V.minor car clash: best approach to take?

[Deleted User]

Hello,

I passed my test in 2001 but have recently started driving, having lived in London for most of that time and not needing a car.

Last night, I had a very minor prang but want to know what the best approach to take for dealing with it is.

The facts:

I was travelling about 15 - 20mph in a residential area, down a short hill (around 100m length) that flattens out at the bottom. There were parked cars on the other side of the road (right) and a few, but not many, parked cars on my left.

In coming down the hill, I pulled out past a group of three cars (on my left) at the point when a 4x4 was about to come up the hill (but was still on the flat at that point). The parked cars were on his side of the road.

I was already past the cars on my left, but rather than waiting for me, he put his foot down and sped up the hill at around 25 - 30mph, when there clearly wasn't room for the both of us. In doing so, I had to move left to avoid a collision with him, and I clipped someone's wing mirror ever so slightly - it was the last car in a row of three.

My wing mirror was fine, but their's was bent forward and the glass cracked. In driving past this morning, I could see that they've put their mirror back in place, but the glass obviously remains cracked.

I left my number under their windscreen, but there was a gentleman nearby who claimed to have witness the event; he was quite 'chavvy' and started hurling abuse and threatening me, before taking a photo of my number plate and the number plate of the car I'd hit. He threatened to report me to the police.

In retrospect, I do not know whether he was a bystander, or - in fact - was the actual driver of the 4x4 that sped past me and caused me to have the prang. He sped off shortly afterwards and was incredibly aggressive towards me; I don't see why he would have been taking photos unless it was to cover his back. Unfortunately, I didn't get his number plate - I was too panicced and worried by his threats.

I reported the incident to the police as I felt this was the right thing to do, and have tried calling the driver of the clipped car back, but what should I do now?

In my view, I had right of way and was making a perfectly acceptable maneouveur - it was someone else's speeding and intent to mow me down that caused me to have the 'accident'. But, I have no proof.

I've called my local garage and the cost for replacing the glass in the damaged car is around £15 - £45, so not very much at all, and I am going to speak to the driver (when they call back) to offer to pay this as a gesture of goodwill as it was my car that clipped them. At the same time, I felt that the incident wasn't my fault; it was either clip the wing mirror or else be hit by a 4x4 head on.

What should I do now? For the sake of £15 - £45 worth of replacement wing mirror glass I'd rather not have to go through my insurance which will cost me £300 in extra premium.

Any ideas? Who - in the eyes of the law - was at fault? What might happen if they try to 'push their luck'?

BenL

Just hand over the money for the mirrotr glass or go to Halfords and buy the replacement yourself and hand it over/fit it for them.

No real harm done, technically you should tell your insurance company of any accident or possible claim but i wouldn't bother.

Maybe a bottle of wine to the othe cars owner would help it along the way.

They are most likely going to be very happy that you were honest and have left your details and paid. Saves them sorting it out.

dacouch

In these circumstances it might be worth you going back and taking a photo of the car you hit, the damage to the mirror and the area of the car. This could help you in case they try and allege you caused other damage to the car that was not your fault. If you get a chance try and get the front page of a national newspaper into the shot as this helps date the photo

dacouch

The highway code gives priority to the person driving up the hill

[Deleted User]

They weren't driving up the hill at the time though: they were on the flat bit when they saw me.

Quentin

Deleted_User wrote: »

What should I do now? For the sake of £15 - £45 worth of replacement wing mirror glass I'd rather not have to go through my insurance which will cost me £300 in extra premium.

Any ideas? Who - in the eyes of the law - was at fault? What might happen if they try to 'push their luck'?

Who has told you it will cost you this £300? Just report the matter to your insurer for information only to comply with your policy conditions and see if you can sort out the broken mirror direct if you want to. Don't admit liability!

It will be seen as your fault - you struck the parked vehicle and damaged it, and cannot identify the driver that made you swerve. The only witness seems useless to you in trying to prove otherwise.