Car accident 3 months after passing test … my fault 😞

[Hughsey09]

Hi all,

At nearly 40 I passed my driving test 3 months ago after putting it off for many years due to bad accident as a passenger at 16. I didn’t want to learn but I have two young children one of whom is a wheelchair user and a hubby that works full time so I decided it was time.

I’ve been driving round here and there and have felt ok as long as I felt comfortable where I was going to and from.

This morning I decided I needed to start pushing myself out of my comfort zone and attempted a really busy round about, the lane I was on merged into the left lane and even though I checked my mirrors I ended up merging into the side of a huge HGV 😭. Completely my fault, feel the absolute apitomy of stupid and not to mention scared.
This happened 2 hours ago and I’m still shook up. I pulled over and the driver shouted at me and asked “what the f do you think you’re playing at”, I totally get he’d be mad and wondering what the hell I was doing but it was genuinely a bad judgment and lack of experience. I didn’t know what to do so I just locked myself in my car in floods of tears and rang my husband, luckily the traffic police drove past and helped me. My husband arrived and gave me a huge hug and couldn’t of been more supportive.
No damage to the HGV, the side of my car is scraped in a few places with only a small dent.

I am absolutely horrified I’ve done this, I feel so stupid and that I probably shouldn’t drive anymore. Just thankful that it wasn’t any worse and that my young children were not in the car.

please no horrible comments. Has anyone experienced similar when new to driving and carried on ?

Bloody hell

OP, brace yourself. This is going to make your premiums eye watering at renewal

I wouldn’t claim!!

Look, you're not hurt, no one was injured, there's not too much damage. It is something you won't do again. This is why you have insurance. When you can, consider what happened and try to learn from it but do not let it put you off driving.

Are you sure it was your fault? Your description doesn't sound like it was.

I passed my test in central london in the 80s, working in advertising, and was immediately given a company car - a Peugeot 205 Gti. Within 6 weeks I’d driven it into the back of a Securicor van while trying to navigate a busy roundabout.

I am still driving 35+ years later, and can now look back and laugh. Get back in the saddle, maybe treat yourself to a lesson or two to get your confidence back, and enjoy your growing confidence and freedom.

I was behind an uber that did exactly that only last week. So obviously an experienced driver if they do uber. We’re all human and make mistakes, no one is hurt and ultimately it really doesn’t matter. Go easy on yourself.

If he lanes merged a the roundabout then he was just as much a fault, he should have been watching you and the merging traffic as well.
I sounds like he was behind you originally and he tried to squeeze through in the inside whilst he merge was happening. His lane might have had right of way but he didn't have good awareness or etiquette.

I think most people have a little bump when they first start. Normally in car parks or driveways, you picked a big boy. Calm yourself by driving local for a few days but don't let it scare you.

Hope you're feeling ok OP, accidents are scary but in my experience they make you a better driver.

I wrote my car off a month after passing my test, I was convinced my Lane was a filter Lane and it wasn't. The best thing you can do is get driving as soon as you can, you will be jumpy to start with but it will make you more aware of your surroundings. Keep to where you know and maybe go to places you find difficult with your husband so then you'll feel more confident when you go on your own.

Sound like you won't need to claim and try not to as it will increase your premiums.

Get back in your car and start driving now. Don't leave it or you'll find yourself keep putting it off. I hadn't passed my test long and I drove down the side of a parked car. My bil has been driving for 45 years and still hit someone on a roundabout. Shit happens. That's why we have insurance. The guy was probably shook up too and maybe worried about what his boss would say.
You and your family need you to drive so get out with your husband this evening and get back on the road.

What way are you reading it? 🤨

Look OP, the reality is that lots of people have accidents when they’re new to driving. It’s why premiums are so high for newly qualified drivers. That said, there are also those people who for one reason or another just aren’t cut out for it, even if they have managed to get through the test itself.

Have you considered getting some more lessons with an instructor to build up your confidence a bit?

I reversed into a massive boulder at speed when I first passed. No idea what on earth I was intending! It happens.

I've been driving 20 years and have had an accident recently. It wasn't my fault but I've been questioning myself since about whether I could have done anything differently to have avoided it. With hindsight, I probably could have.

Do you have a dash cam? If so, maybe take a look and see if you can work out exactly what happened. It's probable you were in the lorry's blind spot. If you don't have one, get one. I wouldn't necessarily assume you were 100% at fault based on your description.

But don't beat yourself up. Get back in the car. Every single driver makes mistakes. Including that lorry driver!

The car is scraped and a bit dented why would she claim? Not sure she needs this sort of post at the moment tbh.

Think it does- she merged into a truck

Passed my test in December. Crashed the car - didn’t brake fast enough in traffic - in February.

still driving 17 years later. And my premiums weren’t awful. Right now you’re really shocked but I promise with time you’ll get better.

We all have accidents you are insured do not worry about it

Please don't let this put you off. Most of us have had a bump at some point. Nobody was hurt and tge damage is minimal. The driver who shouted at you is a nob; he was a learner then new driver once but seems to have forgotten that.

Get back out in the car ASAP. I'm sure that some driving instructors will offer road confidence building sessions; maybe that is something that could help?

The freedom & flexibility you will have if you keep up your skills is more than worth it.

You don't need to claim for a small dent and a scrape.

Go easy on yourself. Of course carry on driving. Don't let this set you back as you sound like a nervous driver anyway and not going back in your car will make it worse.

You're safe, everyone is safe. Get some rest and be gentle on yourself.

If it's any consolation OP, I crashed my dad's car into our own house when I lost control in the drive, 3 days after I passed my test. Wrote off the car, took out the gate post with the driver side door and took out the bumper and bonnet on the house. $0 years later and I've driven many thousands of miles without even a scratch!

*40 years later

You're shocked OP, it's natural. He swore at you but was probably quite shook up too (a new driver smashed into the side of my car and I swore at her in anger and shock, before getting myself together and helping her, giving her a hug to help her calm down etc). No one was hurt. FAR worse things happen on the roads and we do all we can to mitigate her.

*mitigate IT not her

Dont feel too bad OP, I wrote my first car off not long after passing my test 😬Ive been driving 10 years now and haven't had an accident since. I've heard something line 1 in 5 new drivers have an accident in the first year, it's not unusual. Learning to drive is a long process!

Something like*

Jump right back in the saddle, op. You had an accident, so do extremely experienced drivers who've been driving for decades. No one was hurt, the vehicles are fine, everything is fine. You need to keep driving as much as possible to improve your skills. You can do this.