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AIBU?

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Person says I hit them with my car!

59 replies

wonderings2 · 06/09/2024 20:27

I've just been to my local shop and as I was driving out the carpark into the road a women dashed in front of me and made me stop while she walked past the front of my car, then I pulled away and as I did I heard clang which I'm assuming was her keys on the top of my car.

I pulled out onto the road and made my way home. Then I realised there was a car tailing me really close, carried on but they followed me all the way home so I panicked tbh and drove round hoping they'd get bored, as I approached a roundabout the car shot in front of me and cut me off (completely blocking the road ) rolled down her window and started screaming at that Id hit them and they were going to report me. I didn't realise until then that it was the same person.

She claimed I'd broken her hand (while waving it about) and she could tell I knew by looking at me that I'm knew I hit her. She said she was going to report to me.

I didn't really know what say other I didn't hit her and if I did why didn't I stop and if I didn't stop why did I drive away so slowly with plenty of opportunities to dart down a side road.

I hate confrontation & I'm really shaken up. I checked my car (it's filthy) and there is a smudge where she's hit the top of the car by the far side passenger window but nothing else on the side of the car. But she was so adamant I'd hit her I'm starting to doubt myself, can you hit someone and not realise? I'd come to a stop so I was in first gear when I pulled away?

What will the police do if she reports it? I can't see any cctv at the shop but the car park was really busy so hopefully someone will have seen?

OP posts:
GrazingSheep · 06/09/2024 22:24

Get a dash cam.

stayorgo2 · 06/09/2024 22:22

@Earthakitt yes, because in addition to statistics on baby names, household income, and deaths, the ONS famously publishes a dataset called “number of car crash claims by ethnicity”

wonderings2 · 06/09/2024 22:21

HermioneWeasley · 06/09/2024 22:13

I had similar with a cyclist. I got a dashcam after that! It ended up with my insurance sending an engineer to inspect my car who confirmed there was no damage consistent with his claim so my insurance told him to jog on and he did.

How stressful though!

Honestly I don't know how people do it

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 06/09/2024 22:13

I had similar with a cyclist. I got a dashcam after that! It ended up with my insurance sending an engineer to inspect my car who confirmed there was no damage consistent with his claim so my insurance told him to jog on and he did.

wonderings2 · 06/09/2024 22:08

Simbaonedaythiswillallbeyours · 06/09/2024 22:03

People like this in my area are the reason I have a dashcam now. You should look into getting one.

I really will, to be honest I have 15 year old run around as I work from home & DH has a newer car that we use at weekend.
According to my MOT I did 2k miles last years, it's really just to get me out and about in the week but this has made me think

OP posts:
wonderings2 · 06/09/2024 22:06

FranceIsWhereItsAt · 06/09/2024 21:59

I wouldn't worry too much OP, as now that you've reported it, hopefully saying you believe they are aiming to scam you, the police are likely to look at it from that viewpoint too. There was an article on BBC 'Morning Live', I think it was last week, where they showed a moped rider, literally throw himself backwards onto a car, in order to claim they'd hit him, and another one where a group had clearly worked out a scam where a van was placed at a road junction in order to block the view, a man drove very slowly out of the junction, and saw a moped rider originally approaching slowly past the van, suddenly speed up, and swerve in order to actually hit the man's car. It was only because a house opposite had cameras that the car driver was able to prove it was a set up. Therefore, if these things are now common knowledge with the police, I think it highly unlikely they would proceed against you, unless this woman literally goes to hospital and has X-rays which prove you did her real damage. I do hope that you hear nothing further, it must have been quite a frightening experience for you.

I think I have seen the video of the moped driver throwing himself on the bonnet, it was only when the driver pointed out the dash cam that they drove off 🤯

Hopefully now I've reported it, that will stand me in good stead if she does. I did think I was lucky to miss her when she darted in front of me, now I'm wondering ..

I was just popping to the shop after a long week, and just wanted a quiet night - typical 😔

OP posts:
Simbaonedaythiswillallbeyours · 06/09/2024 22:03

People like this in my area are the reason I have a dashcam now. You should look into getting one.

