Leaving The Scene Of An Accident...

[ant7054]

Hi

I am new and would appreciate any advise anyone can give,

Last night I popped out in my car to get some food it was pretty late around 12midnight, out of no where there was a car tailing me, for no reason, I tried to pull over to let these guys past but they continued to tail me, I began to get worried and tried to get away from them thinking they were after me for something I turned left into a side road but due to my panic I lost control of my car and drove into a shop window damaging my car and the shop, I looked in my mirror these people were still coming behind me, fearing for my life I backed out of the shop and quickly dived down some side roads and lost them, I then called the police and my insurance informing them of what had happened.

I explained I was genuinely frightened and did not stop. my car has since be recovered, no one was injured at the time of the accident.

can anyone advice if I have done anything wrong here?

[ant7054]

I see tamborine, well I was escaping from a car full of aggressive men, who kept tailing me flashing their lights and intimidating me, quite a different situation.

plus my car is a write off from damage caused/value of the car even without an underwrites opinion i could tell you that

[tamborine]

Worse things happen ant & youve covered yourself. I expect the cops will inform the shopkeeper.

[ant7054]

yes I am aware worse things happen I am glad I did not get injured or injured anyone, yes they would have, by informing my insurance and the police I know I have done the correct thing

[Zacs-Master]

Ant, why don't you buy a dash cam or GoPro? It might give you some reassurance in future.

[ant7054]

zacs master I will consider those as an option for the future, as a lot of things can happen on the road

[tamborine]

I still think you should inform the shop keeper, rather than risk him discovering your fault & suing you for criminal damage.

[PankySmooch]

Surely you would've called the police first if as you said you were "fearing for your life"?

Or are you just using that old chestnut as an excuse for wreckless driving?

[DaisyNonna]

Wreckless? What about the window?

[PankySmooch]

Ok, wrecked driving

[ant7054]

whilst I was driving you're saying I should have used my mobile to ring the police, which is illegal, when you have some random persons chasing you your first thought is to escape, however the driving is deemed is ok, I was simply asking if I did the correct thing and also protecting my own life,

[PankySmooch]

I didn't say while you were driving, but after the accident would've been a good idea instead of leaving the scene as you did, if they were "after you" they would've followed you down the side street

[ant7054]

like I said I managed to shake them it wasn't a case of them just "giving up", after the accident I did not want to stay in the area I feared for my safety and wanted to get home.

Which is why I called the police when I got home, there was no intent on striking the shop it just happened out of fear like I said however the driving is deemed is ok, it's more of a case of I did what I felt was safest for me and as far as it goes I think I have done the right thing - do you know what people are capable of? do you simply just think the best of every individual...?

I am not going to take my life into risk

[PankySmooch]

Like I said, if they were after you they would've followed you after you hit the shop window but they didn't did they

[ant7054]

like I said they did, which is why I fled...if they didn't I would have got out of the car and called the police however they did so in fear of my own safety I have to leave the scene.

Clearly you did not read my first question, please either re-read it and say something which is informative to me or don't reply at all I am not explaining it all for you when it is there in black and white.

[tamborine]

Ant, ofcourse your safety comes first and you rightly reported to police. However the innocent shop keeper has damage by you. My advice is to contact the shop before they sue.

[ant7054]

I agree the shop keeper was innocent in this situation,the police will take my insurance details and provide him/her with them so his insurance can make a claim against mine. all dealings must go through the police

[tamborine]

Is that what the police told you? I dont think the police can pass your information to a thirdparty.

[PankySmooch]

I've re-read it and as you said after you hit the shop you looked in your mirror and they were still following you and fearing for your life you backed out of the shop and quickly dived down a side road.

It just doesn't add up, if you hit the shop and looked in your mirror and still saw them they must've been pretty close and then you reversed out and then dived down a side road, did they not follow you then?

[ant7054]

yes I backed out they were not that close, I drove down a side road quickly turned a few roads and got to a quiet road where I think i lost them,

you're saying it doesn't add up well that's your opinion I know what happened

[PankySmooch]

Just seems odd as a friend of mine did exactly the same thing, sped round a corner and hit a shop in the early hours, reversed out and drove down a side turning and then walked home.
Only difference is he phoned the police an hour later and said his car had been stolen because he'd had a few beers, good luck ant!