Road traffic incident
Discussion
Hello,
First I think this might be in the wrong place. Very sorry if it is. As a new member I am restricted to where I can post. Really hope this isn't breaking any rules by posting it here.
I'm trying to get any advice I can as really getting conflicting advice. Basically today while driving along a road, a car that was parked on the other side of the road pulled out in front of me. I had to swerve to avoid collision and went on to the curb. Which resulted in my tyre wall being busted. We both stopped, as did a person who was walking past on the other side of the road. We all agreed there was no actually collision. The person walking past gave me him name (first name only) and telephone number incase I ended up needing it. His comment was 'she pulled out without looking at all'.
Anyway as said we had both stopped. But even though there was no contact, I thought we were required to exchange details. Just to cover ourselves. I wasn't going to make a insurance claim over a tyre but wasn't sure if I had to still inform the insurance company. So she called some relative and spoke to them for a while. Then said as there was no collision she didn't think we needed to exchange details and left. So that left me unsure what I needed to do. Since then I've just got more confused. Spoke to RAC legal advice helpline who said I didn't need to report it to the police but needed to inform my insurance company. Then spoke to the legal advice helpline of my insurance company who checked with a manager and then came back and said I didn't need to report it to the police or the insurance company as tyre damage wasn't classed as reportable damage. Should add that we both have our own dashcam footage (she checked her own while we were stopped).
Still was confused though as from what I understood any damage due to the presence of a car on the roads was considered a road traffic incident and if details weren't shared it needed to be reported. I know it isn't the best way to get advice, but various AI chats also said that I needed to report it. So went to the local police website. The first question is about the location. The next question is "Did at least one vehicle collide with something or someone?" Now this is where I'm not sure. If I put no as neither of us hit each other or anything else, then it won't let me file a road traffic accident report. Gives options for things like bad driver etc. So being unsure if 'going onto the curb and damaging tyre' would class as collision (don't think it does, but the AI chats say it does), I called 101 and spoke to someone. Not sure they understand me completely as they said just fill out the forms. They said if the forms says it doesn't need reporting then it doesn't. Also said it sounded more like a civil matter to them. They also said they don't think going on a curb would class as collision. But they also said about the requirement to report accidents within 24 hours. So still not sure, can it be a civil matter doesn't really fit as I don't have the other person's details. The 101 call handler never logged any information, but they gave me their badge number just as a record that I did talk to them.
Should point out I have no wish for this person to be prosecuted. Even if they were meant to share details, if two legal advice lines aren't sure how can anyone be. Also it is just a tyre, so I wouldn't have been making a actual insurance claim. All I want to do is protect myself. I did say to them as they left that if we didn't exchange details, I thought I would need to report it to the police. So want to do the right thing but also don't want it to end up that she has then reported it to the police or something.
The question seems to come down to if having to go onto the curb is classed as a collision. Technically I hit the curb so that is why the AI chats say it is a collision.
Not sure if anyone will be able to help me here, but hoping they can.
First I think this might be in the wrong place. Very sorry if it is. As a new member I am restricted to where I can post. Really hope this isn't breaking any rules by posting it here.
I'm trying to get any advice I can as really getting conflicting advice. Basically today while driving along a road, a car that was parked on the other side of the road pulled out in front of me. I had to swerve to avoid collision and went on to the curb. Which resulted in my tyre wall being busted. We both stopped, as did a person who was walking past on the other side of the road. We all agreed there was no actually collision. The person walking past gave me him name (first name only) and telephone number incase I ended up needing it. His comment was 'she pulled out without looking at all'.
Anyway as said we had both stopped. But even though there was no contact, I thought we were required to exchange details. Just to cover ourselves. I wasn't going to make a insurance claim over a tyre but wasn't sure if I had to still inform the insurance company. So she called some relative and spoke to them for a while. Then said as there was no collision she didn't think we needed to exchange details and left. So that left me unsure what I needed to do. Since then I've just got more confused. Spoke to RAC legal advice helpline who said I didn't need to report it to the police but needed to inform my insurance company. Then spoke to the legal advice helpline of my insurance company who checked with a manager and then came back and said I didn't need to report it to the police or the insurance company as tyre damage wasn't classed as reportable damage. Should add that we both have our own dashcam footage (she checked her own while we were stopped).
Still was confused though as from what I understood any damage due to the presence of a car on the roads was considered a road traffic incident and if details weren't shared it needed to be reported. I know it isn't the best way to get advice, but various AI chats also said that I needed to report it. So went to the local police website. The first question is about the location. The next question is "Did at least one vehicle collide with something or someone?" Now this is where I'm not sure. If I put no as neither of us hit each other or anything else, then it won't let me file a road traffic accident report. Gives options for things like bad driver etc. So being unsure if 'going onto the curb and damaging tyre' would class as collision (don't think it does, but the AI chats say it does), I called 101 and spoke to someone. Not sure they understand me completely as they said just fill out the forms. They said if the forms says it doesn't need reporting then it doesn't. Also said it sounded more like a civil matter to them. They also said they don't think going on a curb would class as collision. But they also said about the requirement to report accidents within 24 hours. So still not sure, can it be a civil matter doesn't really fit as I don't have the other person's details. The 101 call handler never logged any information, but they gave me their badge number just as a record that I did talk to them.
Should point out I have no wish for this person to be prosecuted. Even if they were meant to share details, if two legal advice lines aren't sure how can anyone be. Also it is just a tyre, so I wouldn't have been making a actual insurance claim. All I want to do is protect myself. I did say to them as they left that if we didn't exchange details, I thought I would need to report it to the police. So want to do the right thing but also don't want it to end up that she has then reported it to the police or something.
The question seems to come down to if having to go onto the curb is classed as a collision. Technically I hit the curb so that is why the AI chats say it is a collision.
Not sure if anyone will be able to help me here, but hoping they can.
Just be thankful that your insurance company didn't consider tyre damage as an incident and it doesn't go on file for the next 5 years with loaded premiums.
Pay for a tyre and move on before you get yourself in to a pickle with your insurance, or theirs.
Might be worth ringing the other party and telling them you have no intention of pursuing it further.
Pay for a tyre and move on before you get yourself in to a pickle with your insurance, or theirs.
Might be worth ringing the other party and telling them you have no intention of pursuing it further.
Opapayer said:
No wonder you re confused. The mountain you re making is actually just a molehill.
As everyone has said buy a new tyre and move on.
This. You're seriously over-complicating a very minor incident. I'm guessing you haven't experienced many proper accidents where insurance companies do get involved. It's a major headache and can take up many, many hours of your life. As I recently posted on another thread, I wouldn't report any incident to an insurance company if it cost me a grand or less to fix the problem myself. It's just not worth the aggravation. Get a new tyre and get on with your life and be thankful you didn't have to make a claim.As everyone has said buy a new tyre and move on.
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