http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk Site News daily 1 2006-09-26T07:25:22Z http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/ran-into-stationary-car-which-i-am-not-sure-was-properly-insured-how-do-i-find-out-what-their-cover-was-and-will-this-assist-my-claim Last week I drove to a house and knowing I wouldn't be long I parked behind another resident's car blocking it in. Needless to say the driver of the blocked car came knocking so he could get out. I reversed slowly but stupidly I scratched another car which was parked 60% on the pavement on a single yellow line. I explained what happened to the owner, took photos of the scratch and where the car was parked, then gave them my insurance details. A neighbour came out and said that he owned a car body repair shop. To repair a two inch scratch would cost £225 he said, which is less than my excess (and I've got 2yrs no claims). I know I'm at fault because the car was stationary (even if it was illegally parked) but I'm wondering why wasn't the car parked on his driveway; do his insurance company know that he has alloys on a really base model car? It turns out the car is registered to his father with the son as a second driver which means the dad is fronting for the son (invalid policy ) but how do I prove this. How would I find out if they have been honest with their insurers and how will this affect my claim. No publisher conrad 2007-11-28T07:42:31Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/overseas-driver-caught-on-camera-for-red-light-offence-what-happens-next I am sure I was caught on camera going through a red light. I was just not paying enough attention, which I know is hardly an excuse.The lights had just turned and I did not react quickly enough to brake. I have a UK registered car but a Republic of Ireland driving licence as I relocated to the UK a year ago. Can you please tell me what I should expect to happen now? Will this involve a court appearance? No publisher conrad 2007-10-23T05:36:41Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/u-turn-on-mini-roundabout-other-driver-accepted-liability-but-now-denies-it-how-can-i-prove-it-was-their-fault I missed a turning on a small single lane road, and saw that I could turn around at a mini round about ahead. As I made the U-turn around the mini roundabout, a car entering from the same road as I had collided with my driver's side door with their front left wing, resulting in severe damage (write-off) to my door and seal, and small damage to their headlight and front. At the time they accepted liability and said that we would not need any witnesses. Now they are claiming I entered the mini roundabout from another road to the left, therefore denying liability. How can I prove it was their fault? No publisher conrad 2007-08-22T17:04:40Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/parking-ticket-issued-with-wrong-registration-number-but-right-make-and-model-must-i-pay-it A parking ticket was put on my car but it has the wrong licence plate number on it but the right make/model. I think the ticket was supposed to be for me as I had over run the time on the meter but do I have to pay the fine if the details are incorrect? In theory, it could have been for another vehicle I guess. No publisher conrad 2007-05-07T09:56:02Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/law-relating-to-matrix-signs-on-a-motorway-3571617 Please can you explain to me the law on motorway matrix signs. When it flashes 50 or 30mph, is it mandatory to obey these limits/signs or advisory. I have heard that if the sign is bound by a red circle then it is mandatory but if not then it is advisory, No publisher conrad 2007-05-04T05:23:38Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/pulled-over-for-speeding-what-is-the-procedure-for-being-issued-with-a-summons I was pulled over in a 30 doing 55. Neither of us got out the car (me or police officer, I was driving alone) He told me through the window that it was too fast for a ticket so it meant court. However just before he drove off I had the impression he was letting me off the hook. Is this just very wishful thinking? What is the procedure for a court summons from being pulled over? Is it a letter too? No publisher conrad 2007-04-30T04:44:16Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/car-park-accident-because-i-was-reversing-am-i-liable I was parked in a station car park last week and tried to leave the car park by the same way that I had come in. However, to my dismay, cars had parked all the way down the line head to head meaning that the only way out was to find a gap where cars in both lines had left together. So I began to reverse back to try and find somewhere to exit and a car on my left hand side that was parallel to me but facing in the other direction suddenly pulled out. There is damage to the side of the rear passenger side wing on my car and the front wing on the passenger side of her car. To my dismay I have been told that as I was reversing that the accident would more than likely mean that I was at fault ! Can you confirm that this is true as I had no way of turning round or getting out of the car park any other way. I didn't admit liability and neither did she. I will be really annoyed if this ends up being my fault and as only the front wing of her car is damaged it clearly shows that I must have reversed most of the way past her car before she pulled out on me. Where do I stand with this type of accident? No publisher conrad 2007-04-26T12:44:03Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/is-it-an-offence-not-to-have-airbags What are the legalities of regarding car airbags. We have recently found out that our car has no driver's airbag as it was triggered