Car accident today, help please!

GeenyWeeny

Hi everyone,

I had a car accident today, to describe it briefly:

Turned onto a side road, was not doing more than 25 mph, went into the back of a car in front of me. There was a parked Rac van opposite side attending to a broken down vehicle.

The Rac guy said it was not my fault because a car pulled out from behind him causing the car in front of me to brake suddenly, therefore I had to break suddenly. He gave me his name and number as a witness.

I know most of the time, whatever the circumstances it's the person who rear ends the car in front is normally liable. I can accept that as I'm also aware the rule is the car behind should keep sufficient distance. This is what comprehensive car insurance is for. Although I don't recall ever seeing brake lights.

However I am desperately worried as a pedestrian told the guy in front I was on my mobile phone at the time, this is absolutely false!!!! This person has given him her name and number as a witness.

Neither of us have informed the police at the time, but this guy could tell his insurers that I was driving dangerously and then inform the police?

I am so worried as I was not on my phone, I never drive whilst on the phone!

Can anyone tell me what may happen, I am law abiding, and will now lose sleep tonight worrying about this.

Can anyone help?

King_Nothing

GeenyWeeny wrote: »

The Rac guy said it was not my fault because a car pulled out from behind him causing the car in front of me to brake suddenly, therefore I had to break suddenly. He gave me his name and number as a witness.

He's wrong, technically it is your fault, you didn't leave a big enough gap travelling behind a vehicle, and crashed when that vehicle had to perform an emergency stop.

Just deny the mobile phone thing, shouldn't matter anyways, the guy in front will claim from your insurance regardless. I don't think they can inform the police of dangerous driving, as it's only someone word against yours.

ScottishSapper

GeenyWeeny wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I had a car accident today, to describe it briefly:

Turned onto a side road, was not doing more than 25 mph, went into the back of a car in front of me. There was a parked Rac van opposite side attending to a broken down vehicle.

The Rac guy said it was not my fault because a car pulled out from behind him causing the car in front of me to brake suddenly, therefore I had to break suddenly. He gave me his name and number as a witness.

I know most of the time, whatever the circumstances it's the person who rear ends the car in front is normally liable. I can accept that as I'm also aware the rule is the car behind should keep sufficient distance. This is what comprehensive car insurance is for. Although I don't recall ever seeing brake lights.

However I am desperately worried as a pedestrian told the guy in front I was on my mobile phone at the time, this is absolutely false!!!! This person has given him her name and number as a witness.

Neither of us have informed the police at the time, but this guy could tell his insurers that I was driving dangerously and then inform the police?

I am so worried as I was not on my phone, I never drive whilst on the phone!

Can anyone tell me what may happen, I am law abiding, and will now lose sleep tonight worrying about this.

Can anyone help?

Don't loose any sleep, what has happened has happened no mount of worry or lack of sleep can change that!

I believe there is a requirement to notify the Police with in a certain time of a no injury accident, even if not do no harm to pop in or give them a call.

As to the phone - I'm sure you provider can confirm you were not in a call at that time

Sleep easy;)

ScottishSapper

I assume you will have but you do not say if you exchanged details!
Had a quick look and found the following:

If, as a driver, you are involved in a road-traffic accident and one or more of the following occurs:
a person, other than yourself, is injured
damage is caused to another vehicle or to someone else's property

Then

If you do not exchange those details at the scene, you must report the accident at a police station or to a police constable as soon as you can, and in any case within 24 hours.

GeenyWeeny

Hi,

We did exchange details at the scene, and I informed my insurer also immediately at the scene after everyone had gone. His car barely had a scratch on it, and he said he wouldn't get a chance to inform his insurer until this evening as he was going straight to work.

harz99

Don't worry; you have exchanged details with the other driver who then drove off, so no need to inform police. You've told your insurer, so leave matters to them.

As to the mobile phone issue, your call log either in the phone or at your service provider should disprove any allegations (equally useful to prove them of course).

Good Luck.

scheming_gypsy

There's no need to inform the police of any accident unless it requires the police to attend.
From the insurance point of view it'll no doubt go down as you were at fault as you went into the back of him, like King_Nothing said. If anything does happen regarding the mobile phone; phone records will indicate if you were or weren't.

DUTR

King_Nothing wrote: »

He's wrong, technically it is your fault, you didn't leave a big enough gap travelling behind a vehicle, and crashed when that vehicle had to perform an emergency stop.

Just deny the mobile phone thing, shouldn't matter anyways, the guy in front will claim from your insurance regardless. I don't think they can inform the police of dangerous driving, as it's only someone word against yours.

It's not dangerous driving it is driving without due care and attention, and yes they can the evidence is there in the fact that the OP has involved themself in an accident. Best bet for the OP is to not try and worm their way out of it, as there can be greater repercussions, as one guy found out when he had driven into the side of my car and gave me a false name, after I had reported the incident to the police , he has since failed to notify of the driver, fortunately for me, his insurance has paid up, but he has dug himself in a hole with the courts now.