Insurance Claim, How Does It Work, And Who Was In The Wrong.

[sacha.86]

I was stationary at a junction, waiting to turn out on the main road. I was slightly over the line when a bus came hurtling past and skimmed the front of my car. Am I at any fault?

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Were there any witnesses?.If not, the driver of the bus could say that you hit him.

[sacha.86]

There were cameras on the front of the bus so the whole incidence is on camera from the drivers perspective.

[TopKat]

If you were over the line, I think you'll be technically at fault - sorry.

[sacha.86]

Is there anywhere I can contact to find out for sure whether I am at fault or not and if I call the insurance company before deciding to record the incident are they going to automatically record it and is it going to affect my insurance policy etc?

[Canary42]

You are to blame - you entered the main road before it was safe to do so.

Yes, the insurance company are likely to record it if you contact them - or if the bus company/driver does. Your NCB will probably be affected, depending on the terms of your policy.

[ToraToraTora]

you failed to give way. Your fault, no contest.

[Hopkirk]

I would have said not at fault, if you were stationary.

It is up to the driver of the moving vehicle to avoid all obstructions.

[ToraToraTora]

yes Hopkirk has a point, if you had stopped then it is the bus that needs to not hit you.

[New Judge]

Quite so. Imagine you had begun to pull out and then stalled. It does not give oncoming traffic free rein to pile into you. Drivers must drive so that they can stop within the distance they can see to be clear. If you were stationary the road ahead for the bus was not clear and he should not have collided with you. The difficulty you may have is proving you were stationary and that you did not "creep" into the path of the bus or did not appear and overrun the stop line so suddenly that the bus had no chance to avoid you. The bus's camera should help.

[sacha.86]

I was completely stationary with my front wheels behind the line. The driver failed to stop. I thought it was his fault for not driving with due care and attention to the road? There are plenty of lines that you have to go over or to creep forward at just to see whether it is safe to pull out.

[hc4361]

The moving vehicle is nearly always at fault in this sort of situation. It is also an offence to not stop and exchange details.

[EDDIE51]

What actually happened? First you say you were slightly over the line then you say you were stationary with your wheels behind the line. You need to get the facts straight.

[sacha.86]

I've spoke to the insurance company and they said it would likely be a 70 30 split in my favour. I decided not to open a claim. Eddie I was stationary with my front wheels behind the line but the front of the car over the line, is that clearer?