Roundabout collision. Who's guilty?

[davethedrummer]

i was crossing the roundabout with 5 exits today and entered it from rhd lane on dual carriage way (due to high volume traffic) with intention to exit on 2nd exit, soon as i passed 1st exit i turned the left indicator and start pulling to the left on right lane of dual carriage way when i was hit by a van coming out from the first exit i just passed and heading towards 3rd exit. the guy claimed it was my fault, beacause i have cut him but i was sure that i've got right of way as i was first on the roundabout and he didnt even indicate or anything, the speed wasn't big however the van end up with damaged bumper and indicator and little dent on the wing while my car has ripped front door, damaged back door and back wing... There was no independent witnesses however i could appeal to people as the traffic was heavy and someone must have seen it. I'm quite confused now and getting stressed because repair of my car will cost a fortune. Please anyone got any idea or experience with such a case to precisely define who's fault was it?

[madmaggot]

As I understand it whilst your lane discipline was poor, traffic should give way to cars approaching from the left. As there were no witnesses you may find that your insurers agree 'knock for knock'.

[Toureman]

According to your description you put your indicator on and started pulling to the left, as you never used your mirror or looked left before changing lane then it would be more your fault as you did not know the van was there but it will probably come out 50/50.

[davethedrummer]

Question author
i did see that van but he pulled out in front of me and i was sure he is taking left turn to his first exit...
i'm just shocked. 50/50 doesn't seem very good to me however would be better than being fully responsible...
anyway, thank you guys for throwing some light.
if they will manage to blame me for this i will be taking only left lane on roundabouts for the rest of my life...

[magicmerlin]

Surely, as you approached the roundabout the 2nd exit would most likely be to your left. Why use the rh lane? You should have got into the lh lane before entering roundabout. Right, that's my moan over.

If you had entered roundabout at an earlier point you would have been in correct lane at exit before the one required. Subject to correct indication you have right of way to exit at desired point.

Therefor, I believe that if you did everything correctly on the roundabout then the van driver hit you through his own actions (was the van white...was he on his mobile phone and not paying 100% attention?) and is totally at fault.

[mr_g_uk]

Personally I can't see that you have done much wrong here. In my opinion (and that is all it is) I think if the left hand lane on an approach was used to take the first exit only, wouldn't this cut down on a lot of such accidents as it would stop people driving over an exit in the left hand lane where people could be exiting from the right hand (if that makes sense!). I believe this is the case here.
As you were already on the roundabout I would be giving my insurance hell if they agreed to a 50/50.
Just out of interest (as this happens to me on my way home an awful lot) please could I have an opinion on this scenario. I leave the motorway and want to exit at the 3rd exit (3/4 way round) so take the right hand lane of the slip road. I stay in this lane until just before the exit I want, begin to drift over (after checking my mirrors). However a lot of people, to jump the queue, come up the slip road in left hand lane and drive round the outside to come off the same exit. Who would be at fault if I was to drift over into them?