previously. What is the law in relation to not having airbags and is this an offence. No publisher conrad 2007-04-26T10:43:39Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/driving-24-years-overseas-but-i-have-three-points-and-am-a-probationary-driver-in-the-uk-if-i-get-3-more-points-will-they-ban-me On 8 Aug 2006 I exceeded the speed limit by 6 mph. I was driving a company car using an international license as I am non British. I pleaded guilty and paid the £60 fine. No points could be endorsed on the international license. I do not drive currently. I have applied for a Provisional UK License and hope to get a full UK driving license in the next few months. I have been told by DVLA that I must submit the provisional license to be endorsed with the 3 points and that if and when I get the full UK license it will have 3 points on it. These points remain for 4 years. In the first two years of driving if I get 3 more points i will lose the licence and have to resit all the tests. Can I somehow get these points off my licence (when I do get it) before the 4 year period. It seems very harsh. I have been driving for some 24 years with a very safe record. No publisher conrad 2007-04-26T10:22:37Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/why-do-the-dvla-release-driver-details-and-can-the-registered-keeper-be-bound-into-a-contract-with-a-private-parking-company-if-they-are-not-present My wife is currently disputing an attempt by the company Parking Eye suggesting that she, as the registered keeper of a vehicle, is liable for a penalty charge raised on a private car park. My understanding is that any such charge would only arise as possible damages for contravening a possible contract entered into by a driver of the vehicle at a private car park? In order to harass my wife in this way Parking Eye obtained her details as a registered Keeper from the DVLA. As the details of the registered keeper of a vehicle are of no relevance to any such dispute between a driver and a PPC why are the DVLA agreeing that there is reasonable cause to supply the registered keeper's details. Surely the DVLA are in breach of a duty of care at the very least? No publisher conrad 2007-04-25T04:17:21Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/avoiding-points-through-a-speed-awareness-course I have today received a NIP for doing 36 in a 30 zone. I was on a motorbike after having passed my test last August and have been riding it since (I do drive a car on a daily basis for business). Is there anything I can do to avoid getting the points on my licence as I have 6 already and generally stick vehemently to speed limits? No publisher conrad 2007-04-25T03:57:28Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/can-i-still-be-charged-11-months-after-a-traffic-offence-is-there-a-time-limit-for-a-summons I was involved in a Road Traffic collision involving myself and another vehicle on June 3rd 2006. The police attended the scene after the accident and I was given a verbal N.I.P. I was also given a form to produce my documents at the local police station. The police officer at the time said I would be considered for prosecution of Driving without due care and attention and for the consideration of other road users and had the right to remain silent and anything you do say may be given in evidence speech. I just wanted to know if its safe to assume now that no further action can be taken, as its almost 11 months since the accident and I have heard nothing further from the police or the court? The offence was committed in Scotland, so you are able to answer Scottish law on this offence. No publisher conrad 2007-04-25T03:51:10Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/car-was-damaged-after-moved-out-of-normal-bay-into-street-to-accommodate-funeral My neighbour had the funeral for her partner's mother at her house. She asked me to park my car on the street and out of my parking bay so that there would be space for the flowers laid out. My car was parked legally, touching the kerb to give the maximum space. Our road is a cul-de-sac and we are near the end of it so the only cars passing along that way would have been the ones involved in the funeral. When I went to collect my vehicle this afternoon the passenger side mirror (the one on the road side of the car) had been knocked and damaged. Is my neighbour liable? I don't see why I should have to pay for this damage as it would never have happened if my car had been in its usual position in the protected parking bay. Thanks for your answer. No publisher conrad 2007-04-25T03:22:12Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/parking-offence-in-a-no-return-within-the-hour-bay I have received a Fixed Penalty Notice for parking for too long in a bay restricted to 30 minutes. The times recorded on the FPN are 1339 to 1551. The signage around the bays suggests that the parking is limited to 30 minutes with no return within 1 hour. Although I was parked in the bay for the duration of this period, I could have easily have moved the car for an hour and 10 minutes before returning to the parking space. Is there any way that the local Police could prove otherwise as this is all that is stated on the FPN. Also, if I was to appeal to have the fine dealt with by a court then would it be necessary for me to attend (losing a days work) or would a simple letter explaining the matter suffice? No publisher conrad 2007-04-25T03:15:24Z News Item http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/is-there-a-law-against-driving-in-the-middle-lane Is there a law against failing to drive in nearside lane. Will it be dealt with by a fixed penalty notice or can I elect to go to court on this? No publisher conrad 2007-04-25T03:11:35Z News Item