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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:
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13
AgeShallNotWitherHer · 20/12/2019 20:50

Damage looks as though it was caused by a car behind you turning left at speed. You wouldn't have seen it as you'd already made the turn. He turned left at speed and clipped her right hand side as he went a bit wide. She didn't see him as she was looking ahead in her own lane, (and looking down at phone/ dashboard etc).

He clipped her at speed but had gone (in the opposite direction before you stopped and looked). The dent looks as though it came from right to left and you'll be able to tell from which way the wing mirror snapped.

Deffo not you.

Coughsyrupsucks · 20/12/2019 20:50

I think she hit the bollard/crossing point which was just on your left @Chefwifelife go back to,or row and check what state it’s in.

Was I involved in this car accident? (attempt 2)
WisteriaPurple · 20/12/2019 20:50

I once rear-ended someone (yes completely my fault) from stationary, thinking they'd pulled out and they hadn't. My car (small hatchback, smaller than hers) had almost no damage bar the plastic front grill pushed in slightly, easily fixed. Hers had a thin line of paint damage from my quick glance at the time. Yet supposedly there was significant damage to her bumper and my insurance company had to pay over £2000!
So I'm trying to say, perhaps it is possible for one car to sustain damage and one to avoid it.
Or maybe the other lady in my case was pulling a fast one Wink

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:50

I just want to do things properly. I asked her how she wanted to proceed because I said neither of us are sure what’s happened. There’s no damage to my car. She said she would talk to her boyfriend and then message me. She hasn’t got in contact.

OP posts:
Coughsyrupsucks · 20/12/2019 20:51

Ah don’t think the photo posted. So if you go to street view there is a bollard crossing just before that junction.

UnaOfStormhold · 20/12/2019 20:51

Could something have fallen off your car or possibly got flicked up from the road, hitting the mirror a little after you had passed her?

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:51

Also I work for the NHS is am obliged to stop at the scene of an accident (whether or not min involved in it).

OP posts:
AgeShallNotWitherHer · 20/12/2019 20:51

(Sorry - my assertion based on v limited "evidence" and no actual knowledge - but when did that ever stop anyone from having an opinion!! Grin

UndomesticHousewife · 20/12/2019 20:53

It would have been the rear passenger side that hit the other car when the op was turning (if she was involved) there's no other way for the damage to have occurred like that.

So maybe you turned and as you were about to complete the turn the other car was already there and she collided with you.

However if I was sure I wasn't involved and didn't hit anything I certainly wouldn't call the insurance company

brighteyeowl17 · 20/12/2019 20:53

There is no way that was caused by you if you car shows nothing!

MalarkeyMouse · 20/12/2019 20:53

The wing mirror damage was definitely new as I scraped it out of the way of the road.. She could have chucked it out of the window from an earlier accident. Did you take photos?

I do t understand how if you were so far in front that you even heard the mirror smash. Were you speeding?

NewName73 · 20/12/2019 20:53

I've had someone pull out of a junction to turn right in front of me who didn't see me.

They did a lot of damage to my car, and did not realise they were at fault.

Havaina · 20/12/2019 20:54

This reminds me of when someone in front of my car brakes very suddenly on dual carriageway, forcing me to brake too. I didn’t hit the car in front and not did the car behind me hit me. However the car behind the car that was behind me hit the car behind me and the car behind that car hit the car in front too. So two cars got hit. I slowed down to make sure I wasn’t hit and then kept driving. It wasn’t safe to stop.

adaline · 20/12/2019 20:54

There is no way that was caused by you if you car shows nothing!

That's not necessarily true - you can cause an accident and still have no damage on your car.

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:54

@Coughsyrupsucks you’re right!

Was I involved in this car accident? (attempt 2)
OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 20/12/2019 20:55

From your diagram, it would appear that you were at some fault. When pulling out onto a more major road, you have to ensure that you do not cause any vehicle on that road to have to take action to avoid you.

Drum2018 · 20/12/2019 20:55

Well I wouldn't be taking responsibility for it when you didn't feel any impact at all and you have no damage to your car, she didn't even see what happened because she wasn't bothered to look where she was going. If she does call you for gods sake don't give in to her telling you it was your fault or that you were definitely involved. Ask the garage if they have cctv that might show the area.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/12/2019 20:56

I used to work for the nhs, don’t think there was anything in my contract about having to stop at accidents! 😁

UndomesticHousewife · 20/12/2019 20:57

So there were bollards just before the junction?

Drum2018 · 20/12/2019 20:57

From your last phone of would seem she just drove into the bollard in the middle of the road because she wasn't looking where she was going - nothing to do with you.

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:57

@UndomesticHousewife wishing maybe I hadn’t rung the insurance company now Confused

OP posts:
Junie70 · 20/12/2019 20:57

OP she may well have already had some damage to her car, and was pulling a fast one. My DD tapped the bumper of a real charmer who put in a £7k claim for whiplash and damage to his car. He must have been driving one made of fucking glass, as even the insurance assessor said there was no way that DDs car had done that level of damage and didn't have a scratch or mark on it. The claimer wouldn't accept the insurance assessment so surprise surprise he insisted on an independent one who found "extensive" damage to DDs underside of the bumper Hmm. Her insurance went through the roof at renewal and she's still having to declare it 4 years on.

I'd try a local FB page post to see if anyone had dashcam footage. It's worth a try. But I'd be worried I was being scammed.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/12/2019 20:58

Hitting that bollard makes more sense. Especially with damage to her wheel arch and wing mirror....she’s hit something fairly tall. And no damage to your car.

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 20:59

@nocoolnamesleft I’m used to driving with my toddler in the back so definitely don’t drive at speed anywhere and like to think I’m a very safe and considerate driver.

OP posts:
DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 20/12/2019 20:59

she may well have already had some damage to her car, and was pulling a fast one.

The mirror was broken at that junction. The OP says it was in the road andshe saw it shatter when she heard the bang.