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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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Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 21:00

@VivaLeBeaver and our car is pretty low to the ground

OP posts:
2020BetterBeBetter · 20/12/2019 21:00

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

There definitely is for some roles in the NHS. SmileSmileSmile

VivaLeBeaver · 20/12/2019 21:00

I’d go back and look at the bollard.

BeanTownNancy · 20/12/2019 21:01

I'm #TeamBollard!

Shahlalala · 20/12/2019 21:02

I think she sounds like an irresponsible driver, not being sure what she hit and just looking up to see your car.
If she drifted into the bollard she is lucky it wasn’t something worse, you know like a person....
Any chance of CCTV from the houses near by or similar?

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 21:02

Only last month I stopped to help pick up an elderly gent who’s mobility scooter was too wide for the path and ended up on a a busy road with it on top of him!

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 20/12/2019 21:03

Well I was a nurse. I was specifically told in training that you could stop if you wanted at accidents but as a member of the public, not an nhs employee and wouldn’t be covered by the hospital insurance. So if they’re refusing to insure you don’t see how they can say you have to.

Even the nmc code doesn’t say you have to.

Nicknacky · 20/12/2019 21:03

To be honest, going back aft the event and finding the bollard has been previously damaged isn’t going to help the op. It just shows it has been previously damaged which many of them are.

She was picking bits of the car off the ground, she would have noticed an accident damaged bollard then.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/12/2019 21:04

She might find the correct coloured paint on the bollard. It’s not definitive proof but it could help.

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 21:05

Well everyone. Thank you for the many opinions, even those that were a bit brash, everyone is entitled to their option. Also sorry to hear of those who have been on the wrong side of accidents where the other people didn’t do the honest thing. I cannot put my hand on my heart and say that I hit that lady. All I know is that I will always stop at a scene of an accident if I think someone needs help. But this time I’ve potentially bitten off more than I can chew. I’ll read more replies in the morning. I have a toddler who wakes at 5am so am off to bed.

OP posts:
Branster · 20/12/2019 21:06

freeingNora that sounds very plausible!
Ooh, if there is indeed a bollard there you must drive back and see if there is an damage and take pictures (probably not the safest thing to do right now in the dark) maybe look for traces of her paint.
Chefwifelife you are welcome and I’d have done the same stop to check she’s OK and wanted to get to the bottom of it. Good idea to make notes of everything she said whilst it’s still fresh in your mind.

Scarscar · 20/12/2019 21:06

Op which mirror did you watch the wing mirror break in? Would be relevant as to the angle you car was at when it happened.

If you car wasn't at an angle then I would have thought it wasn't your vehicle she hit.

MrsWhites · 20/12/2019 21:07

This is bizarre. I haven’t read every post so I might have missed something but I just can’t see how you could have done that damage without literally driving into the front side of her car! Far more likely that an oncoming vehicle caught her. If she wasn’t looking and she was concerned about her speed I’d suggest she must have veered over a bit into the wrong side, caught an oncoming vehicle and for whatever reason they have kept on going! Unlucky for you OP that you were the car in front of her!

Nicknacky · 20/12/2019 21:09

And can an NHS be made to stop at a road accident as per their employee contract? There is so many variables about that that it seems unlikely that they “must” stop?

chillykiwi · 20/12/2019 21:09

So the damage is on the right hand side of her car, front wheel arch area? If that's the case then somebody pulling out of the side road must have hit her head on. Was their another car behind you that hit her and then didn't stop? (and if so, where did they go to - did they overtake you?)

This is why I have front and back cameras in my car.

capercaillie · 20/12/2019 21:10

If she hit your car then you would know, particularly at that speed. I had a low level collision (under 5mph) recently and it was obvious. So she probably hit something else - either a bollard or other car.

Nicknacky · 20/12/2019 21:10

If there was an oncoming vehicle then the op would have seen it as the OP entered the road it would have been on.

Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 21:11

@Scarscar I saw it in my rear view mirror

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Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 21:13

@chillykiwi there was a queue of other cats behind me and also turn the opposite way to me. I literally joined the main road hear the noise looked and saw the debris and then pulled over.

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Original poster
Chefwifelife · 20/12/2019 21:13

Not cats lol. People may be thinking I’m trying to blame this lady but I would never blame the cats!

OP posts:
Bjorksswandress · 20/12/2019 21:13

Even if there was no damage to your car there is enough damage to hers for you to have felt the impact if you were involved. Even with a very low speed prang you feel it so if this happened between two cars going at a normal speed both drivers would have felt it I’m sure.

This sounds very odd. I’ve been driving a long time and I’ve had various prangs some of which were my fault and some not, but never could I say I had no idea my car had been involved .

TiddyTid · 20/12/2019 21:15

I think you've been tail gated out of the junction she's been on her phone you go it was clear another car behind does the damage going straight over the junction all's that's left is your car in her eye line as for she doesn't know I bet she didn't want to say

I think this too

olivertwistwantsmore · 20/12/2019 21:16

Agree with @Drum2018. Think logically! That’s not where her car would have been damaged had she driven into the back of you. Plus, why couldn’t she see you coming out if the junction and turning onto the road? If she reckons you just appeared in front of her, she must have been distracted/not paying attention for quite a long time.

olivertwistwantsmore · 20/12/2019 21:16

If she does contact you, say you’ll ask the police for her mobile phone record - that will show if she was on the phone.

Scarscar · 20/12/2019 21:18

For what it's worth of say it was a car turning left behind you in the queue, or she hit the bollard.