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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

'Fail to stop', if I left a note?

96 replies

notarock · 10/04/2024 06:48

I bumped a parked car yesterday. There was a few scratches on it, which I was doubtful were caused by my car as I'd reversed (very slowly) on a straight angle with no paint transfer on mine.

Nevertheless I waited for 20 minutes total to see if someone came back to the car, and then left a note before leaving. I've heard nothing.

Could I still get caught out with a 'failure to stop' with this? I'm in a huge spiral reading stories online. I'm terrified of points on my license or huge insurance increases just because of a really stupid error, and I have no knowledge on these processes.

OP posts:

Chatonette · 10/04/2024 06:51

What if they’re on a 2 week holiday? Or working a 10-hour shift? How long are you expected to wait?

Cat2024 · 10/04/2024 06:59

You said you left a note containing your details, I presume? So you didn’t leave the scene of an accident imo and it wasn’t a failure to stop. But if there was no damage/ damage not caused by you in all likelihood, I don’t think you did anything wrong. The fact you haven’t heard from the other driver seems to suggest this too. I wouldn’t worry, op. You were reasonable.

My parked car had a ‘hit and run’ a few months ago and was ‘declared a total loss’ as a result, that was a failure to stop. And was very annoying. But luckily I got CCTV evidence of it.

Original poster

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:03

@Chatonette the car was gone just over an hour later.

@Cat2024 I think my worry is that I was too flustered to document actually leaving my note. So there's no proof that I did if it happened to blow away (my new worry!).

OP posts:

DragonGypsyDoris · 10/04/2024 07:04

Leaving a note is insufficient because it isn't a full 'exchange of details'. So you need to report it to the police within 24 hours, and there is no actual requirement to leave a note.
"You don't need to report a collision to the police if you've exchanged details, nobody was injured and there are no allegations of driving offences.You must report the collision to the police if you were unable to exchange details at the scene, if anyone was injured, or if you suspect that the other person may have committed a driving offence."

Cat2024 · 10/04/2024 07:07

Yes, I just looked up the above on the police website and you are meant to report it to the police if damage has been caused if you couldn’t exchange details but as the op couldn’t see any damage, does this actually apply??

https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/collisions/

Original poster

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:18

I've gone into such a spiral that I'm going to be prosecuted and lose my license so typical of me.

OP posts:

RedSuedePump · 10/04/2024 07:26

you’re thinking about absolute worst case scenarios (i get it) but why not focus on best case ones as well - ie they came back, saw your note, checked their car and saw no damage, so drove off. try not to worry.

conniecon · 10/04/2024 07:29

This happened to me the other week.

Left a note, tooo a time stamped photo of said note and left.

Never heard off them.

Tbf the car was 25 years old and in a state already so any damage I did was minimal and my car had the damage:

FixTheBone · 10/04/2024 07:30

The police in bradford didn't even investigate a firearms offence that occurred on my property, so I suspect a possible scratch isn't going to be on their priority list.

Original poster

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:30

@conniecon I just wish I'd took a photo of my note on the car to evidence it. I worry I've f*cked myself over by not doing so.

Do I need to let my insurance know?

OP posts:

Willmafrockfit · 10/04/2024 07:32

no i wouldnt have thought so

Seeline · 10/04/2024 07:35

I don't think a photo would be strong evidence. If someone wanted to they could easily remove the note again after taking the photo.
If you want to be safe, report it to the local police.
And yes, you should tell your insurance.
Did you take photos of the damage and have licence plate details etc?

Original poster

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:39

@Seeline I have license plate details but didn't take any photographs at all.

OP posts:

Strugglingtodomybest · 10/04/2024 07:40

I bumped a parked car yesterday. There was a few scratches on it, which I was doubtful were caused by my car as I'd reversed (very slowly) on a straight angle with no paint transfer on mine.

I wouldn't worry OP, this sounds like my car, and if someone bumped it I really wouldn't care one jot.

There is no way at all that the police would be interested in this. Report it yes, just to be on the safe side and to reassure yourself, but please try not to worry about it.

Original poster

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:43

@Strugglingtodomybest will I get points on my license for reporting myself to police?

OP posts:

Doingmybest12 · 10/04/2024 07:48

In the real world if you left your contact details and they haven't called you I'd assume they've chosen not to. Id never dream of reporting myself to the police for this. The world has gone bonkers. If they didn't see the note or it blew away they might track you down if there is cctv and they can be bothered , but they aren't going to. Your paint likely rubbed off. This happens 1000s of time a day in car parks across the land.

StealthMama · 10/04/2024 07:52

I would suspect that the owner got the note saw there was no damage and has left it. Or will call you later to try and get you to pay for any other damage you may or may not have done.

But there is nothing to prosecute you for based on what you have described.

Are you normally this anxious or is it just this specific scenario causing you to spiral?

Original poster

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:55

@StealthMama I obviously didn't fail to stop as I did stop/did leave a note, I just worry that if I'm tracked down that it could be argued that there's no evidence that I stopped as we didn't exchange details and I could then be prosecuted for failing to stop.

I am always prone to a spiral!

OP posts:

Seeline · 10/04/2024 07:56

Did this happen in a car park? Or on the road?

Original poster

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:57

@Seeline a road.

OP posts:

lovehatelovehate · 10/04/2024 07:59

My car has been left with so many scratches and dents (mostly after being in car parks). Nobody has ever left their details or waited for me to return to the car. I don’t know how often people really do leave details or report to the police.

ChimneyPot · 10/04/2024 08:00

If they figure out it was you from cctv or similar they will also see you left a note.
Problem solved.

StealthMama · 10/04/2024 08:00

But you did stop, and you are innocent till proven guilty.

Put your social media down and go for a walk.

Original poster

notarock · 10/04/2024 08:09

@StealthMama I absolutely should. When I start spiralling like this it just absolutely debilitates me though, I'd still spend the entire walk spiralling too

OP posts:

PumpkinPie2016 · 10/04/2024 08:11

You won't be done for failure to stop. You have left a note with your details. No one was there for you to speak to - they could even be away so it's not as if you could wait and wait.

I scratched a car in my village years ago- very minor but I left a note as I couldn't locate the owner. Never heard anything at all. Not even a call from an owner.

Maybe they decided it wasn't worth it.

Honestly, don't worry about it.

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