Accidentally hit a parked car whilst reversing - no damage.
Discussion
So, I was driving and a car just came in front of me, and literally had to reverse in a street. The opposite driver could have reversed back as it would have been safer. But they literally bullied me into reversing through a long narrow street.
I didn’t realise and I accidentally just hit a car parked on the left. I even stopped my car and the driver came out and checked the car. Did a close inspection and there were obviously no marks/scratches sustained to their vehicle or mine.
Only my wing mirror had hit but again, because it bends it doesn’t get damaged.
I apologised to the driver who was clearly frustrated, but the driver went back inside their home.
So of course I thought everything’s okay and I felt so bad. I genuinely have anxiety and I do panic. I was relieved there was no damage to either of our vehicles.
But, the following day a damage appeared on the passenger side of the car. There was no damage when I saw in the morning the following day. But we got that repaired as we don’t know who did it. The damage was as though someone reversed their vehicle into mine, not vice versa - so obviously the damage could not have been due to that.
I have a feeling the insurance providers will link that damage with the encounter with the parked vehicle when that was obviously not the case.
We’ve been hit a lot of times in the past by drivers trying to overtake and we’ve dodged, yet never made a significant fuss. Never claimed.
But after all of this, even after apologising to the driver and then rushing back in after seeing no damage whatsoever. The driver has chosen to make a third party claim through my insurance provider, as I’ve been informed by them.
I am genuinely really upset and basically feeling more anxious. I didn’t expect this to happen. If they had a problem why didn’t they tell me then. I even approached the driver in person.
Anyways, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I didn’t tell my family about this incident as I know how they’d react, but now because of this things are going to end up worse.
If I was to tell my insurance provider and tell them to keep the claim related stuff private, would that be possible?
I didn’t realise and I accidentally just hit a car parked on the left. I even stopped my car and the driver came out and checked the car. Did a close inspection and there were obviously no marks/scratches sustained to their vehicle or mine.
Only my wing mirror had hit but again, because it bends it doesn’t get damaged.
I apologised to the driver who was clearly frustrated, but the driver went back inside their home.
So of course I thought everything’s okay and I felt so bad. I genuinely have anxiety and I do panic. I was relieved there was no damage to either of our vehicles.
But, the following day a damage appeared on the passenger side of the car. There was no damage when I saw in the morning the following day. But we got that repaired as we don’t know who did it. The damage was as though someone reversed their vehicle into mine, not vice versa - so obviously the damage could not have been due to that.
I have a feeling the insurance providers will link that damage with the encounter with the parked vehicle when that was obviously not the case.
We’ve been hit a lot of times in the past by drivers trying to overtake and we’ve dodged, yet never made a significant fuss. Never claimed.
But after all of this, even after apologising to the driver and then rushing back in after seeing no damage whatsoever. The driver has chosen to make a third party claim through my insurance provider, as I’ve been informed by them.
I am genuinely really upset and basically feeling more anxious. I didn’t expect this to happen. If they had a problem why didn’t they tell me then. I even approached the driver in person.
Anyways, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I didn’t tell my family about this incident as I know how they’d react, but now because of this things are going to end up worse.
If I was to tell my insurance provider and tell them to keep the claim related stuff private, would that be possible?
Edited by Riley636 on Tuesday 19th April 16:45
There's a lot in your post so it's quite hard to follow, but a few things -
If there was no damage to the other car, do you know what he is claiming for?
If his insurers have contacted your insurers, then it's too late to worry about whether your insurers will keep it private but if you are the policyholder then I don't see any they would involve anyone else from your family. If you aren't the policyholder then you need to tell the policyholder a straight version of what's going on.
Lastly, if you encounter someone driving at you like this again, I'd suggest resisting the pressure to reverse faster than you are comfortable. If you're doing the hard work reversing, then they can be patient.
If there was no damage to the other car, do you know what he is claiming for?
