Careless driving

[SheenaKSC]

I was recently pulling out of a tight parking space and touched (and I do mean touched) the car in front of me. As I slowly pulled out my passenger and I looked and could see no damage so I didn't stop. I've now been summoned for careless driving and failing to stop and failing to report. I never thought of this as being an accident but I know that ignorance is no defence.
I explained the above on the NIP and have a court date next week. I have 3 points on my licence and a disabled husband who depends on me for transportation.

I can't really afford a solicitor and I'm quite intelligent and articulate. Would I be taking a great risk of losing my licence by speaking for myself in court? I'm obviously nervous but plan to plead guilty and apologise and explain the situation with my husband. Do people think that I should find the money for a solicitor somehow or should it be straightforward?

[NORMANTHEDOG]

you can allways ask the court duty solicitor to say a few words for you.

[PrinceRainie]

I find it amazing that you have been reported for careless driving and failing to stop. Who reported you to the police???
Did the police see you "touch" the car"
If there is no damage then there can be no case to answer for failing to stop (if everyone ended up in court who "touched" the car parked next to them whilst goin into or out of a parking space then there would be no room for the true criminals to sit in court!!!)
An accident only has to be reported to the police when there has been damage to either property or persons. If there was no damage then no problem.
As for careless driving...well...how can you be driving carelessly when driving out of a parking space........
Go to court...flutter your eye lashes at the beak and be an upstanding member of the commuity.....it wont go anywhere...trust me...

[Loosehead]

just plead not guilty!

[Solarjunkie]

Someone I know was in a similar situation, the only difference being that when she got home there was a smear of paint on her car showing that minor damage just might have occured.
When asked why she hadn't reported the accident, her simple explanation was "I didn't report the accident as I was unaware that any accident had occured".
Her case was not pursued, I can only suggest the same wording! Good luck.

[jno]

presumably someone did see this and reported you; if you plead not guilty the police will bring this person as a witness, and presumably would have to bring the owner of the other car to say there's been some damage. (Perhaps there was a scrape that you didn't see when you looked?) Personally I'd plead not guilty and tell the court what you've said here; but you might find it a bit of a rigmarole to hear evidence given against you. Ignorance is a defence - as Solarjunkie says, you can't report an accident if you don't know there's been one.

[doglady]

I've heard about someone who bumped a car in a car-park, and wrote a note to leave on the windscreen. The note said "Everyone watching me write this note thinks I am leaving you my details as I have just hit your car. You will realise that I am not. Sorry!!".

It wasn't me, I would like to add!!

[tbates2614]

If you can prove to the magistrate that your insurance has covered all damage to third party and your honest about the situation you should be fine. I am sure this sort of thing must happen all the time.