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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ring the nonemergency police number?

83 replies

Dordeydoo · 27/09/2012 19:23

Have posted in chat to

Today some idiotic lorry driver crushed the top corner of my car door whilst I was stood in the road putting things in my car. I had been stood strapping child in And putting things in for approx 3/4 mins before this happened.

Lorry driver misjudged the space and badly crushed the top of my car. He got out refused to take blame or swap details. And said I was to blame.

I've contacted insurers and his company, company say im to blame to.

I want to contact the police about this as feel he was driving dangerously etc and could have killed me as his lorry caught my door just centimetres from my head.

WIBU to ring 101 about this

Sorry for long post

OP posts:

cornzy · 27/09/2012 19:41

okay I can see what you mean OP. Sorry I'm not having a go at you.

Original poster

Dordeydoo · 27/09/2012 19:41

I think I had a lucky escape as no one was hurt, only damage to the car.
I think I will ring 101 and see what they think. I'm still shaking after 4 hours and lots of tea!

OP posts:

Salmotrutta · 27/09/2012 19:41

Why don't you ring the 101 number, or pop into a local Police station if you can, and just ask their advice?

KnockedUpMell · 27/09/2012 19:42

Sounds like you were putting yourself in danger by having the car door open and standing there if it was a roadside with heavy vehicles.

He is in the wrong for not wanting to swap details, but I'm not sure the incident is his fault / liability entirely... If I was loading / unloading from the roadside, (especially if DS is involved) I'm extra cautious and try to be aware of other road traffic and may even close the door if I'm getting in another road users way.

Original poster

Dordeydoo · 27/09/2012 19:44

Road isnt really suitable for lorrys but they use as a cut through.

OP posts:

Original poster

Dordeydoo · 27/09/2012 19:45

The road was clear when I moved out into it. The lorry driver arrived 3/4 mins after.

I now have details and have passed to my insurers

OP posts:

Original poster

Dordeydoo · 27/09/2012 19:46

Knocked up - I didn't have the chance to move or shut door as he showed no signs of slowing/stopping so I would have been crushed if i moved

OP posts:

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 27/09/2012 19:47

Even if you were causing a blockage by narrowing the road you were stationary and drivers have a responsibility to drive appropriately for the conditions.

I would definitely use the 101 number to report the incident and ask for advice on how to proceed.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 27/09/2012 19:48

Unless the OP was parked illegally (which she wasnt) it still falls to drivers to be aware of hazards.

ThorPhowargh · 27/09/2012 19:49

He has committed a crime as someone said earlier.
If necessary quote the road traffic act 1988 s170(4). Although I wouldn't go in sounding like an arse but if they say it is up to your insurers then you can legitimately say that no, in addition to damaging your car he has committed an offence by leaving without giving you any details. Hopefully you will get a sympathetic ear. We have had two cars written off by lorries and about £2500 worth of damage done on another car so you have my sympathies regardless!

Tiredmumno1 · 27/09/2012 19:54

As you now have the details there isn't much you can do about that, as the police would say let your insurers sort it out now.

However with regards to his dangerous driving, yes you could report it to them, you may be asked to do a statement, but if you have no witnesses, it'll be your word against his. He is obviously an arrogant sod, wanting to cover his own backside.

Give 101 a call and explain what happened and just see what they say.

I hope it works out for you

fuckadoodlepoopoo · 27/09/2012 19:55

I haven't a clue why some are saying its your fault for having the door open. As long as you didn't fling the door open into his path as he approached then the responsibility is his to make sure he doesn't hit vehicles, people etc.

I would call the police and tell them that he refused to hand over his details. See what they say.

Original poster

Dordeydoo · 27/09/2012 19:56

Guessing by response 101 is way to go, bet I'll have to pop into station to give a statement though. Could I be in the wrong as when he said no to details I was like yeh ok and then just took his number plate

OP posts:

fuckadoodlepoopoo · 27/09/2012 19:56

I think actually that even if she were parked illegally the driver of the van would still not be allowed to drive straight into her car!

VivaLeBeaver · 27/09/2012 19:58

Don't be surprised if the driver lies through his teeth and says you flu ng the door open at the last minute.

However it's very fortunate that you were at your friends house and she witnessed the whole thing.

ShellyBoobs · 27/09/2012 19:59

I'm absolutely baffled why some people are saying OP is at fault.

It wouldn't even matter if she WAS parked incorrectly or illegally. The pertinent point is that she wasn't moving; the other vehicle was!

Crashing into a stationary vehicle = moving vehicle's fault. There is no other possible outcome.

I'm worried now that some of you might be driving on the same road as me at some point, randomly crashing into anything which is in your path.

Bloody hell!

Tiredmumno1 · 27/09/2012 19:59

Wrt leaving details, afaik if someone leaves the scene without handing over details, they have 24 hours to report it, or hand over the details, so I don't think they can really do anything about that part, obviously it wouldn't hurt to mention it.

BitOutOfPractice · 27/09/2012 19:59

The police won't be interested unless someone was hurt. Sorry :(

BitOutOfPractice · 27/09/2012 20:00

And the insurance won't accept a friend as a witness. Sorry :(

Viviennemary · 27/09/2012 20:03

Shouldn't you have been doing the strapping in of your child and the loading of your car from the pavement side and not the roadside. I was always told that the onus was on the driver who opened the door to make sure there was no vehicles approaching.

dottygirl1 · 27/09/2012 20:03

No help really but the company should pay or their insurance company should sort it.

A bin truck/lorry took the whole side off my car last year. I parked on a street and had just got out. As the truck approached I was thinking that he would never get past and hey ho I was right. In fairness the waste disposal company paid for everything, including a rental car for me while the work was being done.

Hope you get it sorted.

Original poster

Dordeydoo · 27/09/2012 20:04

Am still going to ring 101 as I feel he was driving dangerously and could have taken my life if things had been slightly different

OP posts:

Original poster

Dordeydoo · 27/09/2012 20:05

Ermm my door was OPEN for 3/4 mins before he arrived!

OP posts:

VivaLeBeaver · 27/09/2012 20:17

I had a similar incident and produced two friends as witnesses which was enough to swing it. I didn't advertise the fact they were friends, just said these two women happened to see the accident. I was never asked if they were friends. Before the witness statements the other driver was trying to say I was moving. Once I had witnesses saying I was stationary the other insurance paid out.

Viviennemary · 27/09/2012 20:20

I was convinced I was right that it was the OP's fault. Well I just asked DH his opinion and if the door was already open then it's the lorry driver's fault as it was up to him to be observant. So that seems to agree with what the majority are saying.Oh well I can't always be right.

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