(Ultra)Minor Collision (Car) video - Fault?

[Dave20046]

Just a quick question/perspective check, on my drive to work this morning a coach didn't mirror check and cut a corner by dipping into my left-hand filter lane. He got gradually closer and didn't dip back out until he hit me (at which point I had to go up the pavement and beeped).

He went off and with a scratch on my car I rang up the coach operator for a moan thinking if the driver does that route often and doesn't clock the hazard there'll be another knock (a nervous biker might have ditched it, especially as it was sub 0 degrees). Rather than saying 'oh I'll look into it/speak to the driver' they said 'we don't operate coaches anywhere near there' ... they went on to say without a reg they won't do anything. So they've annoyed me a bit now and I'm prepared to waste a bit of time with the complaint...

So in short, before I send them the below I just want others' perspective on it in case they try to turn it round on me and even try to claim something.

http://youtu.be/AXNjVqTlWZk

Note: it looks a lot quicker once it's been processed by moviemaker and uploaded, or maybe it's just because the clips been snipped it feels it- it's definitely sub 30mph (which was the speed limit) and I'd guess around 20mph. Next time I go there I'll definitely be reviewing speed but I don't feel it caused the knock.

[ophic]

I'd say bad lane discipline on the part of the coach. Quite possibly genuine mistake but nevertheless he's at fault.

There's no risk of being accused of undertaking as his lane is queuing.

And yeah if the coach company deny everything that would get my back up as well.

From what I can see, the coach driver wasn't particularly at fault. Narrow lanes and you could see the curve was tightening up so could have hung back imho.

Hi Dave, watched the vid a few times, whilst it looks a little like you sneaked up the inside of him, you were in your own lane and well within your rights to do so. Just looks like a case of him not checking his mirrors and clipping your lane. How bad's the scratch?

[ophic]

But the coach driver could see all that as well and should have positioned his coach better - and checked his mirror before encroaching on the other lane.

Even better if the coach should not have been anywhere near there as perhaps the road isn't suitable.

[Dave20046]

Cheers, as I approached the coach and truck were stationary, my left lane was completely clear. My understanding was that even if they were moving if they are 'queued' I could pass on the left...sounds like

Yeah , their attitude ****ed me off. I rang up on a 'wouldn't mind talking to the driver' basis and they're denying all knowledge of operating near there (they're based 20miles away if that) and aren't prepared to ask any likely drivers (email/message in staffroom?) if they were near there in the interests of safety.
Hopefully just so cautious in case I'm trying to claim, but it did **** me off.

Originally Posted by Teejayexc

From what I can see, the coach driver wasn't particularly at fault. Narrow lanes and you could see the curve was tightening up so could have hung back imho.

The lane he's in is really wide, I had the curb as my escape route (wrongly or rightly!) as I did actually clock the risk but thought he'd get close then pop back into his lane. It's a major route , (30 seconds further hits a big junction onto the M1), there are constantly lorries and buses on that route.

The only thing I can think is lazyness/cocked up positioning or he was avoiding a right turner on the crossroads. He looked like he jumped when he made contact as I was watching him in his mirror .

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by tactcom7

Hi Dave, watched the vid a few times, whilst it looks a little like you sneaked up the inside of him, you were in your own lane and well within your rights to do so. Just looks like a case of him not checking his mirrors and clipping your lane. How bad's the scratch?

minor...2 or 3 inches of paint swapping on the mirror is all I've noticed to be honest. As soon as he touched my mirror I started going up the curb (I was already clipping it before it folded in).

I thought not a lot of it, then he drove off without hesitation which got my back up a little, then the supervisors attitude got me properly annoyed.

[Bibio]

you seen it narrow up, you slowed down but you just carried on instead of matching a pace that would have let the coach go clear before you proceeded. so in reality you scratched your wing mirror along the side of his coach. both at fault.

[TamSV]

I wouldn't take it personally. I place the insurance for some large vehicle fleets and they are bombarded by chancers who are either totally at it, or genuinely get hit by an HGV and just take down the reg of the next one they see.

With telematics and on-board cameras we can prove when the vehicle wasn't there but not every fleet has those.

They have to do something to cut down the number of time waster so many firms will adopt a standard practice with these minor damage claims of denying them all and see which ones take it further. They're not being arsey for the sake of it, just pragmatic.

I reckon you could probably get something out of a claim - he did enter your lane. I've got some sympathy for him though as he had a truck waiting to turn right that he had to avoid and, if he checked his mirrors a few seconds before the incident, he had clear space on his left before you arrived.

If I was working for the coach company I'd offer a 50/50 and, depending on how motivated the people are working for you, I MIGHT get it. If you put a claim in yourself I'm afraid I'd ignore it - I'd make you report it to your insurers and deal through them. The potential consequences to your own insurance premium might put you off.

You may consider that doesn't make me a good person but these guys are working on wafer thin margins and insurance is a huge hit for them so they need the best result from every claim. They need to defend their livelihoods and the enlightened will pay a **** like me to do it for them.

Apart from the chancers, the second category of car drivers that cause problems for large vehicles are those who stuff it up the inside, usually on roundabouts, then get hit. The vehicles rear wheels are going to follow the shortest route and if these guys didn't invade lanes they wouldn't get anywhere. Fleet owners feel a bit aggrieved that these incidents usually go against them so they want them defended.

You saw the potential hazard, you could have held back. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, there's something both of you could have done differently to avoid that collision.

Unless the damage to your car is significant, I'd chalk it up to experience. Having said that, the way I make my living does make me incredibly biased.

[Dave20046]

Cheers Tam, bit of an insight. I've no intention to claim though - I just don't like their attitude that 'because I've got a chance of getting off scott-free... it never happened' . It's irresponsible and annoying...but I do accept I'm fussing over nothing. I'm more annoyed that I've realised it's knocked a brake light out (gotta spend 5 mins swapping it now!) than I am annoyed about it scratching the car.

Originally Posted by Bibio

you seen it narrow up, you slowed down but you just carried on instead of matching a pace that would have let the coach go clear before you proceeded. so in reality you scratched your wing mirror along the side of his coach. both at fault.

If he stayed static (in his own lane he wouldn't have come into my lane) I think it's a fair enough assumption that people won't come largely into your lane randomly. He was over by at least half a foot in my lane and he wasn't even in my lane when I committed to pass.
I must admit though I'd clocked it as a hazard and had an 'escape route' planned. That's self preservation more than 'fault' (legal) though surely Bib?