So what exactly should you do when you're in a minor car accident?

[Warmautumnbreeze]

I learnt to drive and passed my driving test 23 years ago. At that time, the instructions were if ever you have an accident, no matter how minor, both party's exchange insurance details, you get the car checked by a garage and go from there.

The short version of this if you don't want to read all the below is, is that still current advice and what you would/have done, or was I overreacting given there was no visible damage to my car?

Bit more detail: I'm fortunate enough to have never had any kind of collision during my 23 year driving history, until the other day when someone reversed into me while they were attempting to let a car through coming the other way in a single lane road. Unfortunately I was unable to reverse because there was a tight queue of traffic behind me, besides which the driver in front did not check their mirrors and zoomed back without caution, not giving me time to reverse even if I could have.

I was in a slight state of shock, I had my whole family in the car, and as I say nothing like this had ever happened to me before. I put on my hazards, the driver in front got out and walked over to my window, apologised and took a look at the front of my car and said "there's no damage" and went to return to their car.

I said I'd like to check myself and so we both pulled over into spaces at the side of the road to let the traffic behind us through. The first car behind me thanked me for moving and kind of rolled his eyes in support to me, the second however was a man who shouted at me "you've just driven into her and there isn't even any damage!" obviously I corrected him and said no she reversed into me. He then drove off.

Anyway, the driver at error kept repeating that there was no damage to my car, took a photo of my car (fine, so did I) and eventually gave a contact name and number. Didn't exchange any insurance details with me, though I had mine in my hand after getting them from the glove box and taking them out the car to talk to her.

The driver was right, there is no visible damage, but I didn't want to be in a position where I didn't get their contact details and a few days later find there was something damaged under the bonnet and then have no way of contacting her.

I feel like I followed the instructions of what to do in an accident, but judging by both the attitude of the driver at fault and also the (rather rude and unhelpful) driver behind me it seems like this might not be the advice any more?

I'm interested to know if other's would have done the same as me or if the way I handled it was an overreaction given there was no visible damage to the outside of my car?

I had a similar thing happen to me after a minor rear ending by a catering van on the M25 one evening (traffic jam, so v slow traffic). In the end we didn't check with the garage on our car, as there was no visible damage, but we part xd the car 2 months later and there was obvious shunt damage underneath apparently. Lesson learned. Next time I'll advise our insurance and get it checked more thoroughly.

I'd think pulling over, checking for damage and exchanging contact details is all fine. You wouldn't just drive off without checking and I wouldn't be taking someone else's word for it, without looking myself. It sounds like people were just being impatient.

You should still report it to your insurance company. I’d have taken photos too, and taken a photo of their registration plate.
We know of a situation where the other car said tnere was no damage so drove off. Weeks later they filed a complaint that their car was damaged. Luckily the insurance company took over and proved they were trying to scam.

If I were you I'd want to exchange details then take my car to the garage and ask them to check it. If there's no damage then fine, if there is contact insurance.

Did you get any witnesses details or dash cam? If not I would keep quiet as he is likely to say you drove into him.

If there was no visible damage I probably would have left it but would have taken a photo of the reg of the other car just in case.
Am I right in thinking that these days your insurer would just need the other persons name and number plate and they could trace the other insurer with that? So exchanging insurance
details might not longer be necessary as such?
Like you I've never had a collision so speculating here.

Have a garage check.

The fronts of cars are designed to crumple to protect it's occupants in an accident. Often, there will be foam or other materials behind the bodywork. The bodywork, which may itself be plastic and reform giving the appearance of there being no damage.

It's unlikely that the person who reversed into you is sufficiently expert to be able to make that judgement at a glance.

It's not just about visible damage to the car. I had a very minor shunt from behind with no damage visible or otherwise. But the next morning I woke up in agony. I had sustained a whiplash injury which I didn't think was possible from such a small bump. But months of paying for physiotherapy taught me otherwise. Thank god we'd exchanged details.

I have been reversed into and took lots of photos and the reg number of the other car. Insurance company can look up the other's insurance. However I agree ask garage to check and if no damage don't report it as your insurance will go up next time regardless and probably more than the garage would charge to check it.

Thanks for all the replies. Confirms to me that I wasn't being OTT to take her details.

I would have took contact details or reg number. I’d have also took the witness behind.
Id be very careful reporting to your insurance because your premiums will go up and also the other party will say you drove in to them and without a witness you’re screwed

You were in the right. Many years ago, i myself was at fault when i reversed my tank-like people carrier out of my drive and had not noticed my next door neighbour sitting directly at the back of me.

There was no visible damage whatsoever to either car.

However, my neighbour had her car checked and there was a slight split in the wheel arch on the inside. My insurance paid out for her to get the entire rear panel replaced.

Sometimes, it's not til later you spot damage so the correct procedure is to exchange deets.

Always take details and ALWAYS get the details of a witness if there is one. It's amazing how many people's stories change and suddenly they are no longer at fault. Which, in the long run can cost you £100s of extra in insurance, even if it ends up as 50:50.