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Had a car accident on the way to school

217 replies

Zaina89 · 09/06/2026 10:08

Was on the way to take my kids to school this morning, exited a roundabout 2nd exit with my left indicator on. I assumed my indicator had turned of because I had turned and I have played back the dash cam footage and can’t hear any indicator. Neither when I was driving could I hear the indicator hadn’t switched off.
was driving 40 on a 40 road. This was 1/2 minutes approx after putting my indicator and exiting round about.
next thing I know driving down this 40mph road a car on a give way on my left with his indicator on turns out in front of me, immediately as I see him turning I slam my brakes on and beep my horn. Because of my high speed you can hear on the dash cam footage the noise my brakes are making because I slammed down. He didn’t even attempt to move back and he hit into the left side of my car. The man wasn’t even getting out of his car he just reversed back. I got out of my car shouting “ what have you done?” “ why did you just do that?”
only then he got out of his car and even then didn’t check his car or mine and just stayed at his drivers door. When I kept asking him “ why did you do that?” He just remained calm, smiled weirdly and said “ you had your indicator on to turn left, I’ve got it all on camera”
my indicator wasn’t on when I immediately got out to check my car, he didn’t even bother to check for any damage on his car and didn’t bother to see mine.
I asked him for his phone number and details and that I would be going to drop my kids off at school because we are now late and they are in shock and upset and he refused and said “ it’s a company car, just take a picture of my reg” and got back in his car. He didn’t even move away from his drivers door, didn’t check the damage, didn’t make any pictures or videos of our cars or the damage. Refused to give me his name and phone number and just said take a picture of my reg and got back in his car and drove away like nothing happened.

im just in complete shock, my son was sat in the passengers side and im just getting a panic attack thinking if I wouldn’t have slammed the brakes as soon as I saw him doing what he did it would have been a bad accident. No one is hurt, my car isn’t badly damaged mostly just bad scratches.
I genuinely did not know my indicator was on ( if it even was!) I can hear when my indicator is on and I couldn’t hear anything even looking back at the dash cam footage you can’t hear the indicator just me and my children casually talking and then you can hear me beeping and slamming down on the brakes and then the collision. If my indicator was on, I’m not sure why it hadn’t turned off or made noise because I exited the roundabout a minute or 2 before the collision.

surely by my speed going 40mph and not slowing down or intending to turn he should have known I was not turning and shouldn’t have pulled out! Trying to remain calm but it’s just so strange he refused to give me his name and number and also very strange he didn’t seem concerned to atleast check his own car and any damage, didn’t even take any pictures or videos!

OP posts:
JacquesHarlow · 09/06/2026 12:15

Can people PLEASE stop giving out random and irrelevant advice that goes against the law.

The best thing for you to do, @Zaina89 is to go to the police.

IRRESPECTIVE of whether people on here think the police do anything or not.

NOTHING to do with whether his car is "taxed or MOT'd" (that has nothing to do with the accident and is just typical Mumsnet detectives at work).

You go to the police, because he failed to give his details at the scene of an accident and that in itself is an offence.

It's not up to the giant hivemind of Mumsnet to do probability calculations as to whether he will be prosecuted for it or not.

I don't tend to report offences based on whether they are likely to be convicted or not, as my name is not the CPS

Please report this to the police, and then report it to your insurers asap.

You're not going to get anything out of this guy the private or reasonable route, he's not going to pay for your repairs if he won't even provide his details.

POLICE please, then INSURANCE.

Any other recommendation on here is wrong.

JulietteHasAGun · 09/06/2026 12:12

ijustwanttoworkout · 09/06/2026 10:33

You left your indicator on, 40mph is a limit not a target and you should’ve been paying better attention. A scary lesson to have learned.

Just interested - if you're on a 40mph limit road do you drop your speed as you approach every junction in case someone pulls out? If so what speed do you drop down to? 10mph? 20mph? OP sounds like she was paying attention, she braked as soon as he pulled out. She hasn't hit him, he's hit the left side of her car. She doesn't think the indicator was on but even if it was he's at fault as you shouldn't believe an indicator. It's quite clear in the highway code.

OP - it's his fault. Contact the insurance and also the police. He's committed an offence by not exchanging details. I think the police will be interested. I had similar once and the police went round their house the same day. I wasn't injured, just car damage.

anothernewname6789998212 · 09/06/2026 12:12

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 12:04

Unfortunately the police aren’t bothered unless there are injuries or severe vehicle damage. Absolutely bonkers 🤷‍♀️ I would still report it though, but nothing will be done or followed up by the police. 😞

Maybe it varies dependent on police force but I know of someone who knocked a wing mirror off a parked car and drove off and they got 6 points and a fine.

