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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Think I might've done a hit & run I'm scared!!

135 replies

helloitsme12345 · 29/01/2016 09:37

I'm a new driver and haven't been insured for long. I was driving past a car in a tight space in 2nd gear and all of a sudden i heard a sound to which I didn't pay much attention and I drove off. I looked back and the car had stopped, as I was in a hurry as I was doing school run I drove off and I later realised my wing mirror had been hit and it had been damaged. After I had dropped the kids to school which took about 5 mins maybe less I went back to that road hoping to see the car but it had gone. I'm quite worried the person might've taken my reg number and might make a claim! I've only been insured for less than a month so I'm quite worried. I really don't know what I should do, any tips?

OP posts:
IceBeing · 29/01/2016 09:39

with kindness - you really need to stop when you hit something even if you are in a hurry. The safety of your vehicle might have been compromised and that is more important than being 5 mins late.

NerrSnerr · 29/01/2016 09:39

You need to call 101 and tell them what happened. That is the main thing. Failing to report an accident is a criminal offence.

The chances are you hit another wing mirror and the person you hit will be pissed off but won't do anything but if they do report it it'll be much better for you if you report it first.

NerrSnerr · 29/01/2016 09:41

Yes and as pp said, being in a hurry is no excuse not to stop. If you ever think you've had any kind of a bump you must stop as soon as it's safe.

leelu66 · 29/01/2016 09:41

I later realised my wing mirror had been hit

Do you mean the other person hit you or you hit them? You seem reluctant to admit your responsibility.

You saw the car had stopped, so you really should have stopped. You could have explained to your school that you were involved in an accident. Doing the school run is not an excuse to just drive off.

If they make a claim against you, find out if there is a way to settle i.e. pay for damage yourself instead of going via insurance.

Original poster
helloitsme12345 · 29/01/2016 09:44

I know I should've stopped but like I said i only got my car recently and I know it's not right but I panicked and drove off which I really do regret

OP posts:
MusterMark · 29/01/2016 09:45

Was the other car moving or stationary at the time? Was there a line in the middle of the road and were you or they straddling it?

NerrSnerr · 29/01/2016 09:45

You 100% need to let the police know. If they got your registration number you could be in trouble for leaving the scene of an accident.

IceBeing · 29/01/2016 09:45

really? You panicked? I am not sure you should be driving at all if your response to hitting something is to panic and drive off?

What's done is done - but do you think you would react the same way again?

HumptyDumptyHadaHardTime · 29/01/2016 09:45

as I was in a hurry

Absolutely no excuse as to not to stop.

Failing to stop at the scene of an accident is a criminal offence.

Original poster
helloitsme12345 · 29/01/2016 09:47

I've learnt my mistake and in future I know what I should do.

OP posts:
Shutthatdoor · 29/01/2016 09:48

I know it's not right but I panicked and drove of

If that is the way you react then you shouldn't be driving I'm afraid.

leelu66 · 29/01/2016 09:48

What do you want us to say, OP? That it's ok?

It's not the end of the world and you've probably got away with it. But as someone who's had to replace my wing mirror cap 3 times, I can guarantee the person's car you hit is not thinking charitable thoughts about you right now.

I guess it happens to us all.

Original poster
helloitsme12345 · 29/01/2016 09:48

Both cars were moving

OP posts:
SummerHouse · 29/01/2016 09:50

Don't worry. Call 101. Be truthful in everything you say. You could easily get away with it but you don't want it hanging over your head. You also don't get that many opportunities in life that really test you to do the right thing. Doing the right thing will always see you right in the end. Do it now and report back so I can say well done. SmileFlowers

BeetrootBetty · 29/01/2016 09:50

I was sat in my car (parked at the side of the road) and a man drove past and clipped it.

He stopped and was really shaken, his wing mirror was totally smashed and hanging off but mine was fine.

It's perfectly possible that there was no damage to their mirror at all.

WaitrosePigeon · 29/01/2016 09:51

I can understand why you panicked as a new driver.

Call 101 and just report. I'm sure nothing will come of it but you will feel better.

Have a cup of tea and calm down x

MrsEricBana · 29/01/2016 09:56

I really understand. Do what Waitrose says then you'll have a clear conscience but I don't think anything will come of it.

PrimalLass · 29/01/2016 09:56

You have 24 hours to report this to the police, so don't panic. Call them and call your insurers.

Patapouf · 29/01/2016 09:58

If someone took your details, which is unlikely then there is nothing you can do about it. If they make a claim, they make a claim.
I think legally you are supposed to inform your insurance company though.
Next time, stop the bloody car if you hit something ffs.

And it wasn't necessary to revive a zombie thread from 2013.

SlightlyJaded · 29/01/2016 09:59

Confused two almost identical threads running this morning or are they same person with a NC?

Jules125 · 29/01/2016 10:00

Some here are very unsympathetic; you have done something wrong but you know that (and who never does in life)? You can and should now try to put this right though.

For your own safety and peace of mind, I think you should report this to the police. Just tell them you did not realise that you had hit anything until you saw the damage to your car later. So long as the damage to your car is minor, I think they will accept this and just put you in touch with the other driver so that insurance can deal with this. Do this quickly so you can say you tried to put the problem right as soon as you knew.

If the damage to your car is less minor so it is not believable that you did not realise at the time, I would call a motoring lawyer asap (many will give brief advice for free) and before you do anything else.

It sounds like this is in the former category though.

SlightlyJaded · 29/01/2016 10:02

patapouf but it's a different name that has resurected the old Zombie thread. I am so confused.

Also 'patafouf' was a word my lovely DDad used to use to describe someone who was a bit overly fond of cream cakes! English was not his first language but I thought his word was unique to him. Nice to see it.

Sallyingforth · 29/01/2016 10:03

If they make a claim against you, find out if there is a way to settle i.e. pay for damage yourself instead of going via insurance.

Very bad advice!

If they saw your registration number they will get your name from the police (who will report you for failing to stop) or from their own insurance company who can check via the MIB. And you have broken your own insurance conditions by not reporting an accident to them.
As pp have said, these things happen to inexperienced drivers. You just have to big up and learn from them.

Cerealchanger · 29/01/2016 10:05

You need to attend a police station to report it, not 101. And it needs to be asap

PrimalLass · 29/01/2016 10:11

And you have broken your own insurance conditions by not reporting an accident to them.

Presumably the accident was only an hour or so ago so she can still call them and be ok.