Getting out of a tight space between two cars - nudged car behind me, no damage?

Willeh

TL;DR: see bold

Hi guys,

Please bear with me, it's the first time my car has met another, and I just want to protect myself as much as possible. (+ guilt & paranoia)

I was in city A earlier today; I had to pick up some essentials from an express store, before hitting the motorway for a long drive back to city B.

As it was a busy road, I parked down one of the quieter side streets and decided to walk the distance.

When I returned, I was sandwiched between two cars. Trying to drive out, I managed to nudge the car behind me - I was reversing at 2 mph tops.

Thinking I probably couldn't have done too much damage (or any at all), I did an assessment through my rear view mirror, and by turning my head around. I knew out of courtesy (and for legal reasons) the right thing to have done was to leave a note, but I sincerely had nothing in the car to produce one with. Having not noticed any obvious damage, I drove off.

Five minutes later, I decided to return: took the first free parking space I found, and went to observe the car properly in person. No dents, no scratches, nothing was mis-aligned or hanging.

I did some research and according to the Road Traffic Act, you only have to report an incident to the police if:
- Details were not exchanged and there was damage

I could not see any damage - I took pictures as proof of this. But I'm worried someone might have saw (out of a window?) and took my registration plate.

I looked through my insurers T&Cs and they advise to report all incidences - but does / should this count as one? Maybe to protect myself? I had every good intention but I just didn't have paper / pen with me at the time.

Sorry, it's a bit of a read but any advise will be much appreciated!

Thanks

Ratboy

Don't worry yourself! A minor bump at less that 5mph isn't going to harm anyone, or damage anything! I reversed out of a tight space once and snapped off my neighbours numberplate, he was fine. Minor bumps happen, the car is built to refract them.

attila_

I wouldn't worry.

gilbert_and_sullivan

If people are going to jam you in so tight that you can't get out then they must expect to get some contact as the trapped vehicle attempts to leave.

I wouldn't wory about it either, i've had to push vehicles out the way before now.

Joe_Horner

That wasn't an incident, you were just using your mechanical parking sensors - reverse until car behind rocks slightly. Touch parking / un-parking is occasionally necessary and perfectly fine if it's done gently enough

Willeh

Thank you for all the responses and reassurance!

Should I still report this incident to my insurer, along with the photos? I don't want anything to bite me in the backside a few months down the line.

RichardD1970

Wow, I'm shocked, from past experience on this forum, I was expecting demands for the OP to be hung, drawn and quartered, and what would have happened if there had been children involved? .

Seriously, I agree with the other replies. Nothing to worry about.

Strider590

RichardD1970 wrote: »

Wow, I'm shocked, from past experience on this forum, I was expecting demands for the OP to be hung, drawn and quartered, and what would have happened if there had been children involved? .

Seriously, I agree with the other replies. Nothing to worry about.

OP went back and checked for damage, saw none and sounds to me like they're not the type to see a huge gouge in another car and think "eh, that's nothing".

It's the ones that drive off and don't look back, that bug me.

That ^^ said, I saw a chap do similar, reversed into a car in Cirencester last year, the way he did it was as though he does it quite often, he creped up to it and then pushed hard to try and move it, the funny thing was, the other vehicle was a old pickup of some sort and instead of pushing against his bumper it caved in the boot of his car :rotfl: Karma's a b1tch ain't it :cool:

The ironic thing was he had more than enough space to get out... lol

giraffe69

If you now report it to your insurers you are likely to give yourself all sorts of hassle you do not need and for no gain to anyone.

Iceweasel

I would agree with the advice you've already received.

You do not need to tell your insurance about 'touching' another car.

I wouldn't use words like bump or nudge though.

And don't delete your pics.

You've done everything you can - now relax and forget about it.

Fishingtime

Have you ever seen the parking in Paris ?
I think it is law that you have to bump the car in front and behind you.