I hit a pedestrian in my car - I really need advice please

[devonhil]

Yesterday I reversed into a pedestrian in a petrol forecourt. I am totally aware that it is my fault - that I didn't look carefully enough and I am to blame so please don't judge me further for that as I'm not looking for a discussion on driving skills.
I had been stationary and the man was very close to the back of my car so it was at low speed.
The man was angry and shouted at me. I got out of my car to explain and apologise but he just took a photo of my number plate and walked off - he wouldn't talk to me.
I'm really shaken up (I have been driving for 35 years and have only ever had one accident - I hit a stationary object) and scared about what will happen. Will I lose my licence or have to go to court? I need a car for work and as the breadwinner in my family I dread that happening.
I would be really grateful for any advice or information from anyone who has had a similar experience. I can't sleep with the stress. Thank you so much!

[Bluedoglead]

Have you reported the accident to the police and your insurance company?

[RedLemonade]

Agree with PP. I would report this to the police and also wrote down a very detailed account of everything you remember of the event. Especially the man’s taking a photo and walking away without requiring any assistance.

[Snowydaysarehere]

Please ring the police for advice. A hit and run is serious if he reports you. Injured or not. Not prison serious I wouldn't think unless you have form for this!!

[17CherryTreeLane]

You really must report to the police. It's a criminal offence not to.

[NoSquirrels]

Please report to police and insurance. They can then ask petrol station for CCTV too.

You don’t want to ignore this - you sound like a good person but the way to make it less worrying fir you is to be the upfront party and follow the procedures by the book.

for the shock.

[delilahbucket]

Inform your insurer as he is likely to make a claim for personal injury (you must do this as otherwise it could invalidate your cover). If he was going to inform the police then I should imagine he would have done it by now. At worst you could be done for driving without due care and attention. If he makes a claim for injury it will be up to your insurer to deal with. As a pedestrian has no insurance, the driver will always be found at fault and the insurer will pay out. Try not to worry, I know that's easier said than done. If you have a clean licence then you are probably just facing some points and an increase in your insurance at renewal. Make a full written account of what happened now while it is fresh in your mind. Use the experience as a learning curve to always look around before moving off.

[Changednamejustincase]

Did you hurt him? I assume you would have said in your OP if you did hurt him. If you didn't injure or hurt him then he is just an annoyed man with your registration plate. They'll not take your license because somebody is annoyed with you.

[ADarkandStormyKnight]

How is it a hit and run if the pedestrian walked off refusing to speak?

It isn't as if she sped off leaving him lying in the road.

[delilahbucket]

Also, it isn't a hit and run if you got out of your car to make sure he was ok. If he chose to walk off that was his decision and there was nothing you could do to stop him.

[Gunpowder]

A similar thing happened to my boyfriend years ago. We called the police and his insurer to report it. As far as I remember it went to court but he didn’t have to go to court as it was done remotely, if that makes sense. I think the penalty was driving without due care and attention and 3 or 6 points and a fine. His insurance went up that year.

It doesn’t sound like the man was hurt which is lucky. Hope you are ok too.

[devonhil]

thanks for replying so quickly Bluedoglead. I didn't realise about the police thing but a friend advised me to do so and I phoned them today. She said that it was a 'hit and run' which sounded really serious - that's why I'm so worried.
The police took my name, address, car details and place of accident but didn't ask anything else. Will they get back to me do you think?

[Bluedoglead]

It’s a hit and run if she didn’t give her details.

[Oly5]

This isn’t a hit and run at all.
I agree with writing everything down, reporting to police and insurance firm. Then you’ll just have to wait and see if he does anything. He may do nothing but you will he covered because you took the right steps.
Well done for just facing up to this, this was an accident

[Floralnomad]

I’d go back to the garage and see if they have any cctv either of the actual incident or of the man afterwards , showing him moving about / getting in and driving his car etc . If they’ve got anything request a copy ( you may need your insurance company to do that for you ) .

[Newnaim]

I'd contact the garage and get the cctv footage so the man can't exaggerate what happened!

[Bluedoglead]

The garage won’t give the op a copy of the cctv. Or they shouldn’t for data protection purposes. They should give it to the police.

[devonhil]

thanks everyone - I suppose I just have to wait and see if he reports it.
I didn't realise I had to contact my insurance company as there's no damage (obviously) as it wasn't a hard impact.
I'm also worried about how it would be classified for future insurance quotes as 'hit and run' sounds like a very expensive claim?

[OddBoots]

"It’s a hit and run if she didn’t give her details."

He wouldn't talk to her, she couldn't give any details. The OP has given details to the police so it isn't a hit and run.

[UnmitigatedBollocks]

I’d think the garage will definitely have cctv but they might wipe it and record over it daily or weekly so get back there and ask for it not to be wiped if poss otherwise you’ll risk the bloke claiming all sorts of injuries.

[Bluedoglead]

When I was tying about it being a hit and run the op hadn’t said she had told the police. I x posted with her

[bobstersmum]

A long time ago I was driving at safe speed down a side street which had parked cars on both sides when out of nowhere ran a 7 year old boy, I braked but he went over the bonnet and dented it and smashed my windscreen, yet he got up and ran off unhurt! I ran after him and followed him home and his parents were dismissive saying its not the first time it's happened! I was in absolute shock I was so worried I insisted that they took him to be checked out and gave them my details and asked them to let me know how he was. I told the police who logged it all and said I'd done the right thing. After hours and hours I still hadn't heard back from the boys parents so I went back round and they said oh he's fine he's in bed now! I had been so frantic worried he had broken something or worse but he was totally unharmed. I did worry for a while after though. But it cost me hundreds to get my car repaired!
I would contact the petrol station and ask if they have footage on cctv, they may let you watch it.

[sanesera]

I work in insurance claims. Correct procedure is

1. Reporting to police and getting and incident ref
2. Report to insurance company, advising them description of pedestrian

The most likely outcome is a personal injury claim against your insurance. As he walked away with no major injury, I would guess £10k max.

Do not worry.

[Snowydaysarehere]

I bumped a parked car in a car park, parked up to go seek a pen to leave my details. When I got back the car was gone. Police called round later about the hit and run I was involved in!! Another driver had reported me. I spoke to the owner of the actual car and he laughed it off - no damage and what a waste of police time he said!

[Pearlsaringer]

I wonder if the fact that this was on private property rather than the public highway makes any difference? I would have thought less serious but happy to be corrected.

[Bluedoglead]

Petrol forecourt to which the public have accesss isn’t private property.