Bumped a car today.

[AnxiousMouse]

So today into bumped the back of a car on a busy road. I was slowing down somewhere between 6 - 4 mph and just didn't stop in time and bumped the car in front in traffic waiting at lights. In the middle lane.

This has never happened to me before so I didn't know what to do. For a few seconds I froze before getting out the car.

The person got out we both checked their car and mine,

Mine had no damage, theirs had minor damage of a crack in the number plate, but number plate is stil readable. I took a photo (won't post here for privacy.)

So we exchanged numbers and they took photo of my plate. They said they will get it checked out.

My partner is convinced they won't through insurance over a small crack in number plate

I have since messaged the person apologising and offered to pay for replacement of number plate. But not heard back yet.

What could happen next?

Will they go through insurance? How long until I know?
Or will they go to a garage first get a qoute etc, Before contacting me?

What's the likely hood of hidden damage?

Should I not have texted them?
Or was it ok to do that?
I felt quilty for bumping their car and I had to text to apologise again and offer to pay.

My anxiety is through the roof 😫 and I know I won't sleep tonight or the next few nights unless they reply back to my text. It's the not knowing.

Has anyone experienced this before?

Sorry for all the questions.

😟 please put my mind at rest.

It's fine, calm down. This is what insurance is for. Hundreds of people have bumps like this every day. They may not bother with insurance as their excess may be higher than the actual cost to repair or replace.

I had a similar situation and informed my insurance company just so I’d be covered. They contacted the owners of the other car. Luckily no repairs needed. It sat on my insurance record for some months. There is a time limit to claim for repairs. There was a term they used something like non claim notifiable incident. My insurance went up by £20 at renewal. It was years ago now so no longer an issue.

Thank you, should I contact my insurance asap then? Will this affect my insurance? Sorry for the questions.

All reported accidents affect your insurance. If it’s just the number plate might be cheaper to pay it as even a non paying claim makes it go up. But depends on other person. If they report it then you will have to.

I mean I would lots of people don’t in similar circumstances. I’m a worrier and would rather have to pay a small amount extra on insurance than risk it being cancelled, because I’d failed to tell them or something. I’m sure that’s very unlikely though. Your renewal might be more expensive if you tell them even more f there is no claim.

A similar situation happened to me last year. Someone went n to the back of me at about 10mph.

My bumper looked scuffed only but it had to be replaced as it was cracked.

My insurance company was absolutely determined that I was going to get a hire car if whether I wanted one or not. They were so pushy. They wanted to claim that from the blokes insurance. I wouldn't have one in the end because I couldn't stand how pushy they were.

How will I know if they have reported it?

My insurance says I have 48 hrs to report an accident.

I remember them saying they already had someone go into the back of them not long go ago sonething like that.

And their insurance is due renewal.