How is the fault determined in motor incident?

birchtree

Here is a situation - two cars do not 'share' lanes on 5 exit roundabout. The Irish rules of the road have no mention of roundabouts that have more than 4 exits. How is the blame determined?

In some other countries, rules of the road act as the governing law over any traffic incidents, and myself being interested and very familiar with it, I have not encountered a traffic situation that would not have been covered by the rules of the road. Not so in Ireland, rules of the road are sort of easy-to-read version of Bible. So how are situations like that handled?

CiniO

birchtree wrote: »

Here is a situation - two cars do not 'share' lanes on 5 exit roundabout. The Irish rules of the road have no mention of roundabouts that have more than 4 exits. How is the blame determined?

In some other countries, rules of the road act as the governing law over any traffic incidents, and myself being interested and very familiar with it, I have not encountered a traffic situation that would not have been covered by the rules of the road. Not so in Ireland, rules of the road are sort of easy-to-read version of Bible. So how are situations like that handled?

As you said - in other countries road traffic law describes how drivers should drive, and therefore fault can be resolved usually by traffic police, and in case of doubt by court.

In Ireland though, it's insurance companies who deal with determining who was at fault.
It's obvious that where private companies which have business in paying out as little as possible, will do everything to make sure they have to pay as little as possible, and that's most likely the way they resolve liability in accidents - to suit their business.

dollybird2

Your question is very ambiguous. How did the hypothetical accident occur?
Normal ROR apply re: car already on roundabout, lane division, indication as to turn offs etc. So what can happen outside of this on 5 lane roundabout as opposed to 4 lane r/about?

Del2005

birchtree wrote: »

Here is a situation - two cars do not 'share' lanes on 5 exit roundabout. The Irish rules of the road have no mention of roundabouts that have more than 4 exits. How is the blame determined?

In some other countries, rules of the road act as the governing law over any traffic incidents, and myself being interested and very familiar with it, I have not encountered a traffic situation that would not have been covered by the rules of the road. Not so in Ireland, rules of the road are sort of easy-to-read version of Bible. So how are situations like that handled?

The ROTR have left, straight and taking any later exits. Just because they use a 4 way round about picture doesn't mean the ROTR doesn't apply to non standard ones.

Depending on what happened blame is determined by either the Gardaí or insurance companies.

For fender benders it'll be dealt with by insurance companies using the information provided by the claimants, but they will always go with the easiest/cheapest option for themselves not the claimants.

For bigger RTIs the Gardaí will investigate and pass the information onto the DPP who'll decide if any drivers have a case to answer.

blindside88

Same rules would apply to a 5/6/7 exit roundabout as to a 4 lane roundabout. If taking the first exit or second exit (where second exit is straight ahead) use left lane, for all other exits use right lane, or where the second exit is not straight ahead use the right lane for this also. There is a 5 lane roundabout in carlow and it baffles me how people have such difficulty using it