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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:
BunniesRUs · 10/04/2024 08:12

You clearly have anxiety. Just forget it. Please. You left a note. Move on! Chill!

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 08:17

Is it not a rule that you could be done for failing to stop/failing to report if you don't turn yourself into the police?

OP posts:
Galliano · 10/04/2024 08:17

I left a note when I opened a car door into another one (under estimated the force of the wind). The car owner took 3 days to get in touch with me to say no damage that they wanted to pursue but thank you for leaving details. Tbh in a similar scenario where someone bumped into my daughter at low speed we didn't even revert to tell them no harm done and I now hope it didn't cause them such a level of anxiety. Although you'll get loads of people on here saying everything must be reported to police, insurance etc in the real world this simply isn't how people deal with minor dings.

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 08:18

@BunniesRUs I'm trying, I swear! Grin

OP posts:
LuluBlakey1 · 10/04/2024 08:20

This happened to me- exactly the same thing. It was in a residential area. I knocked on doors and no one knew whose car it was. Left a note with my details- didn't photograph it. Then over-thought it, went back in the next couple of days, it was still there with note still on it, photographed note. Then rang police for advice who said I had to go in and report it . Did that. Police said that would most likely be an end to it as , in their opinion, the car probably wasn't insured.

I never heard anything else. Years ago now.

feelingalittlehorse · 10/04/2024 08:23

Hi OP, just to reassure you, I did exactly the same- drove into a space and misjudged the angle. Left a note apologising with my name and number- lady rang in the evening, she’d been busy in the day. I’d taken photos etc. went through insurance, all fine.

AFmammaG · 10/04/2024 08:23

I bumped another car when reversing to park. I couldn’t see any damage on either car (I was going sooooo slow).

I left a note and spent a few days worrying but no one ever contacted me.

StealthMama · 10/04/2024 08:26

notarock · 10/04/2024 08:17

Is it not a rule that you could be done for failing to stop/failing to report if you don't turn yourself into the police?

Do you have the registration number of the car you bumped?

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 08:26

@feelingalittlehorse I wish this happened for me.. so I'd be able to lose the fear that the police are after me and my license is going to be revoked Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 08:27

@StealthMama yes, I do.

OP posts:
StealthMama · 10/04/2024 08:27

Sorry o can see you said you do have registration number.

Then it's your call. Report to the police if you want to, you can do an online form.

Or wait and see.

Most people on this thread are in the wait and see camp given there was no damage.

Corksoles · 10/04/2024 08:34

I did this last week. Wasn't sure if I'd actually left any damage on the other car as it was quite muddy. I had to go back later in the day with pen and paper for the note! But no one has rung so I presume no actual damage to their car.

MonsieurSpade · 10/04/2024 08:35

@notarock you're overthinking.
If there are cameras or witnesses they'll have seen you leave the note.
If there aren't any cameras then nothing will happen.

My dh got bumped on a roundabout by a guy with no insurance or tax.
The police did prosecute but it was a slap on the wrist and didn't help us as our insurance company took the full hit.

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 08:43

@MonsieurSpade there could've been witnesses, it was a busy area. However I didn't leave the note until after I'd sat there for 20 minutes, so I'm worried that the (potential) witnesses won't have seen that part!

OP posts:
LakeTiticaca · 10/04/2024 08:44

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:43

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

No you won't. You are massively overthinking this. Unless you have hit and injured someone the police won't be interested. Its a few minor scratches that you're not even convinced you actually caused. Stop worrying about it x

easilydistracted1 · 10/04/2024 08:46

Years ago I had scraped a car reversing although it already had quite a lot of damage. Spent 20 minutes trying to find the owner with no joy. I couldn't leave a note because there was a risk issue in leaving my details in the area. I pulled up down the road and called the police, tried to give a description of the car and my details and they said because I had tried to trace the owner it would wasnt reportable and they wouldn't take any info or help trace the driver! I don't know why you are panicking so much when you can just ring 101 and let them know that you left a note but got no response so you are ringing them to be on the safe side. That won't get you in trouble. You would need to let the insurance know for info though

Allfur · 10/04/2024 08:48

It's just a bumper

Sparklfairy · 10/04/2024 08:49

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?

Even if you'd taken a photo, there's nothing to say you either took the note away after photographing it, or it blew away after you left.

A photograph isn't proof the owner of the car you hit ever saw it, nor is it proof you even left a note. It only proves you wrote a note and took a photo of it.

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 08:52

@Sparklfairy that's reassured me to stop kicking myself over not taking a photo.

OP posts:
Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 08:52

@easilydistracted1 that might be the way to stop my spiralling.
How much is insurance likely to skyrocket for reporting yourself?

OP posts:
Catza · 10/04/2024 08:53

Someone reversed into our passenger door at a hospital car park. The door was bent and I had to climb through driver’s seat for weeks. We never went to the police. We just ordered a new door on ebay and got the local garage to replace it for £100. Wasn’t worth it for us to make a fuss. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to chase you for an imaginary scratch unless you reversed into a Tesla.

iLovee · 10/04/2024 08:53

You're fine, promise 🩷

You left a note and it doesnt sound like you've actually done anything wrong - you would have felt a scratch/bump.

You do need to go your GP though lovey,l - you don't need to live these sort of intrusive thoughts x

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 08:54

@Catza not a Tesla, but certainly not a cheap car and it was in pretty pristine condition otherwise!

OP posts:
Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 08:55

@iLovee thank you. You're more than probably right!

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 10/04/2024 08:56

My partner's car was slightly bumped and details left. Non fault claims still count against you, so many people won't pursue, if their car is in a bit of a state anyway. You didn't fail to stop, nothing will come from that side of it. For any incident, always take pictures. We had a 50/50 but the other driver tried to say he had family in the car and put in for injury claims. Luckily CCTV footage was available.