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AIBU?

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Original poster

I did something stupid

85 replies

Moorlandheather · 20/11/2023 13:32

I did something really stupid this morning. I clipped someone’s wing mirror (the car I hit was stationary). I didn’t realise what had happened until I was further on.
Then realised the casing around my wing mirror had come off. The mirror itself is in tact, but the casing has come off and the underneath is exposed.

When I realised I drove back up but I didn’t know which car it was that I’d hit, couldn’t see any debris in the road from my car.

I have no idea what to do now. I couldn’t leave a note as I didn’t know which car it was!

Can anyone advise? I’m really shaken up.

OP posts:
Hadalifeonce · 20/11/2023 13:34

If you don't know which car it was, especially if you could see no damage. There's not much you can do except chalk it up to experience.

ThatsBalderdash · 20/11/2023 13:35

I would just tell police and insurers what you have written here. Let them know the street and approx time it happened.

Deathbyfluffy · 20/11/2023 13:35

How did you not realise until later? The noise at the time is a fair indication of what happened, surely!

namechangeforthis5 · 20/11/2023 13:36

I did this. I was driving in pouring rain and it was dark and I didn't realise. I thought I may have clipped something but went back and looked like nothing had been hit until my husband got a letter from our insurance and some camera had caught me clipping a car. Insurance sorted it all out but I felt awful.

Original poster
Moorlandheather · 20/11/2023 13:40

I’m wondering if I should report myself to 101 online as it seems you can do that.

OP posts:
Nineteendays · 20/11/2023 13:41

I think I’d just wait and see what happens. You might not have caused any damage

EvilElsa · 20/11/2023 13:46

If you went back and had a good look around but couldn't identify any damaged cars there's not much else you can do really with regards to leaving a note or contacting an owner. You could keep an eye on social media and see if anyone says anything about it (presuming it's local to you) on community pages.
When I worked at a garage we were based opposite a line of parked cars on a fairly narrow road and I'd see wing mirrors clipped almost daily from my office window. I'd be constantly going out and picking up the debris/knocking on the house doors to tell them and hand the parts over. I can't think of one driver who ever stopped and I can't think of one person who ever identified the car that had hit their mirror. With dashcams and house cameras more prevalent now you may have been caught but all you can do is wait and see what happens.

TheNoodlesIncident · 20/11/2023 13:48

namechangeforthis5 · 20/11/2023 13:36

I did this. I was driving in pouring rain and it was dark and I didn't realise. I thought I may have clipped something but went back and looked like nothing had been hit until my husband got a letter from our insurance and some camera had caught me clipping a car. Insurance sorted it all out but I felt awful.

Our car has dashcams fitted fore and aft so if somebody clipped our car, they would be getting notifications like the above poster. Not criticising because you have attempted to find which car you hit. You should report it, it's an RTC regardless.

It's odd you didn't realise though, it makes quite a din when you clip another wing mirror? Don't beat yourself up though, accidents happen.

EvilElsa · 20/11/2023 13:48

Oh and I'm not saying it's right that people didn't stop! I'm just saying it happens a lot!

Luxell934 · 20/11/2023 13:49

You need to inform your car insurance company about what happend. There could be CCTV of this happening or a witness and if you haven’t informed your insurance company and the other person makes a claim then you will have broken terms and conditions of your insurance.

ManateeFair · 20/11/2023 13:49

Is it possible that the car you clipped had already been driven away by the time you went back to have a look?

It's also possible that you didn't cause any damage to the other car.

Original poster
Moorlandheather · 20/11/2023 13:50

Theres an option to report a collision on 101 online, should I do this?

OP posts:
EvilElsa · 20/11/2023 13:50

OP, what direction was the car facing compared to you? You may have just knocked their wing mirror into the folded position (saw this happen a lot as well!). This may be why you couldn't identify a smashed or damaged mirror.

Luxell934 · 20/11/2023 13:51

Moorlandheather · 20/11/2023 13:50

Theres an option to report a collision on 101 online, should I do this?

You should report this to your car insurance company.

Original poster
Moorlandheather · 20/11/2023 13:51

Car insurance instead of police?

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 20/11/2023 13:52

You don't need to report it to the police. I'd go back again before reporting to your insurance, as said you might have just knocked it shut.

Luxell934 · 20/11/2023 13:54

Moorlandheather · 20/11/2023 13:51

Car insurance instead of police?

No call your car insurance and tell them what happend. That way if anyone makes a claim against you atleast you have reported it as in line with your terms and conditions.

Luxell934 · 20/11/2023 13:56

Ponoka7 · 20/11/2023 13:52

You don't need to report it to the police. I'd go back again before reporting to your insurance, as said you might have just knocked it shut.

Even though she may have caused no damage to the other car they could still have dash cam footage and they could still try to make a claim against her. The only option is to report to her insurance company, if nothing comes of the incident then her no claims won’t be affected.

Original poster
Moorlandheather · 20/11/2023 14:01

What do I say to my insurance?

OP posts:
ochrebale · 20/11/2023 14:05

You say exactly what you've said in your OP

NotLactoseFree · 20/11/2023 14:11

No, I would do nothing. It sounds like your car was damaged and not the other. It is the morally correct and responsible thing to have gone back and checked. As you could see no sign of where the damage occurred, you don't even know for a fact that's what happened. For all you know, when YOU were parked, someone hit your mirror.

Get yours fixed and don't think anything more of it.

Luxell934 · 20/11/2023 14:12

Moorlandheather · 20/11/2023 14:01

What do I say to my insurance?

The truth! It’s such a minor incident but you need to make sure they know to cover your own back.

Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 20/11/2023 14:16

Nothing! Say nothing to anyone. Obviously you didn't damage their car if you couldn't even tell which one you hit and you can just buy a new mirror casing for £20. Leave police and insurance out of it!!

Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 20/11/2023 14:16

Luxell934 · 20/11/2023 14:12

The truth! It’s such a minor incident but you need to make sure they know to cover your own back.

Show quote history

Why??

LakeTiticaca · 20/11/2023 14:18

Moorlandheather · 20/11/2023 13:40

I’m wondering if I should report myself to 101 online as it seems you can do that.

Nah dont bother. The police won't be interested. Just wait for the post on your local FB group from some angry owner claiming they have CCTV and the perpetrator of this foul crime has 24 hours to come forward or the Feds will.be informed 😉😉