Had a car accident on the way to school

Oh for goodness sake @DryTerryandJUNE that is a really wild leap even for Mumsnetters.

You are seriously going to create an imaginary defence for a man who refused to give his name, address and details as he's legally obliged to.

What is the statistical likelihood that he lives in a marriage with "raised voices" (!) and is the victim?

Mumsnet is full of people who want to come up with the most elaborate defence for the protagonist in a story, just to make the OP seem silly.

Jeez how many times has the OP got to repeat that she reacted not in anger but shock - and who wouldn’t do similar?! Enough now, such a ridiculous pile on.

The problem is if you WERE accidentally indicating then to be honest you are somewhat to blame for not ensuring your own safety.. if someone did that to me (not that I would have pulled out either way) I wouldn't be impressed if they then got out and starting shouting at me.

I can't really see why he would say you were indicating if you weren't, there's not anything to be gained by randomly pulling out in front of people on a 40mph road.

If he started to pull out because you were indicating and there was a collision, he will be liable with the insurance company for not giving way but IMO you both have blame in why it actually happened and should BOTH have been more careful.

Good luck OP, I hope you have a better outcome than when similar happened to me.

I was driving through my carpark at work and there is an access lane for facilities staff that comes out at the side of the main driveway. This lane is impossible to see out of so there is a blind spot mirror for the vehicles exiting the lane.

This catering van drove straight out without checking the mirror straight into the side of my passing car. I also had my son in the car who was on his first week working there.

The insurance company found us equally at fault even though it was literally him that is supposed to check before pulling out. Infuriating! completely wrote my car off and took over a year to sort.

Apologising is an immediate admission of guilt though, he clearly thought it wasn’t his fault so why would he do that?

Its Up to the insurance company to make that decision.

You have said even if you shouted it’s no excuse for his behaviour.

I wonder how this thread would go if the sexes were reversed

The most important thing to be thankful for is that no one was injured OP

You are failing to understand that he was also probably shaken. You know nothing about him, he could be in a marriage with lots of "raised voices" and just wanted to get away.
Just because you think you are a reasonable person doesn't mean he doesn't trust you to escalate to a full on tantrum.
One man's smirking is another man's "oh shit" face.
You seem to want him hanged, drawn and quartered when all he's done is accidentally drive into you and left because he felt uncomfortable.
He knows you have his number plate and he probably has yours. No one was injured, thankfully!

Not judging your reaction
Ive been rear ended on the school run with my three kids in the car
I get it
I’ve also had a car slam right into the side of mine crushing the passenger side right in

Both occasions I was in shock and shaking uncontrollably. I didn’t shout in fact I gave the guy who went into the side of me a cup of tea because, we both needed it.
I do get how it affects people very differently though
So not judging,

However
The facts do remain that the advice would be not to engage
other than to hand out details

That is why I said he was wrong not to give his name

I don’t think any of us can judge This stranger as
‘smirking man in a range rover’

Nor can we assume he even noticed 3 young kids in the car. you can’t see mine, the window's are blacked out

All we know is what OP has told us
and like I said he should have given her his details. He didn’t.
Perhaps he would have had she not shouted
perhaps he wouldn’t
we really don’t know

The point is
He didn’t engage with her which in the circumstances is recommended and whilst I would hand out my details I would do exactly the same
I simply wouldn’t go near someone shouting in this situation, none of us know how things might escalate

am so sorry this happened to you
pit was probably a deliberate scam and he chose you precisely because you were not speeding, your speed was constant, and he’s in a high seated vehicle so likely to be ok
the scammers often target mums with kids in the car.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2pJVThX0XlxZ3Cl2JHPwZvW/how-to-protect-yourself-from-crash-for-cash-scams

if he was behind a give way line and pulled out and hit you, he is in the wrong, regardless of whether or not your indicator was on.
An indicator is just that, it indicates intention, it does not guarantee that you will turn. It is up to the driver to check that it is safe to pull out before he does so.

I would phone the phone non emergency line and ask for help, simply because he left the scene of an accident without giving his name and address.

It’s also recommended not to leave the scene of an accident you’ve caused without switching details with the other party.

I can’t imagine a smirking man in a Range Rover to be intimidated by an upset and shaken woman with 3 young children in the back of her car 🙄

You were moving and he was stationary and pulled out in front of you so this is definitely his fault.
You should always be sure a driver is definitely turning before pulling out anyway even if they are indicating.
If he won’t admit he’s at fault it will go to your insurance to decide but I’d be very surprised if they don’t decide he’s at fault.
Did you get his reg number? You can get his car details from that if you search, then just go through your insurance.
You can involve the police if necessary because he refused to share details.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s uninsured

Whilst not giving you his name was wrong
As you were shouting he decided the best thing to do was not engage

It’s recommended not to in these situations.

Just report and leave it to the insurance companies

Agree he was definitely (and legally) wrong not to swap details. It will officially be his fault anyway, even if you did have your indicator on.
Not sure the police will bother chasing him for not reporting, although it would be an easy nab for them. And they love an easy nab.

It doesn't sound like you're at fault, the other driver should have been driving defensively and paying attention. It sounds like he just pulled out without checking properly then then decided to try to blame you.

It's worth notifying the Police. Several years ago, a motorbike jumped a red light and went over DH's bonnet, damaging his car. We got out to check the biker was ok, he seemed fine and we started asking to exchange insurance details and he went quiet. I had a feeling he was going to do a runner, so took a photo of his registration. He sped off before leaving his details. He then failed to report the incident to the Police and ignored the summons to court, so ended up getting prosecuted for fleeing the scene of an accident. Very strange as apparently he had valid insurance!

My friend had this except she was the other person in your scenario. The insurance company found her at fault as she shouldnt have pulled out into traffic until the person (who was indicating in this situation but didnt realise) had started to turn in and you are not supposed to just trust someone indicating.

He was also probably also quite shaken.
Verbally aggressive isn't the right term, but "why did you crash into me?" isnt really a question anyone can answer to your satisfaction. The obvious answer is, "I didn't mean to" or "I thought you had your indicator on" but never once did I say "why did you drive into the back of me?" because the only reason, always, is human error.
Give that answer to some people and they would explode.
The reality is that the insurance companies will deal with it.

There is certainly primary liability on his part - the highway code is clear that you should never rely on indicators alone but wait to see the vehicle slow down/start to turn before pulling out. There may be an element of contributory negligence on your part as well if your indicator was still on, but I expect it will be less than 50%. Equally his footage may show that you weren't indicating anymore.

Try not to think about it. Just let your insurer know and give them your dashcam footage. If he has footage as well then they will have a good picture of what happened.

If any of you suffer any pain in the next day or so make sure you go to your GP. And if you continue to suffer pain, go back and ask for physio. The sooner issues are treated, the sooner they resolve.

He won’t have gotten away with it he just thinks he has because he’s likely viewed it as not his problem to deal with due to it being a work car. This means he won’t face an increased premium or loss of NCD on any personal vehicles he may have as he isn’t the policyholder, so the company absorb this which might explain the blasé attitude.

He potentially will, however, face consequences for not exchanging adequate details but as it isn’t a clear cut “hit and run” he may not. That will be police discretion it seems.

OP, ignore the people giving you a hard time for reacting emotionally in the moment. I was on the periphary of an accident with an eldery gentleman (who was at fault) and a school bus. The bus driver was, understandably, very upset and angry and was a bit aggressive in the first instance. The gentleman, who was very shocked and upset himself, said to me at one point, "I understand why he's upset - he's got a buss full of children".

If you ranted and ranged and tried to punch him and it went on for hours, sure, but in the moment, for a minute, no big deal.