If his insurers have contacted your insurers, then it's too late to worry about whether your insurers will keep it private but if you are the policyholder then I don't see any they would involve anyone else from your family. If you aren't the policyholder then you need to tell the policyholder a straight version of what's going on.
Lastly, if you encounter someone driving at you like this again, I'd suggest resisting the pressure to reverse faster than you are comfortable. If you're doing the hard work reversing, then they can be patient.
Riley636 said:
So, I was driving and a car just came in front of me, and literally had to reverse in a street. The opposite driver could have reversed back as it would have been safer. But they literally bullied me into reversing through a long narrow street.
I didn’t realise and I accidentally just hit a car parked on the left. I even stopped my car and the driver came out and checked the car. Did a close inspection and there were obviously no marks/scratches sustained to their vehicle or mine.
Only my wing mirror had hit but again, because it bends it doesn’t get damaged.
I apologised to the driver who was clearly frustrated, but the driver went back inside their home.
So of course I thought everything’s okay and I felt so bad. I genuinely have anxiety and I do panic. I was relieved there was no damage to either of our vehicles.
But, the following day a damage appeared on the passenger side of the car. There was no damage when I saw in the morning the following day. But we got that repaired as we don’t know who did it. The damage was as though someone reversed their vehicle into mine, not vice versa - so obviously the damage could not have been due to that.
I have a feeling the insurance providers will link that damage with the encounter with the parked vehicle when that was obviously not the case.
We’ve been hit a lot of times in the past by drivers trying to overtake and we’ve dodged, yet never made a significant fuss. Never claimed.
But after all of this, even after apologising to the driver and then rushing back in after seeing no damage whatsoever. The driver has chosen to make a third party claim through my insurance provider, as I’ve been informed by them.
I am genuinely really upset and basically feeling more anxious. I didn’t expect this to happen. If they had a problem why didn’t they tell me then. I even approached the driver in person.
Anyways, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I didn’t tell my family about this incident as I know how they’d react, but now because of this things are going to end up worse.
If I was to tell my insurance provider and tell them to keep the claim related stuff private, would that be possible?
OK. You'll have to wait.I didn’t realise and I accidentally just hit a car parked on the left. I even stopped my car and the driver came out and checked the car. Did a close inspection and there were obviously no marks/scratches sustained to their vehicle or mine.
Only my wing mirror had hit but again, because it bends it doesn’t get damaged.
I apologised to the driver who was clearly frustrated, but the driver went back inside their home.
So of course I thought everything’s okay and I felt so bad. I genuinely have anxiety and I do panic. I was relieved there was no damage to either of our vehicles.
But, the following day a damage appeared on the passenger side of the car. There was no damage when I saw in the morning the following day. But we got that repaired as we don’t know who did it. The damage was as though someone reversed their vehicle into mine, not vice versa - so obviously the damage could not have been due to that.
I have a feeling the insurance providers will link that damage with the encounter with the parked vehicle when that was obviously not the case.
We’ve been hit a lot of times in the past by drivers trying to overtake and we’ve dodged, yet never made a significant fuss. Never claimed.
But after all of this, even after apologising to the driver and then rushing back in after seeing no damage whatsoever. The driver has chosen to make a third party claim through my insurance provider, as I’ve been informed by them.
I am genuinely really upset and basically feeling more anxious. I didn’t expect this to happen. If they had a problem why didn’t they tell me then. I even approached the driver in person.
Anyways, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I didn’t tell my family about this incident as I know how they’d react, but now because of this things are going to end up worse.
If I was to tell my insurance provider and tell them to keep the claim related stuff private, would that be possible?
Edited by Riley636 on Tuesday 19th April 16:45
Mave said:
There's a lot in your post so it's quite hard to follow, but a few things -
If there was no damage to the other car, do you know what he is claiming for?
If his insurers have contacted your insurers, then it's too late to worry about whether your insurers will keep it private but if you are the policyholder then I don't see any they would involve anyone else from your family. If you aren't the policyholder then you need to tell the policyholder a straight version of what's going on.
