No injury incident today, guy on my left merged into side of me where a bus lane starts, he was past end of markings for merge by this point. Taxi in front of me darted into bus lane so guess he thought would take his space as I filled it. Words exchanged, he stated didn't give a shit as rental car and proceeded ahead of me. No request stop and exchange details.
Drive a 18yr old van, never felt anything, but got home and is a mark 1/4 way down passenger side of my vehicle so must have. I'm not bothered and wouldn't look to repair To my mind location of mark shows he was coming from behind me, I never deviated from lane/ direct so his fault.
Now stressing if he got my plate could I be done for leaving the scene? Should I report? Sorry for word soup, adrenaline still flowing.
Report it just 101 and get a reference number for sure, I'd also be tempted flag it to your insurance as just an fyi
Brief bit of reading around little ones bed and bathtime says should report in person rather than phone? Not had anything like before so want make sure covered, though I don't even have his reg.
Insurance company hold it against me at renewal?
I certainly wouldn’t bother collision exchange of words, he didn’t give a chite why would you?
If you inform your insurance they will hold it against you IMO.
I would just put it down to experience and move on.
Report it, my mate didn't guy who hit him did mate got 9points.
Call 101....
That's sort of thing worrieds me. I need clear DBS for work so can't really take risk. Will ring 101 after dinner unless I see another more convincing argument otherwise.
If he cleared off content there was no damage to his vehicle, and nobody was injured, then it doesn’t need reporting.
All the reporting rules are for when there is injury or third party damage - eg. his car, someone’s fence, a road sign etc.
I wouldn’t report it.
I bet there is damage to his car and he will have to report it when he returns it. I would report it.
There is grey paint on my white van so I assume some damage? Neither of us got out, and was ample room pull in if he wanted to. Would that change your opinion thegreatape? Your a service officer from other threads I think?
I know could be identifying myself for problems later but equally don't want a surprise visit or letter 6 months later.
If you're not bothered, as far as you're concerned you stopped, ascertained that there was no damage to either vehicle, you exchanged pleasantries and went on your way.
There is grey paint on my white van so I assume some damage? Neither of us got out, and was ample room pull in if he wanted to. Would that change your opinion thegreatape?
Not really, this sort of thing happens all the time, if it’s likely someone didn’t even feel any contact then they don’t get done for it.
Think I'm talking myself into a call for it. Apart from job we are potentially starting complex family process soon and don't want anything, no matter how minor, to come up later to impact on it. Not trying be mysterious, going post elsewhere about this as wife uncomfortable with it being discussed online as my name in username.
Like making trouble for myself, can't decide. Appreciate the input from everyone though, helping me work it out in my head.
If it’s going to put your mind at rest then no harm in reporting it to police. I did so online once after one of my kids opened the car door into another one in a car park in London and made a small dent.
Who left first? Did you get his plate?
You're legally obliged to either exchange contact details at the scene or, if not, to report it to the police within the next 24 hours. Call 101, as others have said.
Thanks all, appreciate help, I have completed online form on Northumbria Police site - they'll be in touch within 2 days apparently.
He left 1st, pulled in front of me and drove on in traffic queue. Unfortunately didn't think to get his plate as he seemed not bothered and wanted get my son home so wasn't thinking straight. I'm sure a lot could just forget it but it would just chew at me (bloody Irish Catholic guilt complex) and really don't need any surprise visits from police 🙂
Give insurers a ring too and ask to log as info only. If a claim comes in from hire company later then you'll at least not end up with a non-declare/personal bill. The fact there's now a police record means they may well find it at renewal time/in case of a claim.
You're unlikely to get really hammered from my own experience of being winged by a third party.
Conversely I would presume the blemish of failing to declare however would last a long time.
Thanks garage-dweller, will do in morning - just renewed yesterday too! Knowing hire companies from previous tickets abroad that's what was considering, it could be 6 months before hear anything so want make sure i don't end up taking liability instead of insurance co.
That's reassuring to know about not getting hammered.
Should just quickly add it was a few years ago when I last had to call something in for which there was no claim arising. Declared it every year since. I think first year it was a small increase and then didn't really notice.
garage-dweller
Full Member
Give insurers a ring too and ask to log as info only
I sure as heck wouldn't do that. Doing similar "just in case" resulted in me having to declare an "incident" eblvery year for 5 (could have been 6?) years if I changed insurance company at renewal, which I usually do.
I only found this out when I went with new insurer at end of year and got as snotty letter saying I hadn't told them about an "accident" and to contact them asap before they cancelled policy.
Don't get insurance involved is my advice. See no need anyway.
Don't tell insurance. They will screw you for another 5 yrs for doing so.
The update literally nobody has been waiting for:
Reported it online to police night of incident, spoke with officer 24th who agreed no further action indicated, no other reports in system and while not telling me to not report it stated it was not being actioned further by them so why bother?
Today letter from my insurance company querying an unreported incident - rang them and were surprisingly cool about it and once described incident agreed no liability on my part as he was merging and no further actions.
Being insurance company I am somewhat skeptical so will be ringing next week to request update as I suspect they will either go 50:50 or similar as easier. Either way I anticipate being penalised for the next 5 years at renewal 🙁
You’re better telling them then not, if the find out you were in accident and didn’t report it they may void your insurance. If you’ve not claimed for years or at all before it won’t change by much.
Yeah, they now aware if it from his insurer/ rental company and happy with why not told them at time - letter threatened invalidate policy etc but no issues now.
Don’t tell insurance. They will screw you for another 5 yrs for doing so.
That hasn't been my experience. I forgot to inform my insurers of a non-fault accident so I had been insured for a full year without the accident being recorded on my policy (although I had notified the insurance company of the second car I drive so it was in the system and they should have picked up on it anyway, still..). When I realised they hadn't got the accident recorded I spoke to them and they recalculated the policy cost and the premium didn't change by a single penny.