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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tapped another car and my now I'm so anxious.

56 replies

Drand · 05/05/2021 16:50

Hi.
I have been driving for 4 years and never had an accident or even touched another car.
Well there's a first thing for everything I suppose.
Finished work today was parked right on tbe road outside the building and another car was infront of me with a woman in it.

When I drive off, I always pull into the side road and reverse out and drive off (usually I do this fine). She was parked opposite the side road and I thought I had enough room.

I pulled in, reversed out and felt my car nudge hers.
I pulled over but because I was so anxious I revved my car by accident.

Anyway, I got out and apologised and said i'll give her my details.
She insisted it was okay and asked why my car was revving when I was pulling over.
I apologised and said I panicked when I felt the bump.

I asked her to let me give her my details and she said it was fine, no damage and told me to be careful in the future.
She then got back in her car and I got back in mine and drove off.
As I was driving off, I saw a man go up and speak to her.

I feel so panicky and I can't relax. I work in a school and I am now nervous to park outside the school tomorrow as I presume she was a parent (i'm new so don't know everyone).

I feel so stupid Blush I came home and just burst into tears.

OP posts:
sylbunny · 05/05/2021 17:32

@Drand

Thank you everyone for being so reassuring - you've made me feel much better! Sorry i've explained the side road thing awfully- it definitely was not a main road - i'm not that silly Grin
A main road doesn't just mean a busy road. In this case, when you do a reverse around a corner, you can only reverse back in to the 'minor' road (ie the road that joints the one you are on with a give way). You can't reverse from the minor road across the junction and join the other road which crosses it at the top. Does that make sense?
TeenTitan007 · 05/05/2021 17:32

It happens more than you think. Don't worry about it. Be cautious. I doubt if she will report it - more hassle than it's worth. Best don't call your insurance .

UhtredRagnarson · 05/05/2021 17:33

What are you anxious about? It was an accident, no one was hurt, no damage was caused and even if there was, your insurance would cover it. You stopped, you apologised, she was fine about it. What’s to be nervous about?

sylbunny · 05/05/2021 17:35

So I'm this diagram, the road on the right that the car is reversing from is the 'major' road. The one he is reversing in to is the 'minor' road. That's the only direction you can do it in. If your coming from the minor to the major then you should probably stop as it's illegal

Tapped another car and my now I'm so anxious.
MilduraS · 05/05/2021 17:35

You've basically written what happened to me a few years ago when someone accidentally hit my car, except two people came up to me when the other driver left. They were asking if everything was ok and if I needed a witness. I said no, it was ok, just a tiny scratch on my work car. The other driver was very young and it seemed silly to send her premiums skyrocketing when it wouldn't cost me anything either way. I was in my 20s at the time so I knew what insurance premiums were like. I wouldn't be surprised if the other person was just checking if she needed a witness.

NavigatingAdolescence · 05/05/2021 17:35

@Drand

I didn't drive into a main road; it's a house estate with a school on - it's basically a three point turn I did
They can’t all be side roads though. If it has a give way line where it joins the road you park on then you should reverse into the side road and then forwards onto the main road.
flashylamp · 05/05/2021 17:36

@TeenTitan007

It happens more than you think. Don't worry about it. Be cautious. I doubt if she will report it - more hassle than it's worth. Best don't call your insurance .
Until the personal unjust claim comes in a few months later...

I cannot tell you how often this happens. Tell your insurer.

ElphabaTWitch · 05/05/2021 17:36

Sometimes you get away with it being just a touch and not a crunch! She obvious only didn’t see damage so felt there was no need to go further. Person going up was probably checking she was/everything was ok.

NavigatingAdolescence · 05/05/2021 17:36

@Drand

I don't think i've explained this side road business correctly at all
Can you share a Google map image of it?
TheSockMonster · 05/05/2021 17:36

I must admit I would not notify my insurance company unless I was quite sure the other driver was going to pursue it. And I’m usually one for following all the rules!

Twickerhun · 05/05/2021 17:41

I also wouldn’t tell my insurance company either.

