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Original poster

I was involved in a crash and drove off, help me

81 replies

beemm · 01/11/2022 20:23

Gosh what do I do.

I know you're suppose to exchange details but I declined his offer

I feel such an idiot! I'm not interested in his money. He was at fault but he didn't harm my car but for a tiny tiny dent. I was just so glad to be okay along with my baby

My daughter cried and then smiled within 2 minutes! She's fine.

However, so was I. But I've just got home and started eating dinner

My bloody neck kills! It really hurts!

Do I need to call someone? Help me calm myself. I have no family to call - they panic and become hysterical over nothing much

Im clearly fine! But I just need a logical person to tell me what to do here

Will the NHS tell me off for not taking this persons details?

OP posts:
LadyHarmby · 01/11/2022 20:27

I don’t think the NHS will care about whether you took his details. Why would they?

Was there an impact? What speed was he going?

InTheNightWeWillWish · 01/11/2022 20:28

The NHS won’t tell you off. However, you do need to report this to your insurance company as you need to report any minor bump to them. I don’t know if they will pay out if you didn’t get the other drivers details. You’ll need to get a new car seat and could have claimed that through your insurance. You do need to go get your neck checked out. If it’s hurting, the bump was obviously faster than you thought so you should get your daughter checked too.

Original poster
beemm · 01/11/2022 20:28

LadyHarmby · 01/11/2022 20:27

I don’t think the NHS will care about whether you took his details. Why would they?

Was there an impact? What speed was he going?

Thank you - I'm not sure. I just imagine health professionals will be a bit Confused at me, I don't know

I don't know what the speed was, about up to 10 mph I'd say. I was at a roundabout and stopped as it wasn't clear if there was anything coming. He just smashed into the back of me. The car behind him got it too, who's car seems the most impacted

OP posts:
johsq20 · 01/11/2022 20:29

Contact your insurers, new car seat & get neck checked out. Could cause you issues later down the line.

I'd also get the car looked at. May look minor but something internal could be damaged.

Hugasauras · 01/11/2022 20:30

Why would the NHS even ask if you'd taken his details or not? They've got no interest in that.

You'll probably need a new car seat. Ring your GP tomorrow about your neck.

Zingy123 · 01/11/2022 20:30

The NHS won't care you didn't get the details. Your insurance will though. You must always get the other drivers details.

KitchenSupper · 01/11/2022 20:30

Could you be in shock? You sound a bit confused

Justpondering12 · 01/11/2022 20:31

I hope you’re ok, what a shock.

You say you didn’t exchange details, I don’t suppose you recall his number plate? In any case, ring 111, they won’t give a fig that you didn’t exchange details with this man, they’ll just advise you on what to do regarding your neck.

FamSender · 01/11/2022 20:32

Not sure what you mean by th var begins him got it too? If it was a rear shunt how could this happen.

Hope you OK OP. Cup of sweet tea.

The NHS won't mind but you might regret not exchanging details. Do you have any facts about the othher drivers cars etc? I wouldn't call your insurance company unless there a small hope of them tracking down the other people involved, otherwise it would just be you penalised through increased premiums for no benefit.

FamSender · 01/11/2022 20:33

TYPOS

  • the car behind him got it too... what does this mean?
PhilippaPhilpot · 01/11/2022 20:36

From what I understand, you'd stopped at a roundabout because you couldn't see clearly.

There was then 3 cars in a smash. You, at the front, the middle and rear cars.

How many bumps did you feel? 2 and then both middle and back cars are at fault. Just the 1 and it's the car at the back for bumping into the car behind you and pushing him in to you.

You definitely should report it to your insurers now as a) it's the law b) you're potentially injured c) you need to claim for a new car seat as you must not use a car seat that's been in any kind of collision however minor and d) to corroborate the claims made by the other drivers (if your insurance company traces them) as they may need to claim

u2b2 · 01/11/2022 20:37

How scary for you. You need to report it. Feel better soon.

onemorerose · 01/11/2022 20:41

As has been said the nhs won’t care. I personally wouldn’t report it to my insurance with no third party details. And how did the car behind his incur any impact? Either that one crashed into the car behind you or the impact was hard and somehow caused the car to jolt backwards at such a force to impact the car behind? In which case it was a sizeable collision and you should definitely get checked out, replace car seat and inform insurance. Best to always get photos at the scene even if you feel like you might not claim at the time. Hope you feel better soon, I’m sure it’s a big shock to you.

onemorerose · 01/11/2022 20:43

Actually yes following on from pp your insurance might be informed by third parties. Better to let them know now. From what you have written you are in no way at fault so don’t worry and look after yourself

CandyLeBonBon · 01/11/2022 20:45

So you were in a three car shunt and you didn't think you should take details? That's weird

PhillySub · 01/11/2022 21:03

Been there and had the same symptoms, turned out to be a bit of whiplash. It went in a couple of days.

