I had a bump in my car yesterday

[Solongtoshort]

As the title says l had a bump in my car and l have never done this before, l have 15 years no claims.

so I front of me was a bus pulled up and 3 cars behind it the road next to it was clear so l indicated, checked my blind spot could fully see the white van which had actually stopped for me and l slowly pulled out and hit a taxi, he got out and immediately started shouting at me the guy in the van got out and said the blue car pulled out from behind me but the van guy could see l was indicating and the blue car tried to over take me from behind, he told the other driver to calm down and stop screaming.

l don’t know what to do, l took pictures of the car but not his licence plate. We swopped phone numbers.

Do l contact my insurance? he was saying l didn’t indicate but l know l did, his car is just scratched my needs a new near side wing replacing. He was just screaming l will get your insurance and l couldn’t really understand him due to a language barrier. We haven’t communicated since. There is no way he was hurt or injured.

Do l need to contact my insurance to let them know he will be contacting them? Do l just just get on with my repairs. I can’t believe this has happened. I am going on holiday on Sunday and want to be able to relax. Will this make my insurance go up. It’s happened l can’t change it l need to stop worrying.

Yes, let your insurance company know. They will take note of your version of what happened. Did you get the white van man's details? He could be a witness.

Try not to worry, the insurance company will sort it out but yes, your premiums will likely go up and you probably need to pay an excess. You might have no claims protection, check your policy, this will allow you one claim a year without affecting your no claims.

It's just one of those things.

@Berga no but l know the name of the company, he could see l was upset followed me to my dads to make sure l was ok, his van name will be on my the ring door so l will be able to get in touch with him.

Where did the taxi come from? And the blue car?
Sorry, editing to see that you said the blue car was behind you.

And were you going to overtake three cars and a bus?

Always contact your insurance company immediately.. ideally never give other drivers your phone number. Take other details, and photos. That's why we now have a 360 camera in our car.

I understand the taxi was behind her and overtook her, saying now he didn’t see her signaling and pulling out to overtake the bus..The van driver must been opposite traffic waiting for her pass?

@BodenCardiganNot hence the white van driver saw it all well?

Taxis are always like this, never wait, cutting in, driving like maniacs.

If you are planning to overtake a bus and three cars you need to do it rapidly, not slowly. Doing any part of overtaking slowly is dangerous.

@BodenCardiganNot it was two lanes so they were probably turning right at the junction so that’s why they were behind the bus but l was moving over so l could go straight ahead.

You need his license plate to give to your insurers. You say you didn’t get a photo of it but do you have it written down?

Was the taxi driver already in the lane you were moving in to?

Was he driving in the other lane and you pulled into his path?
or
Were you both in your lane behind the bus, and you both pulled out to the next lane where he then went into the side of you?

Because he’d have gone into the back of you, not the side. The only way he could hit your side was if he was already in that lane before you started to move, and then you’ve moved across him. He had to already be in the lane. Even if he had only just pulled over, he was still already there before you and you didn’t look properly and pulled across his path.

Did you give him your insurance details?

@BodenCardiganNot the white van was in the second lane and clearly seen me indicating.on the other side of the two lines the traffic would be going the opposite direction. This is something l have done many times in this location.

So taxi was behind? What part of your car got hit?

Looks like it was your fault. If it goes through insurance they will decide. You might lose some no claims and your insurance will go up a little bit.

@Ivehearditbothways it is your second explanation but l know l seen the whole of the white van that had stopped before l moved over, l know l looked properly, my child sits behind me l would never not look properly for this reason.

l didn’t write his number down. I have just rang him to ask for his details and l am just going to ring my insurance.

l need to stop worrying, it’s happened l can’t change it.

Did the van flash you put? Presumably the taxi also thought the van was flashing him. At best this is going to go 50/50 I would think

@frannygallops , l read you’r name wrong it made me smile.

No he didn’t flash.

It doesn’t matter if you were signalling. It doesn’t give you the right to move over when it isn’t clear. And sorry but you simply couldn’t have possibly looked properly or you would have seen the taxi. You didn’t see him because you didn’t look. The only possibly way for him to hit the side of your car was for him to be in the lane before you, and have drawn half way up beside your car where you then merged into him.

That’s just the facts. It’s your fault. But your insurance companies will fight it out.

So you went into the side of the taxi? Sounds like a fault claim for you as clearly the taxi was down the side of you when you hit him. Definitely need to go through your insurance though

The taxi his her front wing mirror because he was already in the lane she then tried to pull into without looking to see him there.

So you and the taxi behind were both trying to get into the other lane so lane changing not overtaking, the taxi may have been in your blind spot as it moved out but it does sound like it was probably your fault and the taxi was there, though as it was behind you usually cars behind are usually deemed at fault, that's for the insurance to fight out.

No one was hurt and it sounds like not a lot of damage, I would let the insurance sort it out, they will likely have preferred garages for repairs, and enjoy your holiday

I once drove into a parking space and the driver in the car which was in the space next to me opened his door and that went 50/50. Often a lot of minor accidents do

oh Well you live and learn l suppose, it’s all with the insurance companies now so l need to stop worrying. Thanks for your input everyone.