Driving

[staceyflack]

My DP went apeshit because i didnt stop when the car behind me very gently bumped my bumper at a roundabout. Presumably the guy behind thought i was pulling away sooner than i did. The car is fine - people are fine. I actually just thought i'd stalled, it was so minor. Its ruined our day out - he say's i left the scene of an accident. I say, what accident?

You mean you didn’t get out and see if there was any damage?

I'm with your husband. I can't imagine not stopping, tbh.

Yes you’re supposed to stop and check I believe. Have a look, agree to no damage and get on your way isn’t it?

Do you solely own the car or does your DP contribute towards it?

yeah you shoulda stopped

Absolutely agree with DP if the OP car is damaged and they managed to get your reg number their claim is more likely to be upheld against you because they didn't leave the scene of an accident. You did. You also didn't check to see if they were injured. Even a slight bump can cause whip lash. My neighbour was parking up her car and bumped it against hubby's. He did check on her and no claim was made, both cars fine but when she went to sit down afterwards she fainted. Had he just left like that anything could have happened.
Leaving the scene of an accident which has caused injury or damage to either vehicle can carry a maximum penalty of 6 month imprisonment whether you caused accident or not. You should always check they other car, take photos and swap insurance details just incase they make a claim later. Not checking means you will find it nigh on impossible to prove fault or what damage/injury was caused later.

According to cartwrightking.co.uk/areas-of-practice/motoring-law/failing-stop-after-accident/ if you don't stop after an accident you must report it to the police in person within 24 hours.

It would be risky to assume it won't get found out. A lot of modern cars have fragile sensors in the bumper so the other driver could end up with damage they claim on their insurance, at which point it comes out that you never reported it.

Bloody hell Bekstar... honestly, i get what people are saying, but really it was a touch - not an impact. I was on a roundabout, and i feared and still think that causing an obstruction by stopping would have created more risk for us and other drivers. I did pullover down the road, as my partner was shouting his head off - i dont think the driver behind me even knew he'd done it. He drove straight past me! No-ones going to prison ffs.

Oh shit. Unless the guy did it on purpose - so he can make a claim for a car problem he already has. Only just thought of that.

I would've probably driven off too Stacey!

Thanks. Just read ... 'after damage or injury'. There was none.

OP thought she had stalled and didn't realise there had been an accident and thats why she didn't stop. So no point having a go at her.

This once happened to me at some lights, it only really registered with me because I was amazed he'd got through the lights as they were turning to amber as I went through in slow traffic. I made him pull over & he was mega sheepish-I took his details & photos of both cars as sometimes damage isn't immediately obvious. Your partner was right.

I'm sorry but I also agree with your partner.

I had a similar incident, except it was me who 'hit' the other person. I followed them for ages thinking they would pull over so we could exchange details but they never did even though there were plenty of safe spaces to do it. I couldn't see any damage to their car, so maybe they didn't even notice.

I worried about that for a year after, though (apparently that's the limit for making a claim).

And actually... i did stop, further down the road would've liked me to have done. But i was panicking because he was shouting at me - the car behind me that did the bump - overtook me so technically he failed to stop. My partner was shouting, "you need to get his number!" I thought he meant his reg number ... so told him to. He meant his phone number, of course. What a fuck up. Yes, i should have stopped at the point of the 'incident' - and i've learnt that today. But no harm done. Also, we have 'issues' as a couple with driving and i'm sure i drive better when he's not my passenger. I hate his driving - it scares the shit out of me! I think we should get the train next time.

Does he regularly shout at you while you're driving?

I wouldn't worry about it. Technically the other driver was at fault and they should have stopped. You'd be within your rights, had you taken his reg number, to report HIM for not stopping.

Do you think you could benefit from some extra tuition? Seriously.

Sometimes you can't stop right where the incident is - I've been in 2 accidents (one is the one upthread), and neither of them were in places it was practical to stop and get out, assuming the cars could move.

In the case of the one where I wasn't at fault, we both put our hazard lights on and pulled into a side-street together. If I'd tried to open my door on the road it happened on it would have been taken off!

No, Idontdowindows but thanks, he is good at over reacting though - and i think my response to this is under-reacting. I gave as good as i got on the shouting front once stopped. Sat in the back and said, i'm never driving him again! It was all very grown up.

From the RAC

" If the car is still driveable, find a safe place to stop – pull into a layby if possible – before making sure the engine is switched off and hazard lights are turned on."

OP, you did find a safe place to stop, and he technically left the scene.
You probably should report it, but frankly I doubt the other driver is going to!

Similar happened to me, although I did stop, and we agreed no damage done and we didn't bother exchanging details - it want until it started raining heavly a few weeks later and the car started leaking badly that we realised there was damage done to my car. :(

It was all very grown up.