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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
KeepingItUnderTheRadar · 10/04/2024 08:58

You're definitely overthinking op. You did what was needed, it's not a police/prosecution matter. And well done for leaving a note!

A few weeks ago I was sitting in my car in a small carpark when a car next to me reversed out at speed and directly back into the car behind him on the other side of the carpark. It was a hell of a whack, loud bang. smashed headlights and everything.

I saw him get out and get a piece of paper and a pen but he seemed to be making a bit of a show of it...so I took pictures of both him and his reg as I was suspicious. I waited until he'd left his note and driven off then went to check...and he'd left a blank piece of paper!

I got a new piece of paper and left a note myself explaining what happened and giving my number and the car owner text me that afternoon so I could forward all the pics of the other car. Ha!

Hadalifeonce · 10/04/2024 09:06

I had an incident similar to yours, OP. I couldn't see any damage on the other car, there was non on mine. When I got home I 'phoned my insurance company. They said the other driver had already been in contact, and asked for details of the damage to my car. When I told them there was none, she asked if I was sure. I repeated that I couldn't see any damage either on mine or the other car, she seemed very surprised.
I left it there, so have no idea what the damage was that the other driver claimed,and I never heard anything else. I did not report it to the police.

easilydistracted1 · 10/04/2024 09:37

@notarock I think you are spiralling and worrying about nothing but technically either way you need to tell the insurance. You could always just let them know for info. I'm not sure how much your claim would be affected given how much insurance has changed recently it was ages ago. Probably a minor uplift to nothing if your insurance wasn't affected. I think the police will be totally disinterested if you called them and explained you'd left all your details but it might stop you panicking. I don't think you actually need to tell them.

Aaron95 · 10/04/2024 09:45

If a person has been injured, the driver responsible for causing the accident must report it to the police within 24 hours. Not relevant.

You can be charged with the offence of failing to stop after an accident in a number of circumstances:
a) If you stop but don’t remain at the scene of the accident long enough to provide sufficient details about yourself and your vehicle.
b) If you don’t provide details when asked by any person in the vicinity of the accident.
c) If you fail to stop when the accident occurs, and only return to the scene later.

You did a). You have nothing to worry about.

JPGR · 10/04/2024 10:58

I really wouldn't worry if you left a note. Anybody watching would see that you did just that. I definitely wouldn't be reporting myself to the police or insurance company. Chances are the people thought there was no damage and decided not to pursue it.

Notsureaboutittoday · 10/04/2024 11:02

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.

🤣🤣 why are you in a huge spiral and researching online? I'll never understand this mentality. You literally couldn't do anything else differently, if someone does contact you then fine. If not then fine. Can't see the police getting involved in a couple of potential scratches on a parked car. You need to untangle your brain and stop over thinking.

Notsureaboutittoday · 10/04/2024 11:04

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:43

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

Oh my gosh. You really need to speak to your GP this is not a normal reaction.

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 11:29

@Notsureaboutittoday I really thought this was a valid question!

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 10/04/2024 11:31

notarock · 10/04/2024 07:18

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

DD did it but didnt even leave a note (not ideal but she panicked) and there was a witness who took photos etc.
The Police phoned me (registered keeper) but was happy with us contacting the other party and sorting it out between ourselves

AWeeTripDoonTheWatter · 10/04/2024 11:37

A few years back I potentially damaged a parked car when I was pulling out. I went to the local police station with the registration of the parked car and my details. Police weren’t interested. They didn’t even take my name never mind any other details.

todaysgoingtobetheday · 10/04/2024 11:43

You can report it online so the police can tally it up with any reports of a hit and run.

I did that - the police called me and said they've had no contact therefore closing it.

No issues at all

Notsureaboutittoday · 10/04/2024 11:44

notarock · 10/04/2024 11:29

@Notsureaboutittoday I really thought this was a valid question!

It's not. You need a GP.

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 11:52

@Notsureaboutittoday the answer always seems to be medication but I'm ironically too anxious for that.

OP posts:
NeedToChangeName · 10/04/2024 11:58

It's raining up and down the country. Leaving a note was very commendable, but it will blow away / get soaked, so you can't rely on the owner seeing it

If you want to pass your details on to the owner, the only way to do it is via police, in case the owner reports it

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 11:59

@NeedToChangeName that's my exact worry.

OP posts:
NeedToChangeName · 10/04/2024 12:03

In your shoes, I would contact police to report it. They won't prosecute you for this. And I'd be astonished if it impacted on your insurance. But you'll feel better, knowing you've done the right thing. Otherwise, you'll continue to worry about it

Strugglingtodomybest · 10/04/2024 12:05

Notsureaboutittoday · 10/04/2024 11:04

Oh my gosh. You really need to speak to your GP this is not a normal reaction.

Show quote history

I agree. Take the meds for your own sanity OP, life will be much easier.

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 12:13

@NeedToChangeName that's what I'm thinking. I'm really aware that it's only a few hours until I'm past the 24 hours point. I'm already starting to have physical panic symptoms at the thought of having to speak to police about it though. I just think I'll panic about this for weeks otherwise.

OP posts:
Beingacatbed · 10/04/2024 12:15

Hi, . This exact thing happened to me a few years ago. There was no damage caused and i heard nothing from the driver. However about a month later i got a call from the insurance to say the other driver claimed damage (on an area no where near the bump)and was claiming on my insurance. I stupidly didnt take photos so had no proof that there was no damage. There was no effect to my driving licence or any contact from police just a claim on my insurance.

Dacadactyl · 10/04/2024 12:19

I have done this in the past.

All you need to do is ring your insurer, tell them what happened and tell them the other car's details.

If the other person never contacts you/them, it goes down as "for information only" on your record with them. My premiums did not increase as a result.

In my case, the owner of the other car actually texted me 2 days later saying they weren't going to pursue it. I rang the insurer to let them know and that was the end of it.

Dacadactyl · 10/04/2024 12:20

Why would you go to the police?! Just speak to your insurer.

Original poster
notarock · 10/04/2024 12:25

@Dacadactyl in case my note has blown away in our horrible weather and they've contacted the police to report me for failing to stop Blush my brain maps this all out as worst case scenario.

OP posts:
Dacadactyl · 10/04/2024 12:29

@notarock well I wouldn't bother personally. If you tell your insurer there is evidence that you've tried to do the right thing.

newnamenellie · 10/04/2024 12:35

A few months back I scraped a parked car on a narrow road, it was chucking it down with rain at the time. I pulled over further up the road, got out and could see paint transfer on my car so other car would definitely have had a mark on it.
I had no means of leaving a note and it was torrential rain anyway. I drove off but when I got home, I called the police non-emergency and told them what had happened and where, they were grateful that I called and said they would be in touch if anyone reported damage to their car in that area. I never heard anything at all, but felt better for at least owning up.

Sparklfairy · 10/04/2024 12:36

notarock · 10/04/2024 12:25

@Dacadactyl in case my note has blown away in our horrible weather and they've contacted the police to report me for failing to stop Blush my brain maps this all out as worst case scenario.

How exactly are they going to report 'you' for failing to stop? Think rationally.

If you were in an area with lots of CCTV, they won't just hand the footage over to some random person asking for it, they'll have to go through the police.

Assuming the police even bother following it up, the very same CCTV will show you leaving a note so there's no crime of failing to stop.

If there's no CCTV and/or the police don't follow it up before it's recorded over again likely then how exactly would they find you anyway?

You seriously need to stop spiralling. Worrying about it won't change whatever the outcome is going to be.