roundabout accident claim compensation

Roundabout Accident Claim: How To Prove Who Is At Fault For A Collision

Find out how to prove motorist fault in a roundabout collision, what evidence supports your claim, and the key steps to take immediately after your accident to give you the best chance of success.

Table of Contents

What is a roundabout accident claim?

If you are involved in a car crash (or a collision between other types of vehicle, for example – a truck, motorbike, pedal cycle) which occurs whilst negotiating a roundabout you might be entitled to make a claim compensation for your vehicle damage and injuries sustained (such as whiplash or back and neck injuries).

Such a compensation claim can be known as a “roundabout accident claim”. However – it is often misspelt and referred to as a rounderbout claim.

You May Be Entering The Roundabout When The Collision Occurs

You may be already established on the roundabout when a collision occurs. Alternatively, you may be either entering a lane on a roundabout or about to enter the roundabout.

A roundabout accident claim can only be made if you can show that the other motorist was at fault or negligent for the crash.

How do you know who is liable for your roundabout accident claim?

The following considerations should be taken into account to help decide who is liable fora roundabout collision.

Consider the Highway Code

The Highway Code currently sets out the ”rules of the road” for drivers using a roundabout.

Specifically – Rules 184 to 190, include:

  1. What motorists should do when approaching either a roundabout, mini roundabout or multi roundabouts.
  2. The signals that should be made on approach to the roundabout, whilst changing lanes and exiting.
  3. Priority of vehicles on the roundabout.
  4. Your appropriate lane selection in accordance with road markings.
  5. The requirement for motorists to take extra care in relation to cyclists and pedestrians.
  6. Appropriate speed and observance of other vehicles.

Hence – the Highway Code will allow you to know on paper who is responsible for a roundabout accident claim.

However – facts are often disputed in a roundabout accident. Two drivers might give different, but plausible versions of how the roundabout collision may have occurred.

Motorists may give different version of events

Unfortunately – motorists may not be truthful with their own motor insurers as to how the roundabout collision occurred. This might be because:

  1. The accident happened so fast and they are uncertain.
  2. They were distracted talking to a passenger or using a mobile phone.
  3. Following the accident they decide that they don’t want to accept fault. Therefore, deliberately giving an alternate version of events to their insurers.

Therefore – even though you might be certain as to how your roundabout crash happened, evidence to prove this will often prove essential to winning your claim.

roundabout accident claim
Roundabout Accident Claim

Availability of evidence to prove what actually happened

If liability is not accepted in writing by the motor insurers of the driver at fault after your roundabout accident claim is lodged, you will have to be able to prove what happened.

Beware The Driver Who Readily Accepts Fault At The Accident Scene

All too frequently – a driver will accept fault at the scene and later deny responsibility for the crash.

In addition – they may even lodge a claim against you.

Therefore – no matter what the other driver tells you at the accident scene – ensure you have as much independent evidence as possible which can verify how the accident occurred.

The very fact the driver-at-fault knows you have gathered evidence. Perhaps seeing you take photos and gather witness details. This will make it less likely the motorist will argue a different version at a later stage.

The evidence you should gather includes:

Witnesses To Your Roundabout Accident

Take details of other drivers or pedestrians who witnessed your road accident.

Jot down names, contact details together with what they saw.

Independent Witnesses

Independent witnesses can win your roundabout accident claim. In other words – if you are not connected to witnesses (other road users, pedestrian, etc) – it is likely their evidence will be believed by a court.

Unfortunately – if the witness is a passenger in your own car, they are generally not considered as independent. Therefore – it is far less likely they will be believed.

Witnesses might be difficult to find, However – if your roundabout accident was in a residential area – knock at a few houses to see if anyone witnessed the crash and take down the details of anyone who did,

CCTV

Observe whether any CCTV evidence is in the area that could have filmed the crash. If there was – act quickly to contact the council or other authority to get a copy.

This information can be destroyed relatively quickly if a copy is not obtained.

Make A Plan Of The Accident Scene

Jot down a plan of the accident scene. Include essential criteria. For example – positions of vehicles, road markings, points of collision, etc.

You might be surprised how quickly you can forget both the scene and positioning of vehicles.

Contact The Police

It is a good idea to contact the police. Especially if you are suspicious about the other driver or personal injury has occurred in the accident.

When the police attend at the scene – they will generally compile a police report, take evidence and photos.

The police report can be obtained by your solicitor to help prove liability for your roundabout accident claim.

The Police May Not Attend

Unfortunately – if there is no personal injury in the road accident, the police may not attend even if called.

Alternatively – they may not produce a police report if they deem the accident to minor.

Record Points Of Impact

Jot down the roundabout accident points of impact on the vehicles in a small sketch and take photos. Preferably of the vehicles in the position they collided on the roundabout itself before they are moved.

Take Photos

We all have mobile phones these days!! Therefore – take photos of the vehicle damage, the roundabout layout and any skid marks.

Sometimes – it may even be prudent to take a photo of the other driver.

Write Down Any Acceptance Of Fault

The other motorist may accept fault at the roundabout accident scene. Therefore – ask the driver to write this acceptance out in their own handwriting and sign it.

These days people may take a video of the other driver accepting fault.

Even If Fault Is Accepted – Gather Evidence

Despite fault being accepted in writing at the accident scene – this may not be enough, Therefore – keep the other motorist honest by gathering all evidence to verify how the accident happened.

Take The Motorist’s Full Details

Always take full details of the driver you consider at fault for your roundabout accident.

For example – name, registration number and motor insurance details.

If you have a camera – take a photo of both the motorist’s vehicle (with registration clearly displayed) and the motorist.

Making a roundabout accident claim

If you suspect you have a roundabout accident claim then you should act quickly and contact a specialist road traffic accident solicitor.

Roundabout accident liability is notoriously tricky to prove. The sooner a solicitor is involved the better your chances of success.

Q&A – Roundabout Accident Scenarios

See real-life questions from personal injury victims seeking to claim following a roundabout accident. Select the one that is of most interest to be taken to our detailed answer.

Car Hit From Behind By A Van On A Mini Roundabout

Car Collision Whilst Changing Lanes On

SUMMARY Roundabout

In summary – you have learnt how to prove who is at fault for a roundabout accident. Our solicitors explain the evidence you need, how liability is decided, and how to start your claim confidently.

Select from our free specialist solicitor legal help options. You can not only call us direct to discuss your roundabout accident, but also ask a legal question and have your claim assessed.

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