FranceIsWhereItsAt · 06/09/2024 21:59

I wouldn't worry too much OP, as now that you've reported it, hopefully saying you believe they are aiming to scam you, the police are likely to look at it from that viewpoint too. There was an article on BBC 'Morning Live', I think it was last week, where they showed a moped rider, literally throw himself backwards onto a car, in order to claim they'd hit him, and another one where a group had clearly worked out a scam where a van was placed at a road junction in order to block the view, a man drove very slowly out of the junction, and saw a moped rider originally approaching slowly past the van, suddenly speed up, and swerve in order to actually hit the man's car. It was only because a house opposite had cameras that the car driver was able to prove it was a set up. Therefore, if these things are now common knowledge with the police, I think it highly unlikely they would proceed against you, unless this woman literally goes to hospital and has X-rays which prove you did her real damage. I do hope that you hear nothing further, it must have been quite a frightening experience for you.

wonderings2 · 06/09/2024 21:45

Calamitousness · 06/09/2024 21:34

@wonderings2 I had to give evidence in a case where I knew someone that was accused of assault. She didn’t but was prosecuted and had to defend herself and get proven innocent.
The accuser was first to the police to complain so they took her word and investigated from her complaint. If my friend had reported first she’d have been the defendant rather than the accused. Nuts but true. Always report first imo.

Edited

I've reported it online & given all the details.

I really hope that's the end of it, but by the way she was behaving I don't think it will be.

I'm useless at confrontation and it was awful. I also work a job that requires continuous security clearance, including police cautions so I'm completely paranoid that something is going to come of it and it'll impact my work 😔

OP posts:
Calamitousness · 06/09/2024 21:34

@wonderings2 I had to give evidence in a case where I knew someone that was accused of assault. She didn’t but was prosecuted and had to defend herself and get proven innocent.
The accuser was first to the police to complain so they took her word and investigated from her complaint. If my friend had reported first she’d have been the defendant rather than the accused. Nuts but true. Always report first imo.

sarahzbaker · 06/09/2024 21:19

Yeah - I was about to move off near my home. Not really thinking about scams. A moped driver was lurking. I thought, I’ll let him move off first but he sat there. After a while, he gave a disgusted shrug and left. I do have dash cam but I’ll bet he was after insurance. Annoyed that I waited.
Heeeee. Poop to him

InfradeadToUltraviolent · 06/09/2024 21:12

The rules have changed to remove the profit from crash for cash whiplash claims from car passengers. But this doesn't apply to pedestrians or moped drivers. I guess the consequences were inevitable.

tolerable · 06/09/2024 21:10

report it to police.asap.well done get her reg

Itsmahoneybaloney · 06/09/2024 21:09

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Digimoor · 06/09/2024 21:06

Report it - we have a big problem locally with moped riders fake crashing into people and demanding cash and then claiming off insurance

ReadingWorm · 06/09/2024 20:56

Report her for harassment and following you to the police. She is trying to intimidate.

Earthakitt · 06/09/2024 20:53

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cocoloco23 · 06/09/2024 20:49

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What does her ethnicity have to do with what happened??

CallMeFlo · 06/09/2024 20:48

The pigs? What are you 12? 🙄

I'd report it. If she doesn't report it, no harm done, if she does, they'll have your version of events.

It sounds like a scam, there's been a lot of coverage on SM of people literally throwing themselves onto cars & claiming they were hit. Either hoping the car driver will compensate them, or they'll go to some ambulance chasers who'll make them think they have a case

One way or another I'd get my story in first & contrary to the great 🙄 advice given - you wouldn't be incriminating yourself

wonderings2 · 06/09/2024 20:44

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I don't think I hit her hand, I didn't feel anything until she banged her keys on the roof 😳 and she was down the side of the car at that point and I was pulling away in first gear after being stopped.

Honestly it's a head melt, she was so adamant I hit her ...

OP posts:
Chillilounger · 06/09/2024 20:42

Report to the police and see if the shop has cctv

Earthakitt · 06/09/2024 20:42

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wonderings2 · 06/09/2024 20:42

thereiscustardinthejamtart · 06/09/2024 20:32

It’s a scam. She’s either hoping to scan your insurance, or hoping you’ll be scared and pay her to go away.

Did you get her number plate? Do you have a dashcam? Either way, report it to the police non emergency number.

Yeah I memorised it

OP posts:
wonderings2 · 06/09/2024 20:41

Calamitousness · 06/09/2024 20:30

Report it first. Quickly. Tell the police exactly what happened.

I memorised her reg plate and says to DH that should report it but he said to just leave it 😕

OP posts:
wonderings2 · 06/09/2024 20:40

InandOutlander · 06/09/2024 20:37

How close was she to you when you pulled out if she could hit her keys on your Bonet?

They didn't hit my bonnet they hit the roof of my car between the passenger side door and rear side passenger window.

She was close though as she darted in front of me and I had to stop.

OP posts: