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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder if I should report this person to the police?

66 replies

NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 13/09/2013 10:48

A school run mum hit my car yesterday while I was dropping my kids off at their classrooms. This morning a witness, thank god, left a note on my car windscreen leaving the other cars registration number and saying she'd seen the driver hit my car while trying to park hers. I've spoken to the witness who says the driver hit my car while pulling into the parking space in front of me, got out of hers to look at the damage to my car (lots of BIG scrapes, she couldn't have missed them!) and hers, got back in her car, drove off and parked further away. The driver left no details on my car.

I'm dealing with the insurance company but I'm wondering if I should report her to the police for failing to stop at an accident and leave her details? She clearly knew she'd caused damage to my car and drove off to park elsewhere, leaving no details.

OP posts:
Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 13/09/2013 11:13

You're right Marilyn, I've 100% done nothing wrong. I just don't know how much trouble this could cause for her (not that I'm responsible for her failure to do the right thing). I'm also a bit worried that there could be a confrontation down at the school as she obviously knows what my car looks like and could easily track me down to have a go at me for reporting her.

OP posts:
DorisIsAPinkDragon · 13/09/2013 11:21

She's not got aleg to stand on with regard to confrontation. She's more likely to be running the other way...

PeterParkerSays · 13/09/2013 11:22

She was outside a school and reversed (?) so badly that she hit your car. Would we still be having this conversation had she hit a buggy or a child? If the woman can't park safely at a school, she shouldn't be attempting to park there.

She's left the scene of an accident, please do call the police.

MarilynMoanroe · 13/09/2013 11:23

In my eyes, she has left you little choice.

You don't have to engage in a confrontation, she'd have to be very bold to turn this round on you.

MarilynMoanroe · 13/09/2013 11:23

Incredibly bold or incredibly stupid.

TheProsAndConsOfHitchhiking · 13/09/2013 11:25

What PeterParkerSays said.

BrokenSunglasses · 13/09/2013 11:25

Yes, report her.

If she does confront you about it, which is unlikely because she will know she doesn't have a leg to stand on as she was seen, then you can tell her that you had to report it for your insurance claim. I'm surprised you don't have to, so it is believable.

Nothing much will happen to her. The worst will be a fine or having to do a course, and maybe her insurance will be affected. But so what? She damaged your car and then just left it! She deserves whatever she gets.

LookingThroughTheFog · 13/09/2013 11:27

I'd report her.

I clipped a car while parking, was mortified, cried a bit, then gave myself a bit of a shake and put my details on his windscreen. He was utterly lovely and very reasonable about it.

Report her for all the reasons PeterParkerSays says.

shellbot · 13/09/2013 11:32

I would report her as she needs a wake up call.

It might make her take more care in future and could potentially save a child's life.

dubstarr73 · 13/09/2013 11:33

Nest time could be a child or a buggy she hits.Report her.

Theoscargoesto · 13/09/2013 11:35

If you don't report it, it may still cost you. If there is an excess on your policy, you will have to pay it, even if it is eventually received from the other driver's insurers. And any claim has the potential to affect your insurance premiums for years ahead. This happened to my DH in a service station, and he reported it. The police said you have to report an accident, even if there is no personal injury, and not reporting it is a crime. So I would report it, and tell the police about the witness, and leave it to them to deal with.

CiderBomb · 13/09/2013 11:36

Yes report her. Failure to stop at the scene of an accident is an offence.

DowntonTrout · 13/09/2013 11:36

The reason she drove off and parked somewhere else is because she thought she could get away with it.

Report to the police, before she has chance to fix any damage to her car. She will not be able to deny it then.

WeAreEternal · 13/09/2013 11:36

Someone did this to me last year, while trying to park she hit my car, it caused quite a bit of damage too.
After hitting my car she got out of hers inspected the damage, looked around to check that there was no witnesses and then got back in her car and drove off. Thankfully CCTV spotted her.

Her excuse was that she was running late and and my car was too far out (it wasn't).
Before she knew we had CCTV she tried to deny it was her, then she tried to lie and say that she had to swerve to avoid hitting a child who ran out behind her car.

We reported her to the police, and I'm glad I did.

Fairyegg · 13/09/2013 11:37

Do you know who she is? Would you feel able to talk to her?

Theoscargoesto · 13/09/2013 11:38

Oh, and 'have a go at me for reporting it'? If she does, I'd point out that she has driven badly, acted irresponsibly, and committed a criminal offence. Who in their right mind would criticise you? What right does anyone have to damage other people's property and walk away?

giraffescantdanceallnight · 13/09/2013 11:39

Yes report.

Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 13/09/2013 11:40

The thought of a child or buggy being hit brings it into sharp focus for me. I will report it today.

OP posts:
Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 13/09/2013 11:41

No Fairyegg, there are two schools on the road, the witness says her children go to the other school.

OP posts:
DeWe · 13/09/2013 11:42

I would. If she'd stayed and apologised I would have probably been sympathetic and gone for as cheap as possible with a good job, or even not bothered anthing that was just cosmetic. As she drove off then I'd get the police involved.

I had similar when parked at Tescos. One of the chaps who cleans cars caem over to tell me that the car had been hit, showed me the car that had hit mine. He'd approached the chap who had done it, and he'd tried to deny everything.
When I looked though, the damage to mine was just he'd left some paint when he scraped on my not-spotless car. He however had a huge dent and cracked paint on his new spotless car. Mine came off with a clean. He will have had a not insignificant bill. Revenge is good Grin

SoupDragon · 13/09/2013 11:44

If I had the chance, I would have a scout around and see if I could find the car and take photos.

Trazzletoes · 13/09/2013 11:45

Yes, I would. I did when a stupid woman drove in to the side of our car, announced there was no damage because she didn't want to get out and have a look ( there was damage) and as there was "no damage" she wouldn't give her details because apparently I was off to make a fraudulent claim!!!

miffybun73 · 13/09/2013 12:01

I'd report her. Maybe it was a careless one off because she was in a hurry or maybe she was drunk and next time it could be a small child that she hits.

Either way she needs a wake up call.

WilsonFrickett · 13/09/2013 12:07

I would give her the opportunity to speak to you on the school run today - maybe she got teary and flustered. I know I did when I clipped a wing mirror once. (OTOH I also stopped, went to check the other car and apologised profusely when the owner came out to see what I was doing).

If she doesn't front up today, then report her.

alemci · 13/09/2013 12:09

i think you should report it and you were lucky that there was a witness who gave you the information you needed to do so.

Let us know what happens

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