Rear ended someone and im so worried and scared

[missymoomel]

I was driving down a country lane one that I have been driving everyday since last year, the road is 60 I was doing about 50, the csr infront of me stopped suddenly because the car infront of him stopped suddenly and as soon as I saw his break lights I pushed my foot so hard on the break but the car didn't slow down in time and I hit the back of the car very hard, my car is damaged and will be a write off, there was a lady passanger in the back of the car and she was injured she hurt her neck and couldn't move it properly, the ambulance and police came, did a breathalyser which was 0, took my details ans said they would be in touch if they needed anything else.But im feeling so guilty for the women they took her to hospital to be assessed she got out of thr car with help ans they put her in the ambulance with a red box thing round her head, I cant sleep properly or eat much and I just keep replying over and over in my mind , im so worried about her ans I dont even know how she is, and I dont know what's going to happen to me with the police, and im also scared to drive again

You must’ve been too close for 50mph- stopping distance for that speed in dry conditions is about 53 metres (I looked it up).

Well your insurance will pay. You’ll have to pay your excess and also you’ll be sent a bill for the ambulance. Not sure if the insurance will cover that or not.

The police might not do anything but they might take action for driving without due care and attention because you were too close/too fast for there to be a safe stopping distance. So might be points and a fine but it’s not going to be a prison sentence so try not to worry. The ambulance will have being taking precautions with the passenger. It’s likely to be whiplash rather than life threatening injuries!

It’s happened and it’s usual to replay the incident
i think anyone would feel the way you do but you must have been going too close to the car in front
we all get lax with driving and stopping distances
Hopefully the injuries aren’t all bad and it was a precaution etc

I know i was a bit lower then 50 as I pressed the breaks way before I got close to his car was way infront of me, but when I pressed the breaks the car didn't really stop very quick

Hmm. Yes you should always allow enough stopping distance however there are cases of ‘crash for cash’ where the stopping distance is taken up, a sudden stop happens and people get out of the car with very sore necks - which one is this?

You tested zero for alcohol that is the important thing. Your insurance will deal with this. Be kind to yourself

The brakes might have locked.

A bill for the ambulance? I've never heard of that!

Like someone else just said I must of been to close im trying to be kind to myself but I cant im feeling awful

I'm not sure what haplend but I remember pressing the breaks so hard and it just felt like the car was not slowing down and I knew I was going to hit

I doubt it will come to much. Be kind to yourself, accident happen. You may find bruising injuries yourself over the next few days. Mine appeared for over a week after my crash.
You will have to pay your excess but nothing else.
Beware of the other sides insurance calling you ask asking for your side. You do not have to talk to them, just tell them to talk to your insurer. They will be pushy but remain firm.

Your insurance will take care of it all - you won't receive a bill for the ambulance either.
Im sure the passenger will be fine. She'll just get more compensation when she claims! .... but again, thats for the insurance to sort out. Expect your premiums to rise.

I hope the womne is okay I haven't heard anything from anyone but the family member of the womne was very kind to me because he could see I was very emotional and scared and took mine and the other drivers details and insurence details.

Well, obviously…. That’s why people drive into the back of people (unless they aren’t paying attention, which the OP doesn’t indicate).

OP - it’s tough but most people drive too close to the car in front. Use this as a learning experience and keep your distance in future.

Either your brakes are shot or you did not leave enough room in front of you.

If the car in front of you jams on their brakes without warning you should be able to stop before hitting them that's all that matters really regardless of speed (within reason).

I think it is possible for the insurance to be billed for ambulance in RTCs. It’s usually direct to insurer, though, so OP wouldn’t be ‘billed’ in any literal sense.

Ambulance costs can be recovered through the insurance companies and the NHS recoups some money if an injury award is made to a claimant. They recover around £12k a month that way. But so long as your insurance is valid, then this isn’t a direct bill to you.

Car accidents are emotional. A woman drove into the back of me a couple of years back. My poor baby got rude awakening and a bloody lip but he was fine. The poor lady who drove into me was beside herself. It’s one of those things.

I cant cope with the waiting of the womens health or what the police are going to say, I never want to experience anything like this again in my life

Your right i deserve what ever happens to me

Helpful

itll be ok - it’s a crap feeling but this will pass and all you can do is use it to be more aware in the future.

(and because i can’t edit my post I dropped a zero on the reclaim amount it’s £120k and ambulance trusts across the uk £480k but please realise this will never be a cost to you)

Op I would imagine you have mild shock. If you'd crashed into a crash barrier at that speed you'd be shaken up. Does your car have ABS? I expect you skidded which is why you didn't stop. My old car, a Peugeot 206 was terrible for skidding. Try to go easy on yourself. Accidents happen. The lady in the other car might have whiplash but the neck collar was likely precautionary.

Most people have a car accident at least once in their life (I reversed into someone last year after 20 years no claims! 😫)

Just remind yourself if was an accident, you didn't mean to do it. Its unlikely the police will come back to you unless you were driving very dangerously, which it doesn't sound like you were. The woman most likely has whiplash, but hopefully no long lasting injuries.

I'm sure this will be a lesson to be more careful about stopping distances in the future, but other than that, there's not much you can do now. These things happen unfortunately.

She will be fine. It’s completely normal to feel this way but these are so common and you need to be gentle on yourself. Yes it’s easy for everyone to be righteous about how you must have been to close but 90% of people drive too close so while it may be true and not ok that doesn’t mean you are some sort of terrible person. You tried to brake and it didn’t work and we all make mistakes. And sometimes we do everything right and still have accidents.
make sure you have support and know that it’s completely normal to feel scared and anxious and look after yourself

Honestly this happend 2 days ago and I have not stopped crying everytime I think about it I cry and when I close my eyes I keep replying it in my mind, I went to work today ans I was just not with it.Im not sure if my car has ABS or not its a 2008 plate but I cant belive my car was damaged so bad and the car infront was just the bumper hanging off but im glad his car was not very badly damaged