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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

I bumped into another car

27 replies

Hogwarts2021 · 18/07/2021 23:16

Looking for some advice! Today I bumped into another car, I was behind someone coming out of a car park when they put there breaks on, i braked too, and ended up bumping there car, before I got out car the driver came out his car charging towards me calling me a stupid bitch! When I got out car to inspect any damage there was not a mark on his or mines! After that I decided to drive home as I felt intimidated and scared plus there was no damage to his car!im so anxious and scared on what the outcome will be plz help

OP posts:

CoRhona · 18/07/2021 23:17

Do you mean you drove off without giving him your details?! If so that is not good ...

SoupDragon · 18/07/2021 23:18

You should have exchanged insurance details with the other driver. There can be hidden damage to the bumper.

Thesearmsofmine · 18/07/2021 23:19

Did you swap details and take photos of both cars?

ilovesooty · 18/07/2021 23:20

You need to inform your insurance company. I assume he took your details as in any case you are at fault.

Original poster

Hogwarts2021 · 18/07/2021 23:21

Nope I did not as he was being aggressive and intimidating, so left I took pics of both cars, so did he

OP posts:

Russell19 · 18/07/2021 23:22

What car park was it on? Did he take details from you?

toughdaay · 18/07/2021 23:24

Presumably he will contact his insurer with your reg. They will contact your insurance company and possibly the police as you left without swapping details after you caused an accident.

TheHateIsNotGood · 18/07/2021 23:24

If he didn't say "oi - where do you think you're going?", I'd assume that a 'gentlemens/gentlewomans' agreement had been reached, no damage caused, so no problem.

toastantea · 18/07/2021 23:25

Report to your insurance company ASAP. You are liable.

LimitIsUp · 18/07/2021 23:25

Report it to your insurers (whilst stating that there was no damage) or you could be charged with failing to stop and exchange details

LimitIsUp · 18/07/2021 23:26

And get a dash cam

Original poster

Hogwarts2021 · 18/07/2021 23:27

Even if there was no damage to his car?

OP posts:

toughdaay · 18/07/2021 23:29

@Hogwarts2021

Even if there was no damage to his car?

Yes. You caused it and you can't be certain there was no damage. That's for him and his insurance company to decide

MotionActivatedDog · 18/07/2021 23:29

Its a bump, no one was hurt, you did the right thing to leave if he was being aggressive. What you should have done was contact the police when you got home and report the accident, tell the police why you left the scene and leave them all your details incase they need to contact you. Then contacted your insurance company and reported the accident.

bg21 · 18/07/2021 23:30

@Hogwarts2021

Even if there was no damage to his car?

okay I've been in this situation , you need to ring the police and log it , tell them you left the scene because you were being intimidated . this happened to me as I walked away from the 3 men abusing me I rang the police and told them I had left the scene and why and they told me I'd done the right thing x

MotionActivatedDog · 18/07/2021 23:30

BTW OP someone did the same to me as I was leaving a car park, their foot slipped apparently and they bumped me from behind. I got out and looked and there was no damage so i didn’t take their details. But when I got home I couldn’t open the boot of my car! So no visible damage doesn’t mean no damage.

Original poster

Hogwarts2021 · 18/07/2021 23:32

He made me feel scared will be phoning police now and insurance company thanks everyone

OP posts:

saraclara · 18/07/2021 23:33

okay I've been in this situation , you need to ring the police and log it , tell them you left the scene because you were being intimidated

This is excellent advice. By not leaving your details, you've made yourself very vulnerable to this awful man. Letting the police know has no negative repercussions, but it means that he can't report YOU to them, and get you into trouble for leaving the scene of an accident. You need to get in first.

Terminallysleepdeprived · 18/07/2021 23:33

You have 24 hours to report if no one was injured. So I strongly suggest reporting tomorrow via the non emergency number or your local forces website.

You did the right thing by leaving if he was aggressive and intimidating. Make sure you state that as the reason in your report.

And yes you need to tell your insurance, failure to do so could mean they cancel it and you will then struggle to get insured with any one else without it costing you £££

Hawkins001 · 18/07/2021 23:36

@Hogwarts2021

All the best op, although for future id say to prevent a repeat is to leave a good gap between yourself and the car in front.

TheChiefJo · 18/07/2021 23:40

OP,
Ideally, you should have exchanged details, but if he was aggressive, you can't be blamed for leaving. That said, you should try to remotely exchange details.

if I were you I'd go to my local plod and tell them this. Give them the details of both cars. Call your insurance company and tell them too. If he pursues it, you've been open already.

MotionActivatedDog · 18/07/2021 23:42

BTW OP- expect him to put in a claim for whiplash.

toastantea · 18/07/2021 23:55

@Hogwarts2021

Even if there was no damage to his car?

You cannot asses for damage. It would need to be checked by a qualified mechanic both externally and internally. And yes, you are liable and could have a heft personal injury claim coming your way. You must report to insurance.

overwork · 18/07/2021 23:57

If it makes you feel better, I had similar once, except he went into the back of me on a roundabout (I'd slowed as the car infront of me was braking), yet he came out all guns blazing and blamed me for it. I did exactly the same as you, remembered the licence plate and drove off in a panic. Once I'd calmed down I sheepishly took myself off to the police station to report myself for leaving the scene of an accident. They could not have been kinder, and were angry on my behalf that he had been threatening. One thing I don't remember is whether or not I contacted the insurance company, I might have taken the police's advice on that.

5foot5 · 18/07/2021 23:57

Lots of good advice on this thread about contacting police, insurance company etc.
There is the possibility that this is a scam. There is precedent for people deliberately engineering rear end shunts and then making exaggerated claims. A case of this was busted near us a few years ago. Someone who worked in an office overlooking a roundabout realising the same car was being involved in a lot of incidents.
I was also suspicious of a situation we were in a while back. DH was reversing out of a space and then very slightly bumped a car that had suddenly appeared. Of course we got out to exchange details and the other driver was reluctant to go through insurance and wanted us to arrange repairs through his mate who ran a body shop. Their car was a bit worse for wear already. DH took photos and insisted on giving insurance details and reported to our insurers immediately. We never heard anything.

Strangely one of DDs friends dad's had a very similar experience in the same car park...

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