Just been rear -ended, freaked out.

[NotAnOnlyChild]

Had a lovely morning with friends at a softplay place with my ds 3yr old and dd, 7wks.
Left in the car, at first roundabout decided to wait for a lorry rather than go. I probably hesitated a bit. Next thing I hear huge bang, baby cries, then toddler cries. Not much damage done, other driver apologised and admitted his fault but now I'm freaked out that I was partly responsible and I shouldn't be driving my kids around. Should I do an advanced driving course? Should I stop driving? I hate the thought of a worse accident, it happened so so quickly! Ironically this is after driving 250 miles without incident up here to my parents.

It is NOT your fault, you are NOT partially responsible, in cases like this it is the driver who is behind who is always in the wrong - he even admitted it?

It is better to hesitate and stop than hesitate and go for it - it would have been much worse if you'd pulled out in front of the lorry! Thank God you weren't hurt - its understandable you feel a bit shook up!

If you feel you need to do an advanced driving course, then do it, but not based on this one episode.

Have a MN hug...

Thanks. I had to get my dps to come out and help me home, how sad is that!

I got rearended at a junction recently. I started to go forward and then had to brake as the dickhead driver coming towards me was going so fast. Guy behind me was too close, and not paying attention (plus road we were pulling out onto had a bend so he couldn't see the other car) He smacked his little car right onto the tow bar of my sturdier car. He broke all his front lights, bumper and radiator had an attractive V shape in the middle. I had a scratch on my bumper (and two freaked out kids!)

Do I feel bad that he hit me because I braked sharply? Not a chance. He should have been further back, and concentrating on what was going on, rather than making assumptions on my driving. FWIW he was incredibly embarrassed.

It's not your fault. You didn't drive badly. As Mary said, better to have hesitated than maybe cut up a lorry and have a more serious accident. Hope you feel better soon.

It does knock your confidence. I had someone (in a white van!) reverse at speed into the front of my car when ds was 3 months old. I could see what he was doing, had my hand pressed on the car horn, but there was nothing I could do. He hit my car at force and did a lot of damage. He admitted it was his fault - said he hadn't seen me! Obviously hadn't looked in his mirrors when reversing. He said he wanted to change lanes and didn't bother to check despite being in a place which usually has a queue of traffic (coming out of a retail park). It did put me off driving for a while even though it was absolutely not my fault and nothing I could have done about it.