( as you would do on a test) and let you go.

Not sure about that, approaching a car doing a 3 point turn shouldn't you let them finish the manoeuvre? I would if I was driving a car and would stop and lket them finish if I was on my bike. Rather like letting the tractors round here turn in the roads...

Shaun

 

[Simpleton]

Not sure about that, approaching a car doing a 3 point turn shouldn't you let them finish the manoeuvre? I would if I was driving a car and would stop and lket them finish if I was on my bike. Rather like letting the tractors round here turn in the roads...

Shaun

Nope, the driver should be thinking ''bike, he could get through that gap, ill stop and see what they do.''

 

[Gert Lush]

Not sure about that, approaching a car doing a 3 point turn shouldn't you let them finish the manoeuvre?

Shaun

You're meant to stop the manoeuvre until you know what the person is doing. If they stop, they you proceed, if they choose to go round you then you have to wait. You are not allowed to be moving at the same time as another car.

This is according to the driving test.

 

[Dan B]

You're meant to stop the manoeuvre until you know what the person is doing. If they stop, they you proceed, if they choose to go round you then you have to wait. You are not allowed to be moving at the same time as another car.

This is according to the driving test.

True nuff.

Meanwhile in the so-called "real world", I suspect that 50/50 liability is the best you can hope for

 

[Simpleton]

True nuff.

Meanwhile in the so-called "real world", I suspect that 50/50 liability is the best you can hope for

Lol, in the real world l'd have ridden off.

 

[midlife]

Quick check of highway code rules suggest you should wait for vehicles to complete their manoeuvre, rule 73 applies to longer vehicles but likely applies to all vehicles manoeuvring.

Shaun

 

[jonny jeez]

On the way home I had a minor collision with a car.

He was doing a three point turn and the front of his car was fully over my side of the road. I nipped through the gap but caught his bumper with my pedal. There are a couple of 8 inch scratches on the corner of his bumper now.

He should have seem me approaching and waited for me to pass instead of blocking my route. I could have stopped in time rather than going through the narrow gap.

I don't have insurance. He does. Who is in the wrong (probably difficult to answer without seeing)? And what happens next?

We exchanged numbers and went on our way.

Yep, sorry it's your fault as others have said.forget the HW code, just apply common sense and look after your own safety.

Although, ill be surprised if you hear from the driver again.

J

 

[wittimahat]

Not sure about blame, but personally, if someone is in the middle of carrying out a manoeuvre I would always hold back until they have completed it. Not sure why you would want to risk squeezing through?

I think a combination of impatience and annoyance that the driver didn't wait for me to pass before blocking my path.

Is there such a thing as 'my side' and 'your side'?

I thought the road was defined as 'available space' irrespective of the markings?

Was he stationary at the point you nipped through and caught him, or did he move into the space you were in?

He was stationary.

It reads like he tried to squeeze past an already manoeuvring vehicle

This is correct.

Did you run into a stationary car? Wherever it happened to be.

Shaun

Yes.

If his car was stopped when you squeezed through, it's your fault. If he closed the gap while you were passing, it's his fault.

All very minor stuff though. I'd offer to pay for a touch-up.

His car was stopped.

Cars fault, unless the car was stationary and you clipped the bumper on the way through?

By rights he should have stopped ( as you would do on a test) and let you go.

The car was stationary and I clipped the bumper on the way through.

 

[NorvernRob]

Some of the replies here show the ones who have never had driving lessons or read the Highway Code properly.

You don't just carry on around a vehicle that's already manoeuvring as they may well not have seen you. You approach with caution and wait until it's clear or the driver stops and signals you to go.

The fact is the OP rode into another vehicle and it's his fault, simple as that. A couple of 8" scratches will cost around £250 to remove by a smart repairer, and if I was the driver the cyclist would be paying the lot.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I think a combination of impatience and annoyance that the driver didn't wait for me to pass before blocking my path.



He was stationary.


This is correct.

Yes.


His car was stopped.


The car was stationary and I clipped the bumper on the way through.

Your fault I'm afraid.

 

[vickster]

Yep bang to rights unfortunately. I'd ask him to get 3 written quotes for the work

 

[Dan B]

I think a combination of impatience and annoyance that the driver didn't wait for me to pass before blocking my path.

I'm "liking" this post because it displays a degree of open-mindedness and introspection that we don't see enough of

Also because you spelled "stationary" correctly, which is more than my phone can manage