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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Absolutely panicking - please help (car accident and police)

94 replies

Unsure72 · 06/06/2019 05:52

I hired a car yesterday and while reversing into a space in a car park, I accidentally hit a metal post/bollard. I couldn’t see any damage to the post, but the car door has a dent in it. I told the car hire company that I put a dent in the car (I’ve given them no further details of how this happened at this stage) and they’ve asked me to fill out an incident form describing what happened for insurance purposes.

However, having had a bit of a google, I’m now absolutely panicking that I should have reported the incident to the police, because I hit a piece of street furniture. It didn’t cross my mind at the time because the post appeared to have no damage, but obviously it was hit.

I’ve had a sleepless night worrying about it and am so scared I’ve screwed up.

Does this also mean I could get points on my licence or have to pay more for my insurance in future? I’ve been driving for about 15 years and have never had an accident before - I feel so incredibly stupid Sad

OP posts:
Manclife1 · 06/06/2019 07:14

Double check there no damage to the post. If not then there’s no legal requirement for you to report it to the police. If there is, just pass your details to the owners of the car park so they can make an insurance claim to get it repaired. Police still do not need to be contacted. It’s a non injury road traffic collision.

If you need any more info let me know.

Auramigraine · 06/06/2019 07:17

OP please try to calm down. You are most definitely in panic mode. I have suffered severe anxiety in the past so can picture exactly how your head is right now. But I promise, you are worrying for nothing. The post doesn’t need reporting to the police. Everything will be ok Flowers try to read the majority of posts that tell you the same over and over to try and reassure you.

Coldilox · 06/06/2019 07:21

Police officer here. No need to report the accident as no damage caused.

You do need to declare when buying insurance in the future though. Shop around, hopefully you will still be able to find affordable cover.

homeishere · 06/06/2019 07:22

You really don’t have to declare this to your insurers. Anyone saying you do is wide of the mark.

I banged up a hire van on my own gate post. Gate was fine. I took out the super insurance luckily so no charge.

The really bad thing is that eh van was littered with dents and dings. They obviously take the cash from the punters and never repair it.

stucknoue · 06/06/2019 07:23

When renewing your insurance it depends on what you are asked, never lie but being a rental car you aren't claiming on your insurance

withaheyandahoandaheyheyho · 06/06/2019 07:25

Just highlighting coldilox 's post OP as coming from a police officer - I hope it makes you feel a bit better (I know what panic mode is like and it's horrible so you do have my sympathy)
I mean if you think about it, bollards are built to be bumped in to, it's why they're there!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/06/2019 07:27

I reversed into a telegraph pole last year and it didn't occur to me to notify anyone! I had to claim on my insurance as I'd taken the wheel arch back down to the metal but my policy didn't go up too much when I renewed.

AnActualWoman · 06/06/2019 07:29

I usually get asked "have you made any insurance claims in the past 3 years"

So in this situation my answer would be a very honest and truthful no.

Stop panicking op, it wouldn't even occur to me to report non-damage to a post

Original poster
Unsure72 · 06/06/2019 07:29

Thank you everyone for being so kind and reassuring! I am just such a worrier Blush

@Coldilox if I go back tonight and find there is damage to the post, should I then ring 101 to report?

The form from the car hire company specifically asks if there’s any damage to street furniture, so I’d like to double check before ticking no. I was in such a state when it happened that I’m worried I might have missed something!

OP posts:
Original poster
Unsure72 · 06/06/2019 07:33

I’m confused as to whether I need to declare this when taking out future insurance with car hire companies - I’ve never read the T&Cs in great detail on these types of things before, as I’ve never had any accidents to declare!

OP posts:
LoudBatPerson · 06/06/2019 07:34

If you take out your own car insurance in the future you will be asked two questions relating to incidents, normally covering between a 3-5 year period (this varies by insurer).

1- have you made any claims on insurance - you would answer no to this as you have not made a claim.

2- Have you had any accidents - you will need to answer yes to this.

Yes there may be a premium load for this accident but the impact will lesson over one and drop off completely in a few years.

(I used to work in insurance).

In regards to the post, check again if it puts your mind at risk but if no damage don't worry about reporting.

LoudBatPerson · 06/06/2019 07:34

If further car hire complies need you to declare or want to know they will specifically ask you.

Original poster
Unsure72 · 06/06/2019 07:36

Thank you @LoudBatPerson - but as I took out insurance through the car hire company and am now having to use it to pay for this damage, does that not count as making a claim? Sorry if I’m being stupid here - I’m so not clued up about these things.