Whether the other driver in OP’s situation would be subject to the same punishment though I’m not sure, as it wasn’t technically a hit and run and he allowed her to take the reg willingly so they would perhaps be less interested.

dangsilly · 09/06/2026 12:11

anothernewname6789998212 · 09/06/2026 12:05

Just call your insurance company, tell them the only detail he offered was a picture of the reg and they will tell you if you also need to make a police report or not.

They will be able to trace the insurer of the other vehicle by the reg. It’ll probably go in your favour as you had right of way, but if you’ve both got camera footage then they’ll look at both angles and decide.

There is no way that the footage is going to point to the OP being to blame. He pulled out into her. It’s pretty much an open and shut case unless there are any huge details that the OP has not told us about.

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 12:11

Bromptotoo · 09/06/2026 12:05

It's reporting that needs to be done. Agree that unless the car is already flagged Police are unlikely to act.

I agreed I would still report. But police will definitely do nothing. Which is frustrating. My dd was hit by another car, which literally drove into the back and side of her and carried on driving .. all caught on front and rear dashcam - but because she had no injuries and her car was only very scraped (not dented/warped etc) the police didn’t want to know or pursue it! My car was hit in a car park, caught on cctv, again, police didn’t follow it up due to it only causing minor damage.

So basically, the take away from this is drivers can drive like dicks, lightly damage cars and drive away, knowing nothing will happen to them! It’s lunacy!

dangsilly · 09/06/2026 12:08

ijustwanttoworkout · 09/06/2026 10:33

You left your indicator on, 40mph is a limit not a target and you should’ve been paying better attention. A scary lesson to have learned.

Utter rubbish. I hope I don’t encounter you on any dual carriageways or A roads.

Thank god you have dashcam footage, OP. That will hopefully fully exonerate you. The indicator thing is irrelevant. He drove into the side of a car that was established on the main carriageway. Everything else is irrelevant.
Did you check his reg online to see if it’s taxed and MOT’d? I not be surprised if it’s not.
Even though the police may not do anything, you shoukd definitely report him for refusing to give his details.

BigJobber on Facebook/ Instagram is an ex claims handler who shows accident footage and explains liability. It’s a really fascinating watch. I’ve watched far too much (😂) and in every case like yours, the car driving out of the side road was found liable.

Oh and ignore the poster who had a go at you “shouting”. It’s a terrifying experience and your reaction was complete normal. FlowersBrew

PeanutsForever · 09/06/2026 12:07

I also wonder if it's stolen. We had an amusing incident years ago where the fairly busy road outside our house flooded. It was crazy. We had a couple of teenagers grab a kayak and kayak on the road for entertainment value. One car got stuck and a few neighbours went out to see if they could help, only for the two young men in the car to open the doors and LEG it. Turned out they'd stolen the car for a joy ride.... only to get stuck int he flood.

We all felt desperately sorry for the owner who now had a car that was not only stolen, it was stuck in a flood with the doors open!

Bromptotoo · 09/06/2026 12:05

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 12:04

Unfortunately the police aren’t bothered unless there are injuries or severe vehicle damage. Absolutely bonkers 🤷‍♀️ I would still report it though, but nothing will be done or followed up by the police. 😞

It's reporting that needs to be done. Agree that unless the car is already flagged Police are unlikely to act.

anothernewname6789998212 · 09/06/2026 12:05

Just call your insurance company, tell them the only detail he offered was a picture of the reg and they will tell you if you also need to make a police report or not.

They will be able to trace the insurer of the other vehicle by the reg. It’ll probably go in your favour as you had right of way, but if you’ve both got camera footage then they’ll look at both angles and decide.

Mumoftwoadults · 09/06/2026 12:04

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 12:01

That’s how it reads to me 🤷‍♀️

No, I was agreeing with the poster who commented that driving at the speed limit should be the norm, subject to conditions. I think the confusion was that I was quoting and commenting on another quote!

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 12:04

Bromptotoo · 09/06/2026 12:00

If you've got his reg number report him to the police.

In fact I think you're obliged to do that if details were not exchanged.

Unfortunately the police aren’t bothered unless there are injuries or severe vehicle damage. Absolutely bonkers 🤷‍♀️ I would still report it though, but nothing will be done or followed up by the police. 😞

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 12:02

Mumoftwoadults · 09/06/2026 12:00

Think you've misunderstood my comment. He was told to drive at or near the speed limit (no numbers were given!). Obviously that's subject to road, weather conditions etc.

