Car Crash

[Basilandmandarin]

(Apologies posting for advice. Will ask for thread to be moved if there’s a better area)

This morning I rear-ended a car in-front of me. I was totally at fault, and stupidly didn’t leave enough room and safe distance going down a hill in bad weather conditions.

Nobody hurt (thank god). My car is fine. Albeit both shook up. The other car has slight noticeable damage to the side of bumper.

Me and the other driver exchanged details. They took photos, took my personal and insurance details.

I felt so guilty and silly- so in the midst of ensuring the other driver was okay and had everything they needed from me, I didn’t take any of their details or even any photos.

A witness didn’t give their details as they didn’t think it was an “insurance issue”. I disagree, I encouraged them to give the affected driver their details to pass on for a claim but they didn’t.

My question is - do I need to inform my insurance company about this? Even if I do not want to make a claim as my car isn’t damaged.

Or do I wait for the other driver to make a claim and for my insurance company to contact me?

Yes, you are obliged to tell your insurance. Mine stipulates within 72 hours of the incident.

You're supposed to inform your insurer of any accident, in practice, some people do, some people don't, all depends how you come about it with the other party. If I hit an empty car and agreed to sort out the damage myself with the other person I wouldn't tell my insurance company, if I hit a car with someone in it and wasn't planning on sorting out the damage myself I'd contact my insurer and let them know, as the other person will be contacting either their insurance or your insurance, you also get into the realm of them maybe claiming for personal injury/whiplash which if you're worried about you should contact your insurer.

You need to tell your insurer.
If the other party makes a claim and you've not reported it, it could impact your insurance going forwards.

You also need to disclose it on future insurance claims (for 5 years usually).

Never give them a reason to not pay out on a claim...!

Thanks all. Finding it difficult to get through to an actual human on my insurers contact numbers but I’ll keep trying.

Hopefully there won't be a next time but if there is take your own pics of both cars! Then you're protected from the other driver claiming for more damage than was actually done.

@QuestionableMouse yes I am kicking myself for this! The last time I was in an accident the other party was at fault so I took pictures.
This time I just didn’t think to take any i was more concerned that the other drive was okay and not in shock.