There are many road traffic accidents occurring on roundabouts – and even though they may involve low speed collisions you can still be prone to whiplash injuries.
If you have been involved in a road traffic accident that was not your fault and have been injured as a result you have the right to claim for compensation.
Roundabouts can often seem like a very stressful and manic place to be, and if you are involved in an accident it can be difficult to determine who is at fault! The main failings that govern someone liable for roundabout accidents are:
- Failing to keep a proper look out
- Speed
- Failing to wait for traffic to pass before entering the roundabout
- Failing to keep or move to the correct lane at the correct time thereby causing last minute lane changes
- Sudden braking
The Highway Code governs traffic behaviour at roundabouts. It states that on approaching a roundabout take notice and act on all the information available to you, including traffic signs, traffic lights and lane markings which direct you into the correct lane. It states that when reaching the roundabout you should give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road marking or traffic lights.
An example of a road traffic collision on a roundabout is that if a driver fails to arrange his position correctly when entering a roundabout so that he / she is in the wrong lane when approaching his / her exit, he / she cannot just barge into the adjoining lane and inconvenience other drivers. The driver will be liable for the accident if he or she does so.
Another example is if a driver fails to turn off a roundabout when he or she is in the ‘turn off’ lane. In one case a motorcyclist was travelling southbound on a dual carriageway in the offside lane of two alongside a car who was travelling in the nearside lane. Both motorists approached the roundabout intending to continue their journey along the dual carriageway exit. Both parties entered the roundabout. The car made an error having thought the correct exit was straight on, the driver realised their mistake late whilst adjacent to the dual carriage way exit. Instead of sharply turning to make the exit, she decided to continue around the roundabout. At this point the motorcyclist who had begun to turn off the roundabout collided with the car. It was held in this scenario that the car user should have been aware of the potential danger she presented to other road users on the roundabout.
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault you are entitled to claim for compensation. There is no claim too big or small. Call The Injury Lawyers to day on 0800 634 75 75 for free no obligatory legal advice.
