Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off | Legal matters | Back Room Forum

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Wed 14 Apr 2021 16:17

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - jrdp123

Hi folks, sorry, I'm a bit confused right now, this just happened about twenty minutes ago...

I nudged a SUV's towbar with my bumper at a roundabout. It was entirely my fault, he moved, I started to creep, and then looked right to see if it was clear. During that time he stopped, which caused me to nudge his towbar. It was my fault for not watching carefully enough, there's no question there. There is a small dent on my bumper. I did not see any visible damage on his.

But the other car moved off and didn't seem to notice at all. I suspect because his car is so much bigger!!!

I followed it down the road they went down, and then pulled over at the side of the road. The other car continued and went round a corner.. I didn't know what to do at that stage, I've only been driving about a year. I was somewhat panicked and ultimately got in the car after about a minute and drove off. I did not make any effort to try to follow them round the corner and regain contact with the driver, which is my concern. I recognize that I should have.

But I don't want to be hit with a failure to report or failure to stop. I did stop, just the other car didn't... But I don't know if they wanted me to follow and stop somewhere else... like, there is a garage just a bit up the road...

Should I report this to the police? I don't know the make, model, or plate of the other car. I only know it was a black SUV. Should I tell them that I didn't try to follow them after I stopped?

Do you know what the police will ask me to tell them if I go to them? Do I need to bring my insurance? I don't intend to involve insurance if possible , just clear the dent up with a hammer ...

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Wed 14 Apr 2021 16:24

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - jrdp123

Also is it true that if I don't hear from police with a NIP within 14 days then I'm in the clear and I won't hear back again?

and I'm not interested in getting into any bother ... so if I tell them the other car didn't stop when I did, can I tell them I'm not interested in getting them prosecuted, I don't think they had any damage, and I'm only reporting the incident in case they also report the incident?

Edited by jrdp123 on 14/04/2021 at 16:29

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Wed 14 Apr 2021 16:50

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - sammy1

More than likely he did not feel any impact if as you say just a nudge. He would/should have stopped if concerned. He will not have your reg no.? so I would forget about it and learn from it

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Wed 14 Apr 2021 16:53

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - jrdp123

I appreciate that and I'll definitely learn from it, but if he has a dashcam and did for some reason, I'm kind of screwed, and if I don't report it it'll look worse. That's just my concern here.

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Wed 14 Apr 2021 18:22

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - Andrew-T

I appreciate that and I'll definitely learn from it, but if he has a dashcam and did for some reason, I'm kind of screwed, and if I don't report it it'll look worse. That's just my concern here.

As the mild bump was your fault and the other party seems to have been unaware, and you didn't get his reg.no, [a] there's not much you can do about it and [b] the only damage seems to have been to your car. Tow-hitches are pretty solid, so you may take some comfort from that.

I'm sure if the other party is at all bothered he would have made sure YOU stopped for a consultation.

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Wed 14 Apr 2021 18:45

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - Xileno

You tried to do the correct thing which is to exchange details - if that was even necessary.

The other motorist did not enable that to happen for whatever reason (probably didn't feel anything)

I think you worry too much. Forget it would be my advice.

Edited by Xileno on 14/04/2021 at 18:49

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Wed 14 Apr 2021 19:42

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - bathtub tom

Perhaps the other driver thought it wasn't safe to stop and drove round the corner to somewhere safer, saw you were following and assumed you'd follow them round the corner. You, meanwhile, had scarpered and disappeared bt the time they turned round?

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Wed 14 Apr 2021 23:16

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - Andrew-T

Perhaps the other driver thought it wasn't safe to stop and drove round the corner to somewhere safer, saw you were following and assumed you'd follow them round the corner.

If that happened, more likely he stopped, had a look at the back of his car, found no damage and went home.

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Thu 15 Apr 2021 00:11

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - joegrundy

If the only consequence of this incident was damage to your car, it doesn't fall within s.170 Road Traffic Act 1988 and the requirements to stop/provide details or eport don't apply.

From what you've said it would be reasonable for you to conclude that there was no damage to the other car. If you'd hit it hard enough to damage it, the damage to your car would have been substantial.

Always worth remembering that your last look/check should be in the direction you're planning to go.

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Thu 15 Apr 2021 15:10

Vauxhaull Corsa - Nudge in car, other car drove off - Gerry Sanderson

Just to cover yourself in case the other finds damage to his report the matter to police within 24 hrs of occurrence.

I feel sure Plod will take no action but by doing so you fully comply with the law.

dvd

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