Our car has been hit a few times with absolutely minor damage and we haven’t claimed at all and I once hit and damaged another car and exchanged details and they didn’t claim either. I think a lot of people don’t claim due to the impact on no claims etc. It’s not worth the premium hike.

But that’s just my personal opinion :)

Try not to worry op accidents happen to the best of us.

tillthecowscomehome · 05/05/2021 17:44

I know this feeling too well Sad
Again, only from a small bump.

Best advice is to get back in the car and do a short journey. Build up your confidence and show yourself you can drive well.

flashylamp · 05/05/2021 17:46

@TheSockMonster

I must admit I would not notify my insurance company unless I was quite sure the other driver was going to pursue it. And I’m usually one for following all the rules!

It would be better to think that you cannot be sure the other party won't report it. I have seen personal injury claims come in months later, policies that raise the excess to thousands of you don't notify within a certain time limit. People have had their fingers burnt many times. Always report.

Original poster
Drand · 05/05/2021 17:48

@flashylamp but surely if she claims months later then that's far too late to be associated with me?
I have no damage on my car at all

OP posts:
flashylamp · 05/05/2021 17:55

[quote Drand]@flashylamp but surely if she claims months later then that's far too late to be associated with me?
I have no damage on my car at all[/quote]

It happens.

Crazycatlady83 · 05/05/2021 18:00

I’ve had this happen twice to me (and the “victim” of the accident)

Once they drove into the side of me - my wing mirror was bent backwards and some very small scratches but I popped it back into place, bit of t-cut / polish and it was fine. My car was old and I was young (so had hit many a wall myself) Told her not to worry and off we all went on our merry way!

The second time I braked for traffic ahead (not hard just normal braking) and someone hit me in the boot. My car literally had zero damage and theirs just crumbled - I still don’t understand how that happened? Swapped details due to his insistence (I think he thought it was mine fault) and I took my car to the garage. They confirmed one of the brackets that held the bumper on was bent very slightly but that was it. It was a bit of a fuss cos I had to tell the insurance company of the accident cos we had swapped details but they said they would deal with it and I heard nothing further!

GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas · 05/05/2021 18:48

I would advise telling your insurer.

I had an incident where I bumped another car. No damage on mine, graze (not dent) on hers. The fault was mine.

She seemed fine at the time and asked that we sort it out without getting insurance involved suggesting £20/30 would cover some touch up work at a garage to fix the graze.

I was unsure (and a rules follower) so let my insurance know and told her we’d deal with it through that.

She subsequently claimed whiplash and made quite a big claim on insurance. I was very pleased when that happened that I was not dealing with her personally.

GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas · 05/05/2021 18:49

But yes, my premium did go up. Really annoying. But that’s life. I think it’s a rare driver who never has a bump (or worse).

SummerHouse · 05/05/2021 18:52

Two very important steps op.

  1. forget about it.
  2. Wine
Maryberryswoodenspoon · 05/05/2021 18:56

@Lionsdinner

I wouldn’t call your insurance. Been burned doing that when other people hit me and I was doing the right thing. Premium sky high despite no accident and no claims. Ridiculous.

If she does contact insurer, you can then tell them what happened. They’re usually fine about it

This also has happened to me in the past so good advice here.
Original poster
Drand · 05/05/2021 19:02

Thank you everyone for the responses Smile I'm now feeling more awkward about parking on the street outside school tomorrow, not sure whether to park on the next street along Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
Drand · 05/05/2021 19:03

Also worried a child will come up to me in school tomorrow saying i hit their mum's car

OP posts:
flashylamp · 05/05/2021 19:08

@Drand

Also worried a child will come up to me in school tomorrow saying i hit their mum's car

Well you did so you can just acknowledge the accident and move on. This isn't something to worry about.

CharlieChickenson · 05/05/2021 19:18

@Drand

Also worried a child will come up to me in school tomorrow saying i hit their mum's car
And you use it as a good way to show that accidents happen and apologies are made. Just like when they twat a mate on the playground accidently. Non-issue. Part and parcel of life.
Miseryl · 05/05/2021 19:36

We need a diagram!

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