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Original poster

Car accident yesterday evening

50 replies

Orangedreams · 05/10/2025 04:59

Somebody crashed into the back of me and DH yesterday. We were driving down the road and we were slowing down and indicating (in good time) to turn left then then next thing we know the car behind smashed into us from behind and we came off the road into some bushes.

I’ve never been in a car accident before and it’s really shaken me up to the point I can’t sleep. It was so, so scary😞 Is it normal to have this reaction to a car accident?

OP posts:

VashtaNerada · 05/10/2025 05:02

I’ve known a couple of people who have been in accidents recently and yes, it can really shake you. Are you okay physically? Do you have the other driver’s details?

Original poster

Orangedreams · 05/10/2025 05:07

@VashtaNerada I feel a bit rough. I have a headache on one side and my jaw is hurting. Yes we have all their details. They don’t want us going through insurance though

OP posts:

Nothankyov · 05/10/2025 05:09

Yes it’s completely normal to be shaken. I was in a car accident where someone also rear ended us and it took me a few weeks to settle. Granted I was pregnant at the time but still. Out of curiosity why don’t they want it through the insurance?

TrustedTheWrongFart · 05/10/2025 05:10

Go through insurance. It’s what you pay them for for to sort all this.

VashtaNerada · 05/10/2025 05:11

Definitely go through insurance! It’s not their decision

Original poster

Orangedreams · 05/10/2025 05:14

@Nothankyov He said he was only 18 and his insurance will shoot up (his words) We are going to though

OP posts:

Nothankyov · 05/10/2025 05:18

@Orangedreams I would agree with PP. I would go through insurance personally. I know it’s not nice for him but it is the risk you take when you get behind a car.

Darragon · 05/10/2025 05:22

Orangedreams · 05/10/2025 05:14

@Nothankyov He said he was only 18 and his insurance will shoot up (his words) We are going to though

Bluntly, he should have thought of that before driving too fast to slow down in time and not leaving enough space and therefore running you off the road. He is clearly clueless as to how much an accident repair will cost. It will be a lot more than he thinks. Really insist on going through insurance. If he can’t afford the premium increase later down the line then hopefully that means he will be safely off the road until he’s mature enough to handle a 1-ton death trap. Also get to a doctor and get checked in case you need to make a personal injury claim as it sounds like you’ve hurt yourself.

PlugUgly1980 · 05/10/2025 05:29

Go through insurance and then don’t engage with the individual or anyone on their behalf again. Just confirm your insurer is handling it and then ignore any calls or texts. Let your insurer deal with it all - that’s what you pay them for. We’ve had two similar instances over the years, both no fault claims on our part, but we let our insurer deal with them both. No need for any hassle from the other party begging you not to pursue a claim then.

VashtaNerada · 05/10/2025 07:25

If you feel guilty going against what he said, just tell yourself that next time it could be a child crossing the road that he goes into. Doing things properly is the right thing to do.

londongirl12 · 05/10/2025 07:47

Yes it’s normal to feel like that. It’s a massive adrenaline rush. As others have said, go through the insurance. He’ll unlikely be able to afford those repairs anyway, that’s not just a little bumper scrape!

LupaMoonhowl · 05/10/2025 07:48

Awful you are going through this.
Has happened to me s couple of times.
You must go through insurance!!!

MNJudge · 05/10/2025 08:07

A tiny little door prang is one thing, but anything more definitely needs to go through insurance, and to be honest an insurance job for a door prang is probably easiest too.

A woman hit my mum's car once. Mum was stationary and the other car drove into the side of her. Not massive damage, but a dented in door and some bumper damage on the other, newer, car. Clear cut who was at fault.... You would think. Apologies made at the scene, asked if she could keep it off the insurance etc. Mum was tempted to avoid the faff, but went through anyway. By the time she called them, the other woman had already reported the accident to her insurance claiming mum had driven into her 😱 (What, sideways FFS?!). Months of back and forth ensured, injury claims, huge damage claims, outright lies etc. It was only dropped on the eve of court..... Always go through the insurance OP!

I hope you are ok. You can't sleep because of the adrenaline, but you will calm as time passes. Wishing you well x

TeddySchnauzer · 05/10/2025 08:09

VashtaNerada · 05/10/2025 05:11

Definitely go through insurance! It’s not their decision

Where does it say in the original OP that the other party doesn’t want to use insurance?

TheNightingalesStarling · 05/10/2025 08:13

Did you get your head checked?

pontivex · 05/10/2025 08:15

TeddySchnauzer · 05/10/2025 08:09

Where does it say in the original OP that the other party doesn’t want to use insurance?

Edited

Show quote history

It literally says in their second post ‘They don’t want us going through insurance though’

workingcocker · 05/10/2025 08:18

People are reading the full thread not just the OP….

Offherrockingchair · 05/10/2025 08:23

Insurance and a trip to the walk in to get whiplash checked out. Might be useful if you wanted to claim compensation later - not saying you should do this in a mercenary way, but who knows if your back has been jolted in a bad enough way to cause ongoing issues at this point? Insurance will also help with a replacement car until yours can be mended.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 05/10/2025 08:25

@Orangedreams if he is only 18 then I doubt he would have the money for the repairs your car is going to need!!! be very wary.

whiteroseredrose · 05/10/2025 08:27

Go through insurance. You may need physio. It’s not just about damage to your car.

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 05/10/2025 08:29

Totally normal. And you might get the occasional flashbacks as well. All a result of the adrenaline and will calm down.

I would seek medical check up today though. Call 111 and ask to see an out of hours GP. Adrenaline can mask injuries and become apparent hours later - as you are now finding out.

And fully agree with everyone else, insurance all the way. He is unlikely to be able to pay for the full repairs and then you would be chasing him. Not worth the hassle and if he can’t afford his insurance for a while - that is no bad thing.

Take care of yourself today, hot sweet tea, gentle TV etc.

PropertyD · 05/10/2025 08:34

Do you have his insurance details already? I presume he has some? Has that been checked.

As others say - leave it to the insurance company otherwise if the repairs are say £2k he is likely to be shocked as he hasn’t realised the cost of proper car repairs or he offers to pay instalments and it all gets horribly messy.

hidinginthebathroomagain · 05/10/2025 08:38

The damage is far too severe not to use your insurers. It will cost far more to repair/ write off than his increased premium. You can use a Government website to claim for your injuries. It’s called Official Injury claim. You can use a solicitor connected to any legal cover on your policy but they will take a large cut.

Your whiplash will feel worse for a few days before it starts improving. Paracetamol is your friend here.

Lurkingandlearning · 05/10/2025 08:40

Hopefully you won’t be in an accident again, but for future reference I think you are supposed to report an accident that has caused someone to be hurt to the police immediately and remain at the scene till they arrive. I’m not sure but I think that would also apply to getting shunted off the road. I hope that not doing so will not affect your insurance claim.

And please don’t feel sorry for bad drivers because of their age. He knew that he was driving carelessly and was almost certainly speeding. He was also savvy enough to know his insurance premiums are going to increase. He was using his age to manipulate you. Don’t be surprised if he wasn’t actually insured

Florencesndzebedee · 05/10/2025 08:56

Have you had medical attention. You might have concussion if you have a headache.

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