OP posts:
Bigmango · 06/06/2019 07:39

We had two accidents last year. One was dp’s fault, one was someone else’s. We were really worried about insurance. We actually ended up getting it cheaper than last year’s! I really wouldn’t worry too much.

freshstartnewme · 06/06/2019 07:40

Yes you have to declare it In future when you hire a car or when you take out your own insurance.

I have no idea what makes you think you are in some huge mess, it's literally a zero incident. The car is covered, you are fine and please don't go back to look at the post and call 101, that would be a complete over reaction.

Roussette · 06/06/2019 07:47

It’s a huge mess because my insurance will undoubtedly go up (and my financial situation is tight). I’m also concerned that I should have reported it to the police but having posted on here, it sounds like there was no need. I’m going to go back tonight to double-check there was definitely no damage to the bollard and take some photos

I mean this kindly. CALM DOWN. I hire cars a lot. Let me answer some questions.

You have a standalone excess waiver policy, you can claim on that if necessary.

If you decide to buy your own car in the future and take out an ordinary car insurance policy at some point, no you do not need to tell them about hitting a bollard and claiming on the excess waiver policy.

NO, you do not tell the police. Can you imagine how many posts, bollards, whatever are hit by cars on public property and how many are reported to police? NIL. Please do not ring 101, they will not want to know about this, and have far more important things to deal with.

My DD has just hired a car, she has a standalone excess waiver policy, she scraped the wheel arch of the hire car, may well have to claim on this policy. That doesn't affect anything else.

What has happened is a very minor incident. Please do not worry about it.

AnActualWoman · 06/06/2019 07:48

Op if they ask if you have had to claim on insurance youd answer no, because you haven't claimed. The hire company has.

If they ask if you'd had an accident your answer yes and give details

Insurance is strange, my dps insurance was lower after a claim because the reasoning -apparently - was he'd be more careful in future. When I added him to my policy it also lowered it by a lot because the risk is spread between two drivers and, annoyingly, because of his job and his penis, he's likely to be a more careful driver Hmm

Lovemusic33 · 06/06/2019 07:51

I had a similar accident but scratched another car whilst reversing, my no claims were not protected so I lost them, my insurance doubles the following year but after that it has almost gone back to how it was before the accident. I wouldn’t worry too much.

hellodarkness · 06/06/2019 08:11

OP, as pp have said : calm down.

You have now had a police officer telling you that you don't need to report it.

You have had a hire car employee telling you that you won't have a problem hiring cars in the future.

You don't currently have a car so no insurance company to report it to.

In the future, if you buy a car, the prospective insurer will ask you loads of questions that you must answer honestly. One of those questions will be 'have you had an accident in the last three years?' and you'll tell them about this incident. It is unlikely to affect the premium by very much at all - no other vehicles involved, no third party claim.

mrsm43s · 06/06/2019 08:35

My DH had an accident with a wall (!) and claimed on insurance. We had protected no claims, but obviously his insurance at renewal went up. He did a comparision (declaring the claim) and got several lower quotes. He then went back to his existing insurer and they matched the lowest quote, which was within £10 of his previous years price before the accident. So unless you already have a history of accidents and claims, or very little driving history, I don't think that 1 accident will raise your insurance massively.

greenlloon · 06/06/2019 08:48

Surely nobody actually tells their insurer about things like this...

yeah of course people do

Original poster
Unsure72 · 06/06/2019 08:52

Thank you everyone - you’ve really helped me put things into perspective. I’m just really hoping there’s no damage to the bollard that I missed in my state of panic yesterday. Looking at the dent though, it seems the car definitely took all the pressure Blush

OP posts:
spugzbunny · 06/06/2019 09:06

I suspect your going to go check the bollard so please try not to over analyse the state of the bollard. Bollards have dents and chips and scratches. That's literally their job, to stop cars from causing damage or going through to whatever is behind. The only damage you'd need to report would be if it is bent over or unstable in some way.

Original poster
Unsure72 · 06/06/2019 09:17

Thanks Spugz. I’m almost certain it wasn’t bent as I’m sure I’d have noticed that. I just need to double check for peace of mind.

OP posts:
kateandme · 06/06/2019 09:21

youve had no accidents before.that shows that this was a "shit happesn" situation so dont be so hard on yourself.
think about how today might go.you spend it hating on yourself and thinking your a dick this makes you feel crap and on top of that youve got the rest of ur day and the accidnet to worry about? or.... you think ok what a twat thing that happened but I AM NOT a twat and let it go.get on with the rest of your day and have an ok day becasue these things really do happen.look at how much better your day can be from not being emotionaly nasty to yourself

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