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AIBU?

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Original poster

Wing mirror - do I report it

40 replies

catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 10:47

I was driving DS to holiday club this morning and had to go down a street with parked cars on both sides

I clipped someones wing mirror. I was only going about 10 miles an hour if that but heard a bump. I wasn't sure if I'd done any damage - couldn't see any through my rear view mirror. I couldn't stop to check due to the parked cars and there being nowhere to stop and cars behind me.

When I got home I realised the back casing of my wing mirror had come off so there was clearly more impact than I though. I went back to where it happened and had a look around but couldn't see any damaged cars or debris. I don't know which car I clipped or which house it was outside - only the rough area of the street. Maybe it was damaged but had driven off?

I've only been driving for a few weeks and can only get 6 points on my licence in the first 2 years

I'm wondering if I need to report this to the police? I don't want to get prosecuted for leaving the scene or not reporting it and get banned. There were people behind me so if there was damage they could have taken my number plate.

I'm overly worrying I think but should I ring 101 and report it?

OP posts:
RainbowPastel · 02/08/2017 10:57

Yes report it. Wing mirrors can cost over £300 if they are electric/heated etc. Sounds like you need more practice on quieter roads if you are clipping wing mirrors.

Collaborate · 02/08/2017 11:00

Report it to the police. If someone saw you do it and not stop (dashcam perhaps?) and sends it to the police you'd be prosecuted. Chances are you did no damage at all to the other car, but best to be safe.

RainbowPastel · 02/08/2017 11:02

Also you should have stopped as soon as it was possible not driven on.

stella23 · 02/08/2017 11:03

So just go back and take a look at all the mirror first and see if any have marks

Original poster
catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 11:05

None had marks when I went back but I don't know which car it was so it could have driven off?

OP posts:
JT05 · 02/08/2017 11:07

I'd go back and have a look, then if there's damage report it and tell your insurer.
DH has recently had his clipped whilst driving on a country road, the other driver did not stop, but his car has wing mirrors that can take some impact. So there was no damage to it.
This could be the case with the car you hit.

araiwa · 02/08/2017 11:24

You should have stopped at first possible place and gone back, youve hit someones car Confused

Cuppaoftea · 02/08/2017 12:13

I once came back to my parked car to find my wing mirror hanging off. It was electric so cost a bit more to fix but was less than my insurance excess and wanted to keep my no claims so didn't claim and just paid for it.

Annoying and why I always without fail put my wing mirrors in when my car is parked but not the end of the world. You know to stop were there to be a next time, hopefully not.

As pp said some more practise on quieter narrow roads could be a good idea. Try not to let this knock your confidence too much.

KinkyAfro · 02/08/2017 12:30

It's a bit difficult now after the event, there might be a number of wing mirrors with marks/scratches on them so hard to prove it was you. I'd report it to the police to say that you did hit a car, you weren't sure which one but wanted to report it nonetheless; you might not hear anything back though.

In future you need to stop after an accident

limitedperiodonly · 02/08/2017 12:37

If you are that worried, call 101 and report it. I doubt they'll be interested. I also doubt that the driver following you has reported you, but it will set your mind at rest.

One day some men were having a fight in front of me while I waited at traffic lights and one of them ran and fell into my stationary car and looked knocked out. The lights changed and I drove off. There was no way I was going to stick around to exchange details. I called the police as soon as I got home in case someone said I'd left the scene of an accident. They told me not to worry. Big dent from his head in the side of my car, which I just got repaired.

When I had a car, I parked on the street, and accepted casual damage as an annoying but unavoidable hazard. Like Cuppa said, I'd turn my wing mirrors in.

Original poster
catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 12:38

I'm calling 101 now - been on hold for ages ..

OP posts:
limitedperiodonly · 02/08/2017 12:46

When you eventually get through I bet you'll hear their invisible shrug, OP Grin. I wouldn't worry. By going back and searching for debris, I think you've done more than most. Just don't drive so close to the left in future. It could be a cyclist next time. They matter more than wing mirrors.

