Car accident - made a stupid mistake.

[Carbooboo]

Accident was entirely the other driver's fault - I was stopped at a junction and she went into the back of me.

Never been in an accident before and was in shock. Other driver got out of her car and calmly asked for my details (name, phone number, insurance) which I gave. It only dawned on me when I drove away that I am meant to get the other persons details especially when it was her fault. Needless to say it has been almost 24 hours and I haven't heard from her.

I am so annoyed at myself for driving away without her details. I phoned police who advised that because she got out of the car and engaged so it wasn't that she fled the scene. He said I am at her mercy as to whether she contacts me.

Not really looking to achieve anything from this, just a vent as I am feeling a lot of shame about it and bit embarrassed to tell people in real life!

You need to report this to your insurance.

Still worth telling your insurance provider

Do you have photos of her car and her number plate? You can report it to your insurance and they can maybe pursue it through that. 🤷‍♀️

You need to report to your insurance company. She may not contact you and just go straight to her insurance company, which is sensible.

In the past when I had an accident, I got the other drivers details and gave it all to my insurance company and let them handle it. Didn’t and wouldn’t speak to the other driver about it again.

If she doesn’t contact you, I wouldn’t tell your insurance company unless you’re going to claim. It depends how much damage was done, but generally I’d get the repairs done myself in the circumstances and accept that I got it wrong in this case. If it ever happens again, you’ll remember to take photos and get the other driver’s details. If you tell your insurance company, they’ll put it on your record for no reason if you aren’t claiming and it’ll affect your premiums.

Did you get the number plate? That’s really the only thing you need as they can trace her through it.

If you have the registration plate, just contact your insurers and let them know.

Frankly, if it was your fault, she is likely to contact her insurance anyway, so it will likely all sort itself out. But you do need to tell your insurers.

For future reference and anyone else, never give your name or address, only insurance details. I did once, when someone went in the back of me,he rang demanding money! Always report it to the insurance company, even if you aren't claiming... people twist things.

Did you get the plate? Any CCTV cameras nearby? What to do in an accident is something we have drilled into Ds after he passed his test.

Take lots of photos and a photo or better yet video of the driver, the car, narrate what happened whilst it is still fresh in your mind. If you get the plate and the drivers name then you give that to your insurance company.

Plus this is another reason to spend £100 on a dash cam front and rear. Ours is a VIOFO one which is featured on a lot of YouTube dash cam videos, good quality recording. Not everyone sticks around after an accident some just drive off and hope you don't have their plate.

Any witnesses? I regularly see Facebook posts on local community pages asking if anyone has witnessed anything and 9/10 times people post pictures they’ve taken of the accident. I think people take photos as soon as they see something happen just in case so it’s worth a shot.

Irrespective of whether you are planning to claim on your insurance, you still have to report the accident to your insurance company.

Log on to your insurance account to make a claim or speak to them direct, they will note it down. My DS hit a car August last year, minimal damage to other car, driver said it wasn’t worth going through insurance and my DS said to let him know and he would pay direct. About a month later, DS got an email from his insurance to say he needs to start a claim, he rang them and they went through the questions, although DS felt the accident was 50/50, insurance company said he was to blame. We’ve not heard anything since.

We’ve been advising our customers for decades to take photos of the other car’s number plates because you may be flustered and not thinking straight.
I now have front and rear facing cameras due to the lies told in accidents.

If the other driver reports it (which is highly likely given that she took OP’s details), then OP’s insurers will find out anyway, and she could end up with her policy voided or cancelled for not doing the same.

I would agree never to give your actual personal details, just your insurance details.

My housemate at uni bumped her car into someone in our street car park. Didn’t leave her personal details (only insurance details) but the guy still found her and turned up at our house a few times. So real weirdo out there.

I wouldn’t necessarily expect to hear from her. If I was in her position I’d just go through my insurance.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I will be contacting insurance company today.

I didn't get numberplate. Know the colour of the car, could guess at the make but not model, and know her first name. Police aware of all this but they've closed the case and will contact if anyone contacts them about the incident.

It was at the exit from a motorway so no buildings nearby for CCTV and no pedestrians to witness it. Plenty of cars around but it was a 40 mph region so i doubt anyone will have taken photos. I checked traffic cam but nothing near the accident and no way youd pick up on numberplates without expert review, which wont happen as technically a crime hasn't been committed because she did stop and engage.

Definitely wont be making that mistake again! And will be looking into dash cams.

Bad advice. The other driver will likely report the incident to their insurance company which will trigger an investigation and the other dtiver could potentially make a claim against the OP further down the line.
Not informing your insurer about an accident risks policy invalidation, claim denial, financial liability for all damages, increased future premiums, and potential legal trouble, as it's a breach of your policy's conditions, even for minor incidents. Insurers can find out via data sharing or the other party's claim, leaving you unprotected and potentially facing costly out-of-pocket expenses or even legal action for non-disclosure.
Protect yourself: Reporting protects you if the other driver later claims against you or if new damage appears, preventing you from being left to foot the bill.

If you know the make and model, and colour of the car, that's a good start. If the other driver reports the accident the insurance company can marry the details and take it from there. Hope you're okay OP x

Totally this.
There’s some terrible advice on MN sometimes.

Similar experience that thank god was a near miss made me get a front and rear dashcam. It wasn’t hard to fit.

Hope you’re all ok.

She sounds like she will contact her insurer given she gave you all the details. But she probably thought it odd that you didn’t ask her for anything so if she is a CF she might try to chance it. You need to take a photo of the damage at the scene and the reg plate and then you can get her details from the insurers. If she doesn’t do it then I doubt the police will be interested in the slightest. Was there a lot of damage?

If she contacts her insurer they will likely contact you ASAP to avoid you claiming through your own insurer or an accident management company. The fact that you haven't had contact from them suggests that she has not contacted them

Exact same happened to me a few months ago. Better to inform the insurers. I took proper videos and photos of my car and the other car.

I was also very shocked but called DH very panicky on what to do. I work in the insurance industry so I know what needs to be done but I went blank.

I took the name and number of the lady. Said some mean words in my panicky mood - which I wouldn’t say otherwise ever. Its very shocking when it happens.

I witnessed an accident last year. A white car drove into a black car. The white car was entirely to blame. I was contacted by the insurer and asked to answer questions about it. I also had footage so I viewed that - OMG it was the other way round. I could not believe it and had to watch several times. The polar opposite to my recollection had happened and the black car was entirely to blame. So, dashcam footage is a good idea.