Car Accident Advice (Victoria)

Dr Techno on 26/02/2025 - 11:42
Last edited 26/02/2025 - 13:06 by 1 other user

Hi all, a family member had a car accident. Just wanted advice on situation.

Family Member: Red car - (3rd party)
Other party: Blue car -Full Comprehensive Company car

See diagram.

Basically family member was travelling straight in a bus lane intended to make a left turn to enter McDonalds car park which is about 80 metres away from point of impact. According to road rules you are allowed within bus lane 100 metres before exiting the road -

(from website)
Drivers are not allowed to drive in a bus lane, unless:
they are driving for up to 100 metres to enter or leave the road,

Other party was executing right turn to pull into driveway straight ahead and their vision was blocked by built up traffic in the closer lanes, it's peak hour traffic. Other party T-Boned family member making her do a 180 degree spin since main impact was rear quarter panel. No other cars were damaged thankfully. Other party admitted that they didn't see family member at the time.

Family member doesn't have dashcam and she took photos of accident damage, position of cars and debris on road. There was a bus behind some distance down the road might be able to ask bus company if they have dashcam footage.

Other parties insurance company said family member wasn't driving straight which isn't true and they need to provide a statement now.

Any advice on how to best handle this situation? I'm assuming other party had to give way and since family member was exiting the road less than 100 metres then they should be okay in the bus lane.

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  carimakan on 28/02/2025 - 09:52

  Not by law, however it’s about courtesy driving skills and experiences, every driver should look all directions front back left right, reset all directions visions every few seconds, and especially before and when making turns. Give ways as per the law.

  Many drivers may be holding full driver license, however lacking driving knowledge and safety.

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  Eeples on 28/02/2025 - 11:31

  How would the others insurance company know the red car was not driving straight?

  And even if they were, so what?

  Edit: OP please say ‘3rd party property’ not just ‘3rd party’

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    NanoDuke on 28/02/2025 - 12:01

    +1

    OP please say ‘3rd party property’ not just ‘3rd party’

    Bit pedantic, though?
    Even when you google "Third party property" only 6 out of 20 top search results use the word 'property'. All simply say "Third party car insurance".

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      Eeples on 06/03/2025 - 18:58

      Yes, lots ppl need an education.

      Or, are you suggesting if many ppl are ignorant then it’s okay to continue such ignorance.

      Or, laziness, or whatever you want to call it.

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        NanoDuke on 06/03/2025 - 23:46

        Nah just suggesting pedantry. No one skips a beat if you say "3rd party" over "3rd party property".

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  alxr0101 on 28/02/2025 - 16:14

  What does "Other parties insurance company said family member wasn't driving straight…"

  even mean?!?

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    tenpercent on 28/02/2025 - 22:47

    You might have skimmed past this bit:

    family member was travelling straight in a bus lane intended to make a left turn

    Or if your reading comprehension is low, it just means that the insurance company for the blue car (other) driver is saying that the red car driver (who is a family member of the OP) was not driving straight.

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      alxr0101 on 03/03/2025 - 02:16

      I'd want to reference the exact text the insurance company used or if "straight" is the synopsis of that request.

      It's a nonsense assertion…of course the car is travelling "straight"….it's not performing a "turn" at the point of impact (irrelevant that the "intended" turn is still some distance up the road, irrelevant that the driver is in a bus lane).

      The other vehicle CROSSED into their path and therefore failed to give way.

      Thankyou for offering your silly proposition that my "reading comprehension is low".

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