churchills2:
Hi everyone, I need advice for the above subject.I was travelling down the M6 south and come into the roadworks, I was in the middle lane doing about 40-45 keeping up with traffic and the lanes veer from right to left and there were mix of reflective green studs along with white lines.
I kept within the green studs but there was a car to my right who was getting really close to me, I was watching them and when I looked forward the HGV in front of me started braking heavily (turns out a car has cut up a the 1st truck and he slammed on… the second truck slammed on.
I was 3rd and I slammed on) and I braked as hard as I could but my HGV was sliding for at least 5 seconds and went into the back of the 2nd HGV causing minimal damage to 2nd trucks tail lights and my window was smashed and front plastics were cracked and my radiator blown.Behind me was absolute mayhem and nobody went into the back of me other cars collided with trucks and 3 trucks were complete write off.
The emergency services all came and sorted and police took basic statement on A4 paper and asked me what happened and I signed it, I was also breathalysed and blew zero (last time I had an alcoholic drink was about 3 weeks ago).
Anyway the police are doing me and a load of others for driving without due care and attention.
My upset is yes I could have left more of a gap but how many truck drivers out there keep a safe gap and then a car/van comes in between you and vehicle in front and slam on making you slam on■■?
This happened several times before the accident so I closed the gap but it was still safe ditance but because I was watching the vehicle to my right I didnt give full attention to the front hence the crash.
I could have swerved left or right and avoided hitting the HGV in front of me but it means I would have wiped out iether car on iether side and I wasnt prepared to do that, the final impact was about 2-5 mph as I was sliding and I was maybe a metre or 2 short.What can I do.
The police have referred me onto a “driver awareness course” for £150 but Im a temporary agency driver and cant afford the fine but will have to find the money, cant had that offence on my license as I will never get work.I do feel I have been given a raw deal but I feel I have no choice but to accept it. If I left a safe gap someone would have got in between us and slammed on then i would have gone into back of them and they would always maintain they were “driving a safe speed listening to classical music in no hurry and gently braked and I went into back of them” and I get done for driving without due care and attention when I cant prove otherwise ad they get a nice whiplash claim, new car, PTSD, etc or I close the gap and have accident and get done for driving without due car and attention.
Also as you know most car drivers are normally driving at high speed whilst on thier phone or thier phone on thier left knee, as a trucker were higher up and can easily see.
Im stuck between a rock and a hard place and if I contest it It will cost me thousands in legal fee’s and may end up still being prosecuted or just accept it…admit liability… pay £150 and wait for it all to happen again■■?
All suggestions greatly appreciated. No persons were killed in this pile up just a few injuries and everyone walked away…
My pride was hurt more than any physical injuries I sustained
DONT ACCEPT ANYTHING atm!!!
Find out exactly why you are being done and if it is ( for example…not leaving a big enough gap )…get your lawyer or find out yoursel if that is actually a LAW as most of Highway Code is only a GUIDANCE and not the LAW!
If what you are being done with is NOT A LAW fight it all the way
Good Luck