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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do I report this to the police?

44 replies

notwavingjustironing · 13/09/2010 14:32

Despite being on here for donkeys' years, I have never started an AIBU - although I have read a fair few in my time!

Basically, I was driving to work this morning and waiting to cross a junction. There was a loud crack and the car jolted as someone had driven into the back of me.

I got out of the car to find a taxi driver getting out of his car. I looked at my car to see if there was any damage, and he was just saying, "oh your car is fine, I have a dent on my bonnet, but it hit your spare tyre so there's no damage to your car.

I said, "well I'll just get a pen and you can give me your details", which he refused to do. I took down the registration number of his car, and his licence plate number, by now he was shouting at me, as was the fare in the back of the car. I said "if you don't give me your details, I'll report you to the police", and he said "go on then"

Am I being unreasonable to follow up my threat, or because I am not making a claim on my insurance am I wasting everyone's time?

He didn't at any point apologise for driving into the back of me and was just rude and aggressive, as was the person in the back of the taxi.

I can't decide whether this is my motivating factor Confused

OP posts:
JaxTellersOldLady · 13/09/2010 14:34

YANBU - it sounds to me like the taxi driver isnt licensed to drive a cab. DO report this to the police, just because there is no obvious damage doesnt mean there isnt any.

Emo76 · 13/09/2010 14:34

Report him - he has something to hide.....

scaryteacher · 13/09/2010 14:34

Report it, as you may have damage, and as it was his fault you may need to claim. Get the car checked before you decide not to claim.

cheesesarnie · 13/09/2010 14:34

he sounds like hes scared of losing his license.

nowwearefour · 13/09/2010 14:35

definitely report it. i think you'd be mad not to. and get your car checked out as damage isnt always visible.

scurryfunge · 13/09/2010 14:35

Report it, he has failed to comply with the Road Traffic Act and he has not furnished you with his details at the scene of the collision, if there is no injury.

At the time of the collision you can't really tell whether there is damage to your vehicle or not.

He is being a twat.

Casserole · 13/09/2010 14:35

I don't think you'd be unreasonable to do so, personally. The full extent of damage isn't always visible at the time of the accident - either to your car or you. How is he to know you haven't sustained damage to your vehicle that wasn't immediately visibl, or that you won't have whiplash tomorrow (I sincerely hope you don't!)

So no, I don't think he should be allowed to get away with refusing to leave his details after an accident, nor for displaying threatening behaviour towards you, either.

ShowOfHands · 13/09/2010 14:36

Phone your local non-emergency number. And your insurance company.

Just because it doesn't look like there's any damage, doesn't mean there isn't iyswim. I bet he has no insurance.

Sidge · 13/09/2010 14:36

You should phone your insurance company even if not making a claim, and they can direct you further. You may want to get your car checked by a garage anyway - I was pranged from behind, no visible damage but as we have a Motability vehicle I had to get it checked. I had a cracked bumper (not visible on the outside) and a dented tailgate.

Then you should call the non-emergency police - they may be interested to know about such an aggressive taxi driver, as may the company he works for.

silverfrog · 13/09/2010 14:37

do you have car seats in your car? how big was the jolt?

the advice is to replace after any accident, however small. insurers are happy to do so. obviously, you would need to report for this.

booyhoo · 13/09/2010 14:38

report it. you must provide your name and insurance company name whenever involved in an accident. it is law. i would report him just for his behaviour as it sounds like he doesn't want to get caught.

mrspear · 13/09/2010 14:38

Do get your car check - you have no idea what the hidden damage maybe. I would also speak to your insurance company re what to do with the cab driver

lisad123isgoingcrazy · 13/09/2010 14:39

report him and call your insurance too, there could be underlying damage too. We were hit by an uninsuranced driver once, took ages t sort out and his fine was less than my year insurance and my excess I had to pay Angry

Lauriefairycake · 13/09/2010 14:39

You need to get your car checked for definite.

I would also report him for refusing to give you his insurance details - sounds like it's a bit dodgy. Was his cab license card thingy obvious - did you see his picture?

booyhoo · 13/09/2010 14:44

fwiw, i had an accident where i ran into the back of another car. i got out and checked if teh woman was ok, tehre was no damage to my car but tehre was to hers so we moved teh cars out of the way and i wrote my name and number down. i could think straight with he shock so couldn't remember who my insurance was with so told her to phone me that evening. she walked away. when she phoned that evening i asked for her insurance details aswell because i had contacted my insurance company and they required her details. she refused to give me them saying it was my fault so she didn't need to provide hers. because of that i refused to give mine over and she called the police. SHE got a rollicking for not giving any details at the scene of the accident. i didn't get any warning at all. turned out it was her daughters car and she shouldn't have been driving it. she was going to claim of her daughters insurance and say her daughter had been driving but if i gave my insurance company her details she wouldn't have gotten a claim.

clam · 13/09/2010 14:45

I was shunted from behind once and thought there was no damage. However, the spare wheel was stored under the tailgate and next time I tried to change the wheel, it had been dislodged and wouldn't open. Was a right bother to sort out.

Also, your insurance co can refuse to cover any claim you might make on this in the future if you don't report it. So if you suffer delayed neck pain, for example, you'd be stuffed.

And what about reporting him to his own taxi firm? They ought to know what sort of driver they've got on their books. And that he was rude and aggressive to a member of the public while driving under their "badge."

StripeyMoon · 13/09/2010 14:49

Call the police immediately, I guarentee he will deny even being in the road unless you have witnesses.

Mniemmniem · 13/09/2010 14:54

Yanbu- call the local station, he obviously had something to hide!
I would phone the taxi company afterwards too!

PosieParker · 13/09/2010 14:56

Report it definitely.

Vallhala · 13/09/2010 15:11

Report it, his behaviour is in breach of the Road Traffic Act. He's obliged in law to give you his details in these circumstances.

Sounds like he has something to hide to me.

MisterW · 13/09/2010 15:17

As others have said, damage to your car may not be immediately obvious. Someone once drove into the back of my mum's car causing what looked like a small dent. When the garage checked it they found the boot floor was bent, which cost quite a lot to repair.

Msaford · 13/09/2010 15:17

What good will come of it? The only person who will benefit are the insurance companies. If there is nothing wrong with your car then I wouldn't. The taxi driver sounds to me like he understandably doesn't want the hassle of increasing insurance premiums the risk of losing his licence and livelihood after one small bump. I would give hime the benefit of doubt he may be a very nice man. Sending the police to his door seems unecessary.

wigglesrock · 13/09/2010 15:19

You need to report it to your insurers and non emergency police. I know someone this happened to and the police turned up at her door that evening, the other driver had had reported her for leaving the scene of an accident, just after he had come back from A&E for whiplash!!. Luckily she had rang her insurers earlier in the day for a bit of advice. Report it just to keep yourself right.

AnneTwacky · 13/09/2010 15:20

I think you'll have to report it, not just for the hit and run but for the aggression as well.

If the damage is more than it looks your insurance will expect you to have done so.

It does sound like he's got something to hide by the fact he refused to give his details.

LadyBiscuit · 13/09/2010 15:22

The OP's car may be damaged and it's an offence not to report an RTA msaford.