Bird hit mirror on motorway, anything further I need to do?

smallpurplepill

Hi all

I don't normally post on this part of the forums but hoped someone could help as I have encountered some very helpful people on other MSE forums! I am really worried about this!!

Today on my way home from work on the motorway a large bird (can't find out exactly what it was from google but it was a "game" type of bird like a pheasant or something) was wandering on the outside lane, it's a 2 lane part of motorway and I was in the inside lane and tried to avoid/anticipate it but (for some reason!?!) as I passed it sort of decided to fly up and hit my mirror (I mean it voluntarily took off, I didn't hit it on the ground and send it "upwards") !! Large bang and a crunch (it was a big bird and there was nothing I could have done to avoid or predict it) and momentarily and mirror with a bird all over it!

Pulled on to the hard shoulder and checked for damage etc, there was no damage other than the mirror had been pushed inwards which I popped back out and a couple of smears (no actual damage to the paintwork or dents) on the door where I think the bird kind of skidded across it! Called the police to report it was I'm not sure if I had to or not (I know any accident involving injury to "an animal" has to be reported and as far as I'm concerned a bird is an animal!) and the police lady said she'd log but there is no requirement and I don't need to notify it to the insurance or anything if there is no damage to the car.

The thign that is concerns me is I have an ongoing claim for a completely unrelated incident that happened a couple of weeks ago which was "fault" in that it is own damage (no 3rd party) on comp insurance which the repair cost was more than expected (initially I made it 'notification only' as I thought I would get it repaired myself but the estimate was more than I expected for the paintwork etc). So I don't know if my insurance would see it as "2 accidents in 2 weeks?!" and cancel the policy or something (apart from this I have a completely clean history, no claims for quite a number of years ad no convictions) as there was really nothing I could have done about the bird, anyone in the same situation wouldn't have been able to avoid it either (without doing somehting dangerous and possibly causing an actual accident due to swerving etc).

Has anyone had similar, do I need to report this to the insurance (it wasn't an "accident" as such, no one was injured apart from the bird, no damage to the car) or is it just one of those things - I am starting to wonder if I should just sell my car and give up driving!!!!

I need to be able to drive to have any chance at ongoing employment, it's hard enough worrying about being made redundant or homeless (I'm a tenant) a moment's notice withough being late to work due to public transport and so on, but I'm terrified they'll cancel my policy due to something that was't even an "accident" or couldn't have been predicted and I'll be let go then as well. It was my own fault in that if I'd left a few minutes earlier or later, hadn't gone on the roundabout when I did etc that I wouldn't have been there at that moment but surely they can't make it a "fault" for that!?

Please help

mrcow

People run over hedgehogs all the time and don't report it to their insurance company.

Just stop worrying and get on with your life.

tattycath

Well it's unfortunate, but these things happen. If you don't mention it to your insurers what do you think will happen? The bird isn't going to report it and make a claim on your insurance is it! -I would just leave it and say nothing.

McKneff

Just absolutely forget about it.
I believe that the only animals yu have to report any accidents with are dogs, which goes back many years when most dogs were actual working dogs so that the dog owner knew about it.

Have a glass of red and forget about it.

Most people round here hitting a pheasant go back for it and its in the pot before teatime.:D

Wig

You didn't have to report it to the police, and you don't have to report it to your insurer.

You do have to report hitting a dog, but not a cat AFAIK.

Viper_7

Any witnesses? this is clearly the birds fault. I'd look at claiming damages from the birds insurance.

Viper_7

McKneff wrote: »

Just absolutely forget about it.
I believe that the only animals yu have to report any accidents with are dogs, which goes back many years when most dogs were actual working dogs so that the dog owner knew about it.

Have a glass of red and forget about it.

Most people round here hitting a pheasant go back for it and its in the pot before teatime.:D

but you could be accused of hitting it on purpose - then it's poaching!

Picking up roadkill delivered by another vehicle is fine!

moonrakerz

Viper_7 wrote: »

this is clearly the birds fault. I'd look at claiming damages from the birds insurance.

Only if it was insured with Eagle Star ?

Rotor

Viper_7 wrote: »

Any witnesses? this is clearly the birds fault. I'd look at claiming damages from the birds insurance.

Sheilas Wheels?

Tucker

I'm suspecting foul play here.

I don't mean to have a snipe, but surely you could have ducked?

Wiping blood of the wing mirror can't be a pheasant sight?

McKneff

did you happen to see a pheasant plucker.

Are you sure it wasnt a phartride and not a peasant.