Drivers that don't admit liability

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Turns out the woman who left hooked me won't admit responsibility, she's even told the insurers that the witness will back her up. Cycle Claims seem happy enough that even with this they'll eventually recover my losses.

How does anyone think they can get away with this though?

Argh, I'm seriously angry at this idiot.
 
I would think that denying liability is quite normal, as there is always two sides to any story - that is why witnesses are useful.

Don't worry about it and let the police\insurance company to apportion blame.
 

StuartG

slower but no further
Location
SE London
I would never admit liability even if I knew I was in the wrong. To do so may invalidate your insurance.

Doesn't stop you agreeing a chain of events with the other party and being honest with your insurers (and the police). Facts are our business. Liability is with the lawyers.
 

Night Train

Maker of Things
I would never admit liability even if I knew I was in the wrong. To do so may invalidate your insurance.

Doesn't stop you agreeing a chain of events with the other party and being honest with your insurers (and the police). Facts are our business. Liability is with the lawyers.

I think there is even small print in the insurance docs to support this, or there was when I first started driving and read everything. I remember the documents saying something along the lines of not admiting liability as when you do it takes the liability away from the insurer onto yourself.
So in effect holding your hands up and saying 'Sorry, all my fault.' means the insurer can refuse to pay leaving the third party's insurer taking you to court and suing for losses.

Aside from checking for injury and need for emergency assistance I work on the 'say nothing about the incident and just exchange details' path and let the insurer work it out.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
They lie. Let the legal people give them a kicking.

The guy that ran into the back of my wife's car is denying that he even hit her car ! Funny that he stopped, and we have his handwritten contact details. Damage was minimal, so we didn't claim for some slight paint damage - my wife did suffer whiplash which needed medical treatment.
 
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SportMonkey

Guest
Yes, but the fact the insurers are willing to stick to it for a left hook. Annoyingly I've got a damaged bike, all the joints on the right side of my body ache constantly and I'll have to wait to get a bike that is safe to cycle. I'm tempted having her address to mail her the highway code.

And the police, well they're completely useless too.
 

Beebo

Firm and Fruity
Location
Hexleybeef
Do you know what her version of events is?
 

Angelfishsolo

A Velocipedian
Taken from "Traffic Accident Advice"


Admitting Fault
First things first, don't admit that you are to blame for the collision. Insurance companies take a dim view of people who admit liability, and even if you feel that it is your fault you shouldn't offer to take the blame at the scene. Remember that it's up to investigators to figure out what happened and who to point the finger at. You can provide the insurance company with a full statement later on and let them take the appropriate course of action. A driver is not legally obliged to admit that they are at fault at the scene of an accident, so don't be bullied into doing so or try to force anyone else to admit liability. Of course if you do say that you were to blame and apologise for the crash, then if anyone hears you, they might be asked to stand up in court and say that you admitted liability at the scene. Remember that if you're in shock it can do funny things to you and you might say something that you don't mean, so avoid taking responsibility for anything.


Why Shouldn't I Admit Fault if I Think I am to Blame?
If the other driver is pushing you to admit fault remember that if you admit liability when you aren't to blame then you run the risk of losing any compensation you might have got from injuries sustained in the accident, and depending on the level of car insurance you have, you may end up without a car or a settlement payment.
 
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SportMonkey

Guest
Do you know what her version of events is?

They overtook me, and I carried on pedalling in to the side of her car.

Mine is, they overtook me, didn't get past, and turned. I was still pedalling as I always do through that section of road.
 
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