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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Patapouf · 29/01/2016 10:11

It's the same helloitsme NN that resurrected the old'un slightly but the OPs are definitely different.

Haha yes it loosely translates to fatty from French , more commonly used in Suisse Romande. Sadly it's rather apt

Sallyingforth · 29/01/2016 10:13

Yes. She can still report and should do so.

SlightlyJaded · 29/01/2016 10:15

Ahhh I see. French was one of the languages he spoke, so that makes sense.

It's a brilliant word

lame · 29/01/2016 10:17

Your not the first, you won't be the last. Don't beat yourself up, just report and apologise and pay whatever the damage is. We all make mistakes what matters is the learning from it.

I have had my wing mirror taken off and had to fork out for a new one. I would of appreciated someone getting in touch afterwards and doing the right thing.

I have also clipped someone's wing mirror (did stop and talk as hard as it was) though thankfully no damage done.

It's not the end of the world

leelu66 · 29/01/2016 10:18

Sallyingforth - I had two scrapes in my youth and stopped and exchanged details with the drivers. It was definitely better for me to settle in cash (with a signed note from the driver confirming they were happy I had paid the money to fix the damage), rather than go through insurance.

But yes, not sure, how this works if you have not stopped to speak to the driver.

lunar1 · 29/01/2016 10:23

You need to report it ASAP.

BoffinMum · 29/01/2016 10:28

I am an experienced driver and rarely get into difficulty, but actually I did something a bit like this once a couple of years back, when I was about to get up to the school.

A white van man came up and shouted at me and was pretty angry. It transpired that my wing mirror had clipped his but I had been completely unaware. I had an ear infection at the time so hadn't heard a noise. Anyway, I just held my hands up and said I was really sorry, totally unaware as I have a hearing impairment at the moment, asked what actually happened, asked where did it happen, and asked if I could help him find his wing mirror. I then gave him my name and address and said if you need a new wing mirror I must cover the cost of that.

In the event we found it on the road and it just needed popping back in, although it had a slight crack. Once he realised I hadn't driven off on purpose (which is a criminal offence and called a Fail To Stop) he was fine and very reasonable. I never heard anything from him so I think it wasn't worth him pursuing really - you can buy new ones very cheaply if you know where to get them, and I imagine that's what he did.

So generally better to hold up your hands to any damage. I would mention to the police that you noticed your wing mirror was clipped and you are worried this might have been you doing it to someone else as you are a new driver. leave your registration number and name and address and I imagine you may never hear anything about it. But the fact you have confessed properly before the other person has raised it will prevent any criminality problems.

And the big moral of the story is that there is no excuse for a fail to stop other than it would put you in physical danger (e.g. personal safety at night in a dodgy area, extreme weather conditions). The school run is really not a proper excuse for anything really

oifrogsitonalog · 29/01/2016 10:28

Someone hit my fil's car and then drove off. Fil managed to get the reg number and contacted the police. They tracked down the the driver who then had to pass on insurance details, and then either attend a driver awareness course or have 3 points on their license. So I would definitely report it, so that you can avoid the course/points and fine.

Bailey101 · 29/01/2016 10:42

If you get reported for leaving the scene of an accident, you may end up getting enough points to lose your license - you can only get up to 6 in the first couple of years of driving.

You need to contact the police and report it asap.

BoffinMum · 29/01/2016 10:46

I think confessing and saying sorry, new driver, is this the right thing to do, is the way forwards here and you will be glad you did it.

Sallyingforth · 29/01/2016 10:48

leelu66
I'm glad that it worked for you (although you still broke your insurance conditions).

It didn't work for a relative of mine. Having agreed with the other driver at the scene, he then had a letter from an accident-chasing firm demanding more money for other damage to the car, whiplash injury etc etc. It cost him a lot of money to get them off his back. And then his insurance company put a big loading on his premium. All for a trivial scrape.

witsender · 29/01/2016 10:50

Who was over the white line?

QuintessentialShadow · 29/01/2016 10:54

Did you get your driving licence on mail order?

Seriously, I agree with this:
"I am not sure you should be driving at all if your response to hitting something is to panic and drive off?"

INeedNewShoes · 29/01/2016 10:54

Call 101 and report the incident. Far better to do this than have the police looking for you as 'having left the scene of an accident'. I'm speaking from experience. When I was 18 I did something similar, drove away but immediately drove myself to the police station. It was a bloody good job I did as the other driver had reported me and I would have got into far more trouble had I not reported myself to the police before they came to me!

QuintessentialShadow · 29/01/2016 10:55

"Who was over the white line?"

Not possible to know, or prove, as the op drove off.

Adeleslostbeehive · 29/01/2016 10:57

I'm going to go against the grain. OP I had so many issues when I first started to drive I know exactly How you feel. Banged wing mirrors I wouldn't call 101, I wouldn't do anything. When you drive back tomorrow have a look and see if you can see the car again.

Lesson learnt, next time leave a note. But you are a new driver, these things don't necessarily come naturally. I'm sure everything is fine, most likely you pinged someone's wing mirror in. Happens all the time and makes quite a racket.

Adeleslostbeehive · 29/01/2016 10:58

Sorry and if you do see the car stop explain and offer to pay for damage if there is any

Collaborate · 29/01/2016 10:58

Good idea to get a dash-cam. Cost less than £100 and would prove who, if anyone, was at fault.

Adeleslostbeehive · 29/01/2016 11:02

You do not have to inform your insurance company of an accident. It is perfectly acceptable for you to pay for it yourself and forget about it. Some really poor advice on this thread. Ignore OP and speak to someone IRl with a bit more life experience

EponasWildDaughter · 29/01/2016 11:02

i heard a sound to which I didn't pay much attention ... as I was in a hurry as I was doing school run I drove off

i only got my car recently and I know it's not right but I panicked and drove off

Which story are you going to go with when you report it?

Patapouf · 29/01/2016 11:03

Agreed slightly!

Chippednailvarnish · 29/01/2016 11:05

I'd consider doing a pass plus driving course if I were you, as not paying much attention and being in a rush aren't valid excuses for hitting another vehicle...

KitKat1985 · 29/01/2016 11:06

The best thing you can do now OP is call 101 and explain what happened. If the other driver did suffer damage and take down your registration number it'll be better that you had already reported the incident.

carelesswhisper27 · 29/01/2016 11:07

As others have said you need to report it. My friend was in same position as you - new driver, bit on edge. A cyclist pulled out on us and my friend clipped him, I said to stop but my friend said it didn't matter as he 'clearly was not injured'. A few weeks later he got a letter through the post from the police - the guy had unsurprisingly reported him. It will more than likely catch up with you, it's best to do the right thing now.

Patapouf · 29/01/2016 11:10

Since when do you not have to inform your insurer? Pretty sure it invalidates your insurance.

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