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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was I involved in this car accident? (attempt 2)

253 replies

Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:12

I was at the bottom of a hill turning right onto a main road. Turned right when clear then heard a loud noise. Looked in my mirror to see a wing mirror shattering and debris in the air. Pull over a little way up the road and go and see if I can help.

The lady is really shaken up. I ask what happened and she tells me that she just looked up and I was in front of her!

There is zero damage to my car. I have checked it three times but can only find mud BlushShe has damage to her drivers wing mirror and drivers front wheel arch.

I’ve rung my insurance company, and they have got the information on file ready but it just all seems a bit bizarre.

Anyone been in a similar situation?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Scarscar · 20/12/2019 20:34

What was she looking up from? She should have been looking ahead already, not looking up from anything.

Kind of infers she was looking down at something.

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:35

It was 3:30 in the afternoon. The road was busy as normal but regular gaps to join the road.

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 20/12/2019 20:35

I think you are grasping at straws trying to blame her for this. She was driving on a straight road when you have failed to see her and have entered her lane and she has had to take evasive action and her car is damaged as a result.

And it makes no sense at all that she has had an accident with someone else, then by fab coincidence had an incident with the op and decided to blame her.

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:36

@olivertwistwantsmore I drive a white Skoda octavia estate. Typical family car to keep our toddler safe. Thank god he wasn’t in the car.

OP posts:
olivertwistwantsmore · 20/12/2019 20:36

I have no idea how she can't know what happened. Sounds like she really wasn't paying attention. Were the ther cars around?

If you were 'quite a way in front of her' when you heard the noise and looked in your mirror to see debris in the air, then you can't have hit her. There is no way.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/12/2019 20:37

Wonder if she was on her phone. Her saying that she looked up, doesn’t know what happened is not going to be good on her statement to insurance. I reckon her insurance will tell her to accept blame.

It’s a shame you’ve told yours if you weren’t involved as your premiums will go up for the next 5 years now, even with protected no claims and even if you don’t claim.

UndomesticHousewife · 20/12/2019 20:37

What does she mean she looked up and saw your car what was she looking at when she was driving Confused

You would have felt an impact if she hit you And if you say you were quite a bit in front of her when you heard the noise then how could you have been involved?

JadeDragon23 · 20/12/2019 20:37

I don’t understand op...is she saying she hit you or not.

Surely you discussed with her what she hit? Asked her the question? Confused

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:37

@olivertwistwantsmore when I stopped to talk to her I said “what is that noise?” As for a split second I thought she was on the phone. But it was her radio and it was pretty loud.

OP posts:
Murinae · 20/12/2019 20:37

From the damage it looks like maybe she scraped /hit a bollard or something.

couchparsnip · 20/12/2019 20:37

Why wasn't she already looking up? And mentioning her speed sounds suspicious.

DeathMetalMum · 20/12/2019 20:38

It looks as if you've pulled out thinking you had plenty of time and actually you didn't, weather she's speeding or you've just misjudged how fast she was going/how long it will take you to get out of the junction. Thus you've clipped her front wing.

There's a very similar junction nearby where I live that causes a lot of accidents. Drivers misjudge how fast the traffic is going on the main road (50mph limit) and try to join when there isn't enough time, road adjoining is also a slight incline and 20mph limit.

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:38

@JadeDragon23 she was in a bit of a panicky mess to be honest. She said she normally suffers with anxiety and panic attacks so I didn’t want to push the poor girl

OP posts:
Havaina · 20/12/2019 20:39

On balance I would say it was her fault.

JadeDragon23 · 20/12/2019 20:39

Thank god he wasn’t in the car

On your no-impact, no crash drive? Thank God? Why? You could have had a backseat full of toddlers who would have been none the worse for wear by the sounds of it.

Very odd post op.

Murinae · 20/12/2019 20:39

Was there a bollard in the centre of the road at the junction?

xyzandabc · 20/12/2019 20:40

Could there have been a car travelling the other way on the main road that clipped her then kept driving? When she heard/felt the bang, she looked up and the only car she could see was you? The other car would by that time have been behind her?

Though that would mean you pulled out in front of it so would have seen it. You didn't see it, so perhaps not?

VivaLeBeaver · 20/12/2019 20:40

But if OP had clipped her front wing this suggests the OP would have driven into the car/hit it with the front of her car. Which she would have noticed. Plus she was some distance in front when she heard the noise...so saying she clipped the other car doesn’t add up.

Greenkit · 20/12/2019 20:40

If you drive a white car, going my het damage, surely there would have been some paint transfer

olivertwistwantsmore · 20/12/2019 20:40

Well, it doesn't sound good at all for her not to know who she hit or what happened!! Loud music can distract a driver too.

How far down the main road were you when you heard the loud noise?

SouthWestmom · 20/12/2019 20:40

Yes I think you will have to take this one on the chin op - don't agree with a pp that her insurance will suggest she takes the blame. Everything she said put together sounds like she was distracted and then hit you/was hit as you completed the turn.

It's so easy (and dangerous) for the road situation to change suddenly. I have definitely been distracted eg by the kids rowing and been surprised that a car has slowed in front for example in the spilt seconds I looked away.

DontGoIntoTheLongGrass · 20/12/2019 20:41

You definitely saw debris flying yes? This couldn't be an old accident she's trying to say happened just now and claim?

Looking at the damag and diagram, could she have joined from the road opposite so you didn't see her, she's pulled in behind you as your rear swung round and clipped her car?

Either those a car coming other way clipped her. Weird she doesn't sound like she was paying attention.

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:41

I’ve been driving for many years and also previously ridden a motorbike. I’ve been crashed into and know how that feels. Surely how could I crash into her and not feel it?

OP posts:
Branster · 20/12/2019 20:41

If you heard the noise as you were already moving straight ahead on your side of the road after completing the right turn then I don’t see how you could have hit her car. You saw debris flying after you heard the noise as you were moving straight on the way I understand it. In that junction, if you turn left coming from your road, if you drive a bit too wide, or pull out too fast, you can touch a car coming from her direction. Maybe another car pulled out of your road just behind you but they turned left and collided with the oncoming lady’s car.

AnneTwacky · 20/12/2019 20:41

Is there a pedestrian refuge at those crossroads? Could she have clipped a bollard or safety rail?