Thank you for the clarification. It doesn’t read straight forward that’s for sure.

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 12:01

Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 09/06/2026 11:54

Er...think you might have the wrong end of the stick here...

That’s how it reads to me 🤷‍♀️

anothernewname6789998212 · 09/06/2026 12:01

Sassylovesbooks · 09/06/2026 11:21

I agree with others, you need to report the incident to the police, because he failed to provide you with his details. It's entirely possible he isn't insured, has no driving licence or MOT/Tax. Or the car could be stolen or cloned of course, which may be why he didn't seem bothered.

You can look up if anyone has MOT or tax online. However, even if he had neither of those things it wouldn’t invalidate insurance cover he may have.

I think it’s most likely he wasn’t bothered because 1) it’s a company car so not his issue to sort 2) he’s so sure he’s in the right that he has no concern of being found at fault

Someone with no licence or insurance would be far more likely to have just driven off, or tried to convince the OP to settle privately or just leave it altogether. He let her take pictures of his plate which is all that’s really needed to pursue a claim.

Bromptotoo · 09/06/2026 12:00

If you've got his reg number report him to the police.

In fact I think you're obliged to do that if details were not exchanged.

Mumoftwoadults · 09/06/2026 12:00

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 11:53

Rubbish. Your dh was absolutely not told to drive 50 in a 70 🙄
edit: oh not dh

Edited

Think you've misunderstood my comment. He was told to drive at or near the speed limit (no numbers were given!). Obviously that's subject to road, weather conditions etc.

babyproblems · 09/06/2026 11:59

I’d probably go to the police station and ask what to do.
Glad you’re ok! D

Bromptotoo · 09/06/2026 11:59

If he pulled in front of you it's his fault.

SidewaysOtter · 09/06/2026 11:55

RudolphTheReindeer · 09/06/2026 11:42

I thought the Highway Code said you shouldn't pull out until the other person has started to turn in and it's clear they are in fact turning, rather than relying on indicators. That's what I was taught anyway (a billion years ago!). He's at fault not you.

It does, because you can't assume that someone doesn't change their mind about turning, the indicator hasn't cancelled or even the indicator looks like it's on because of sunlight on it.

And you can't bloody well drive assuming everyone might pull out in front of you, you'd never get anywhere and you'd end up clogging up the roads along with the 'drive well below the speed limit just in case' brigade.

Iwanttobeafraser · 09/06/2026 11:55

I wonder if the car is stolen? what kind of car was it?

Either way, contact your insurance company asap. The indicator thing is irrelevant. You had right of way, were driving at speed limit, and he turned in front of you. He's in the wrong.

The insurance company will advise you on whether you need to report to police or not.

if the car is stolen, which I'm thinking it might be, then it's possible that your insurance will have to pay out and you will have to pay excess and lose no claims. Which is always annoying.

Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 09/06/2026 11:54

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 11:53

Rubbish. Your dh was absolutely not told to drive 50 in a 70 🙄
edit: oh not dh

Edited

Er...think you might have the wrong end of the stick here...

LegendaryWolfOfMyDreams · 09/06/2026 11:54

I still remember what my driving instructor used to say to me many years ago... "all an indicator indicates is that the indicator can indicate!" As in, don't trust a car is going to turn until it is.

(He also used to shout "it's not a bloody secret" if I forgot to to put my indicator on)

Whattodo1610 · 09/06/2026 11:53

Mumoftwoadults · 09/06/2026 11:49

Absolutely. My OH has just passed an Advanced Driving Test and that's what he was told too. 'Subject to conditions' is obviously the crucial thing though.

Rubbish. Your dh was absolutely not told to drive 50 in a 70 🙄
edit: oh not dh

JudgeJ · 09/06/2026 11:52

viques · 09/06/2026 10:15

He was silly to pull out in front of someone he says was indicating left until they actually start to turn! Especially if they were going at a fair whack because someone intending to turn would have slowed down from 40.

I never believe anyones indicating until I see them start their manoeuvre.

Not sure if it's still the case but I was always taught never to rely on an indicator, that they had no meaning in law. May be worth taking advice.

HelpMeGetThrough · 09/06/2026 11:51

RudolphTheReindeer · 09/06/2026 11:46

Oh you're one of those people that drove at 50 on the dual carriageway and overtake at 55 causing miles of tailbacks arent you. Driving slower than necessary for the conditions it's dangerous btw. It absolutely is a target when conditions are fine to drive at that speed.

Agreed.

I’ve tutored many people for the RoSPA Advanced Driving Test and you drive on or as close to the speed limit that a) the conditions dictate or b) your ability dictates.