Tromboncini · 01/11/2022 21:04

Few years ago I was stationary at red traffic lights when someone rammed into the back of me going 15-20 mph. I was totally shocked by the whole thing. A cyclist saw it and came over to check I was ok. The driver (an elderly lady whose car was in a total mess) drove off! Luckily the cyclist took all the details, gave them to me and said they’d be a witness.

I lived literally round the corner and wanted to go home as felt I was holding traffic up and despite being v bent in I was able to drive my car. I’m an assertive person who rarely gets emotional. I didn’t say anything, got home and started shaking in shock. Very soon I had bad neck, back and shoulder pain. Phoned my DP who insisted I take myself to A&E. As I was walking out the door into a taxi the phone rang. It was the drivers insurance company very aggressively asking me lots of questions, I was stunned.

I’m totally fine now but was given a collar and pain relief by A&E and ended up having physio. ‘Whiplash’ is a real thing. The excuse of the other driver was the sun was very low in the sky and they didn’t see a row of traffic queued at red lights 🤔 It’s left me a little paranoid looking in my rear mirror to check people are going to stop.

Hope you’re ok.

BobbyBobbyBobby · 01/11/2022 21:05

Did you stop at the roundabout but then pull away and then stop again and the car behind you rear ended you and the car behind him went into the back of him?

TheFormidableMrsC · 01/11/2022 21:07

A friend who borrowed my car had a minor bump that wasn't her fault, similar to how you describe. My car was written off because of terrible damage that wasn't visible from the outside aside from a minor dent. Get in touch with your insurers asap.

singlemomof3 · 01/11/2022 21:10

Insurance companies are tightening up on whiplash claims - I know a few people who were told they couldn't claim at speeds less than 30mph

I doubt at 10mph you really felt much impact sufficient to give you whiplash.....requiring medical attention

Toohardtofindaproperusername · 01/11/2022 21:15

Have a cup of sugary tea and relax. It doesn't matter that you didn't take his details. Maybe take your car to the garage but your insurers won't do anything if u don't have details ... I think you just need to chill a,bit and gwt some sleep.
It sounded like you'd run someone over Nd then done a runner. People have minor bumps all the time and don't call insurers... it makes life more expensive and more problematic than just getting things checked out locally.

You'll be ok.

Winceybincey · 01/11/2022 21:17

never dismiss an accident just because it was low speed and a small dent. I’ve heard a few stories of accidents where there’s been no external damage whatsoever, yet the cars were written off due to internal damage that you can’t see from the outside. There’s still a force at a lower speed that can cause some damage and absolutely can cause whiplash. If your head is turned to the left or right as the impact happens it can cause more trauma than if it was facing ahead. Also if you can see its about to happen and tense up. There’s no way insurers can say whether you have whiplash or not based on speed.

you will also need to replace the car seat. Could you ask on any local Facebook groups if anyone witnessed the crash and if so, have dash cam footage? Any CCTV in the vicinity?

Dibbydoos · 01/11/2022 21:24

If you contact your insurer you will need to declare the accident for the next 5 years and not be able to say it was the third parties fault cos you didn't get their details, so it will affect your premium.

But to sort you out, please go to the gp get you and baby checked out. You probably have whiplash, I hope baby is OK. You need physio, it'll cost about £50-80 per session. You could look on YouTube for exercises if that is not affordable. NHS physio services are woeful and won't happen quickly enough to stop your neck getting worse.

I also recommend assertiveness training. You avoided dealing with this because you're fearful it would turn into a big anxiety event like you've experienced with your family. Assertiveness training will help you manage these incidents better in future.

Good luck.

GiltEdges · 01/11/2022 21:25

I’d worry less about what the NHS thinks about you not taking the other driver’s details (they won’t care), and more what they will think about you not getting your DC checked over when your car was involved in an accident…

Also, as a PP has suggested, you need to get a new car seat ASAP. Your insurance company should issue a voucher for this if you report the accident to them.

PotentiallyPolly · 01/11/2022 21:26

Everyone jumping on OP for not taking details - shock after even a minor bump can cause you to act in ways that aren’t logical, give her a break here.

@beemm Definitely give the NHS a call, even if you’re unable to attend an out of hours clinic this evening it’s still a good idea to get checked in the next 24hrs. They’ll be able to advise if it’s ok to take painkillers for your neck too. Get your DD a checkup too, and call your insurance when you get the chance. Hot sweet tea might be comforting too Flowers