Original poster
catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 12:54

I have reported it. There haven't been any reports made of any damage in that area but the police have my details so if someone does ring and I did damage their car they will pass on my mobile number so we can sort insurance.

I feel much better now!

OP posts:
Original poster
catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 12:55

The invisible shrug was exactly what they did! At first they said I didn't need to even report it to the police but I explained I wasn't able to find any damaged cars so couldn't leave insurance details as I didn't know which (if any ) car had bee damaged or which house it might belong to.

OP posts:
Original poster
catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 12:56

The police even said what a horrible street it was (cars parked both sides - buses coming down it) They couldn't have been nicer

I feel very relieved and my conscience feels a little bit clearer :)

OP posts:
Raver84 · 02/08/2017 12:59

Someone did this to my wing mirror recently when I was in thr car and parked so i saw her do it. it's electric and it's broken. I'm so annoyed.

For future ref you need to stop asap after an accident and leave a note on the car if you can't find the owner. It happens to us all. You shouldn't just drive on though is very unlikely the driver will bother to call the police in the hope someone has reported it.

Original poster
catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 13:03

I will spot in future (though I'm hoping it won't happen again!)

A combination of inexperience, worry, thinking it probably had just folded in and there being literally nowhere to stop (we've got a big festival on in our small town atm so there are just cars parked everywhere and loads of roads closed) let me to keep driving - but then the worry set in :(

OP posts:
Loungepants · 02/08/2017 13:45

Most likely you couldn't find the car because you didn't do any damage.

Don't worry about it - nobody likes driving on those roads. As you become more experienced you'll be more confident in your positioning.

You did more than most people by reporting it to the police, though it really didn't seem necessary. Just forget about it now, these things happen. Flowers Smile

Original poster
catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 13:46

It's the first bump I've had so I probably over reacted. I drive like an old lady as it is - I will be even more cautious now!

OP posts:
crazywriter · 02/08/2017 14:38

I had my wing mirror singer by a passing car. The idiot was driving way too fast for the street and plastic from my wing mirror literally flew over my car to the pavement. The bigger didn't stop but I saw it happen because I was at my window at the time. I only has the car for a week and was massively pissed of at the driver not stopping. I didn't report it but I would have done had I got the number plate just for the sheer audacity in not stopping when the person clearly hit the car (no way with the sound would the driver not have known).

Yes it happens to us all but you should have stopped and left a note on the car. Don't use parked cars as an excuse. You could have found somewhere to pull over and walked to the damaged car.

LadyR77 · 02/08/2017 14:47

Glad you reported it, OP. Some total arsehole smashed my wing mirror off a few months back (it was left hanging by a single wire, so they must have been aware of the impact!) and just drove off without reporting it (I went to my local police to check) or leaving their details. Inconsiderate bastard.

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 02/08/2017 14:52

Glad you reported it. Hope you've recovered from the stress of it all. It's not easy when you first start driving!

Maybe have a little practice when it's quiet. My instructor used to get me to step out the car to make me see whereabouts in the lane I was - as it can take a bit of getting used to the positioning.

Take care!

Original poster
catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 14:53

You could have found somewhere to pull over and walked to the damaged car.

When I came back it took me over 25 minutes to find somewhere to park due to the festival and street closures

OP posts:
Original poster
catgirl1976 · 02/08/2017 14:54

I struggled with my positioning a lot during my lessons. It's obviously a weak point for me and something I need to work on :( I don't think I have very good spacial awareness. And I learned to drive in a little car and am now driving DHs enormous, great tank of a car which doesn't help (little nippy car on order for me....cant come soon enough)

OP posts:
aaaaargghhhhelpme · 02/08/2017 15:01

Ahhh yes - that must be really difficult after learning in a small car

Did your instructor tell you to mark out reference points in your car so you know you're central?

Mine would make me park up in the middle of the street (a quiet one!) in the middle of the lane. Then from my normal position look and see where the centre of the road hits my windscreen (first knobbly bit in my wipers in my case!)

Then hopefully when you're driving if you ever feel a bit 'off centre' you know that bit of your car is where the centre is so try and line it up

God I hope that makes sense! I know what I mean!