Lastly, if you encounter someone driving at you like this again, I'd suggest resisting the pressure to reverse faster than you are comfortable. If you're doing the hard work reversing, then they can be patient.
I am not the policy holder which is what’s making me even more worried. I didn’t tell them on the day as it seemed minor and both myself and the opposite driver had no further discussion about the incident. If there was no damage to the other car, do you know what he is claiming for?
If his insurers have contacted your insurers, then it's too late to worry about whether your insurers will keep it private but if you are the policyholder then I don't see any they would involve anyone else from your family. If you aren't the policyholder then you need to tell the policyholder a straight version of what's going on.
Lastly, if you encounter someone driving at you like this again, I'd suggest resisting the pressure to reverse faster than you are comfortable. If you're doing the hard work reversing, then they can be patient.
I didn’t even get a scratch on their car, never mind causing any severe damage.
Also, I was reversing quite slowly but the driver in front just seemed so impatient. I definitely did have a slight moment of panic. But, my reversing was not in any way causing any damage.
Just baffles me how cunning some people can be. If the driver had a problem they could have said it to my face. But no guess they’ve just fabricated it and now I’m in the total wrong.
I will get in touch with my insurance providers again as I couldn’t clarify much, and I’ll probably be very nitpicky about the details the claimant provided.
Ok, so firstly, tell the policyholder. They need to know. TBH I don't understand how you found out that the other party had decided to go through the insurance without the policy holder finding out - but now its not a question of if, its a question of when.
Secondly, acknowledge that there may have been some damage. It may have been hard to spot, but you did hit his car, and I don't see what reason he would have to make an unnecessary claim. It would be different if he was claiming for personal injury, but there's not much benefit in him claiming through the insurance for work which doesnt need to be done especially as he will also need to declare at his next insurance renewal.
The only scenario I can see where this would work in his favour is if he had existing damage which he is hoping to get your insurer to fix.
Secondly, acknowledge that there may have been some damage. It may have been hard to spot, but you did hit his car, and I don't see what reason he would have to make an unnecessary claim. It would be different if he was claiming for personal injury, but there's not much benefit in him claiming through the insurance for work which doesnt need to be done especially as he will also need to declare at his next insurance renewal.
The only scenario I can see where this would work in his favour is if he had existing damage which he is hoping to get your insurer to fix.
Can you get a photo, evidencing no damage?
I don't see what they will be claiming for, if there's literally nothing. You sure there's not a couple of scratches or something?
I'd tell the insurance company that you both agreed there was no damage, metaphorically shook hands and went on your separate ways.
I don't see how you will keep the policy holder from finding out. You need to confess/ explain, and get them on your side ASAP
I suppose the worse case is, there's (new) damage which they say you caused. (In which case I'd have thought you were squarely on the hook). Fairly unlikely I would have thought, but there must be a reason they've troubled the insurance co
The only way they can benefit really, is evidencing the damage to you at the time, and saying they will sort it sans insurance for a couple of hundred quid, and then not proceeding with the repair. But if there's no damage, there's no point. I believe they have to declare the incident, which will put up their insurance in future? (Even if not their fault, it indicates a high(er) risk of future claims)
I don't see what they will be claiming for, if there's literally nothing. You sure there's not a couple of scratches or something?
I'd tell the insurance company that you both agreed there was no damage, metaphorically shook hands and went on your separate ways.
I don't see how you will keep the policy holder from finding out. You need to confess/ explain, and get them on your side ASAP
I suppose the worse case is, there's (new) damage which they say you caused. (In which case I'd have thought you were squarely on the hook). Fairly unlikely I would have thought, but there must be a reason they've troubled the insurance co
The only way they can benefit really, is evidencing the damage to you at the time, and saying they will sort it sans insurance for a couple of hundred quid, and then not proceeding with the repair. But if there's no damage, there's no point. I believe they have to declare the incident, which will put up their insurance in future? (Even if not their fault, it indicates a high(er) risk of future claims)
Edited by johnboy1975 on Tuesday 19th April 21:28
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