what would you do?

[wetdog]

g'day one and all, i am in a bit of a dilemma, here goes.......................i was driving down the duel carriagway the other day, when bam, offside lane closed. so i slowede down and joined the que. we where just over a mile from the closed point. as i was slowing down all the traffic from the outside lane moved into the nearside, so i thought happy days and trundled on in the outside lane and up to the back of a jeep patriot, who was doing the 'nobody is passing me' thing and blocking the outside lane. i thought t1t, and stayed behind him. at this point we are just about 3/4 mile from closed point. we chugged along for a 100m or so and a guy in the nearside lane laft a gap and the patriot started to move across. this is when i got a bit to keen and floored it to nip past him down to the filter point. he saw me and swerved fairly hard back across and our door mirrors collided. breaking both mine and his. a big row in a laybye and at my house and he wants me to pay. after thinking about this i am unsure, sure i went early, he was straddling the white line, but if he hadnt have swerved the collision woulkd not have happened.

what do you reckon guys?

also, the patriot driver is a well known local nutter, big strong strapping lad who used to work the doors and play proffesional rugby league for leigh. in fact, 30 years ago we where on the same colts team.

should i pay?

mick.

 

[my pos mounty]

I wouldn't pay him a dime. You are correct, had he not swerved back into the lane, for no apparent reason, the "accident" would not have happened. Especially if he turned on his directional indicating his intention of changing lanes and then began to do so. I would tell him to go crap in his hat and not reward his childish actions. Doing so would only serve to encourage him to continue to endanger the lives of those around him whenever he felt the need. Would not matter to me if he was the king of the world, he would not get a penny of my money.

 

[BIGHVM]

Agree, dont care for his size or past, simply let the insurance know and the police- should you encounter any "issues"!
How could you have countered erratic driving?
Lucky for you a replacement mirror s/h is around £50 or less- I had mine replaced a while back after some village idiot kicked it off!
For him- dont know but probably more- suggest you pay for your own and call it experiance?

 

[Bubble18-30]

Hi Mick,

I'm a bit late on posting on this one but here goes....

I tend to find that one of a few things happen when i deal with an Road Traffic Collision

1) Both drivers will claim in this situation that the other driver hit them, with no independant proof of either claim it will go "knock for knock where both of you will loose No Claims Bonus and excesses etc

2) The Insurance companies will pile through Road Traffic Law and try to determine who is more to blame eg: 60 / 40, 30 / 70 etc - this does not help you as as per point 1, you will both still loose NCD, this is just for them to proportion how much money they have to pay to each other.

Once everbody has calmed down this need to be highlighted and it would be cheaper for each of you not to claim and just buy new wingmirrors! As for the Police unless anybody is injured or their is a clear case of Driving With Due Care / Dangerous Driving Etc, it will not be investigated.

It all boils down to independant witnesses and/or CCTV to support your claim.

Hope this helps! (Albiet probably too late..)