Another car hit mine and drove off! Please help!

KayS143

Hello- any help and advice would be massively appreciated.

Today whilst driving home a car has pulled out on me across a roundabout and hit my car. I was on the inside lane, and they came from an entry onto the roundabout on the outside lane (completely the wrong one!) I have a dash cam so therefore I have their number plate and have reported it.

I slammed my brakes on so much so that when they hit me, I wasn’t sure if they had or not. I just went into shock and drove after them, until I decided to pull over to check my car. I beeped them, flashed them and they just didn’t do anything. It was an older driver and I honestly think they were just oblivious or very embarrassed!

Thankfully my car is ok- a very light few scratches that will cut out. I think because I braked and they just happened to be pulling off (I guess) they only skimmed my car? I don’t know? There’s one tiny deep scratch but who knows!

I reported it to 101 immediately, who basically told me that they’d keep an eye out to see if anyone complains. But then when I got home I called again as I had checked my dash cam footage and am 99% sure they’ve hit me (there’s a thud).

I’m absolutely terrified and unsure about what to do next. I’m a relatively young driver so I do NOT want to go through my insurance. I’ve worked really hard to get my NCD (it’s coming up to two years) and I don’t want to lose it. I’ve never been in an accident and I didn’t cause this one. I just don’t want my premium to go up or my NCD affected. I don’t want to claim.

It sounds really awful but I want this person to know they’ve done wrong- I’m angry and it could’ve been worse.

The police mentioned that they will call me to arrange an interview, but what I’m really wondering is will anything happen? Will I be in trouble with my insurance? I don’t want to pay anymore as I’ve worked so long to get my insurance down without a black box!

I’ve read elsewhere about checking their insurance online etc- but will it notify mine? Please help!

Thank you! (Apologies if it makes no sense)

Johno100

Dashcam footage? So you've got the registration number of the other vehicle and provided that to the police?

missile

You have reported it to the police, they will interview you and if they think there is a case to answer they will contact the other driver. It is an offence to leave the scene and fail to report an accident to police within a reasonable time / 24 hours. However if they genuinely did not know …. I would not stop for anyone following me blowing their horn and flashing their lights.

You can pay a fee to obtain details of the registered keeper from DVLA.

It is a condition of insurance that you report incidents.

AdrianC

KayS143 wrote: »

Today whilst driving home a car has pulled out on me across a roundabout and hit my car. I was on the inside lane, and they came from an entry onto the roundabout on the outside lane

What are you meaning by "inside" and "outside lane"?
They're terms that could be taken either way - is "inside" the one nearest the inside of the roundabout?

I slammed my brakes on so much so that when they hit me, I wasn’t sure if they had or not.


Thankfully my car is ok- a very light few scratches that will cut out. I think because I braked and they just happened to be pulling off (I guess) they only skimmed my car? I don’t know? There’s one tiny deep scratch but who knows!

I ... am 99% sure they’ve hit me (there’s a thud).

OK, so you aren't certain there was even contact, and there's no real damage...

I’m absolutely terrified and unsure about what to do next. I’m a relatively young driver so I do NOT want to go through my insurance. I’ve worked really hard to get my NCD (it’s coming up to two years) and I don’t want to lose it. I’ve never been in an accident and I didn’t cause this one. I just don’t want my premium to go up or my NCD affected. I don’t want to claim.

But what would you even be claiming for...?

It sounds really awful but I want this person to know they’ve done wrong

If they don't already know, then some kind of retrospective "You could have killed me!" will just see bafflement on their part, simply because they won't know what you're on about.



If they are aware, then they don't care.



Chalk it up to experience and move on.

chrisw

KayS143 wrote: »

It sounds really awful but I want this person to know they’ve done wrong- I’m angry and it could’ve been worse.

You will have a number of similar incidents during your driving career, some your fault, some not. Swings and roundabouts (!).

Be thankful there is little or no damage. Unfortunately, now you've reported it to police you are going to have to declare it to your insurance as an incident which might affect your premiums.

NBLondon

KayS143 wrote: »

I was on the inside lane, and they came from an entry onto the roundabout on the outside lane (completely the wrong one!)

AdrianC wrote: »

What are you meaning by "inside" and "outside lane"?
They're terms that could be taken either way - is "inside" the one nearest the inside of the roundabout?

Well - I guess it has to be "inside" meaning the inside of the curve closest to the roundabout - otherwise OP is saying the other driver joined from already being on the grass/concrete in the middle of the roundabout... :eek:

I'm reading as Kay was in the lane nearest the roundabout centre and the other driver joined on their left and then cut across clipping front left corner despite Kay doing an emergency stop.

So, Kay, as already said... You should tell your insurance company but you can say it is for information only and not make a claim. Then pay for the damage yourself (or not bother if its purely cosmetic.) Or you could make a claim, provide the dashcam footage to the insurance company and press them to trace and claim from the other driver's insurance company. This will cost you NCD and increased premiums in the short term but you may get that back from the other insurer in the longer term.

In either case - do provide the dashcam footage to the police when they come back to you. It will help them to decide whether to pursue the other driver and take action. It might help others here to advise you if you could post the dashcam footage for us to look at as well...

AdrianC

NBLondon wrote: »

Well - I guess it has to be "inside" meaning the inside of the curve closest to the roundabout - otherwise OP is saying the other driver joined from already being on the grass/concrete in the middle of the roundabout... :eek:

Or they came on the entry slip to the r'a'b straight to L2.

After all, L1 is usually the "inside lane", isn't it, even though it's the one on the outside...

eDicky

For something so minor that's not my mistake I would just carry on, maybe give them a wave. If we did stop I would tell them not to worry about it, shake hands, bye bye...

With such minor cosmetic damage why involve your insurance, or the police just to let them "know they’ve done wrong" -
good heavens, life's too short, we all make a mistake sometimes..!

Nasqueron

Driver hit your car and left the scene without providing details.


Ensure the police proceed with it and prosecute for failing to stop despite the coming together and you attempting to stop them - nice £1000 fine and 5 points for them.


Inform your insurance (you are required to do so and they could invalidate your insurance if you don't tell them and they find out, especially if you accidentally mention in the future).

NBLondon

AdrianC wrote: »

Or they came on the entry slip to the r'a'b straight to L2..

Which was what I said next... straight across what we would call L1 and into L2 where the OP already was. But the OP must be using inside to mean L2 (inside of the curve - smallest radius) because they suggested the entry was "on the outside" - the only way that makes sense is if "outside " means the outside of the curve.

Maybe if the OP comes back and posts the footage eh?