Minor Rear End Bump - Need Advice!!

[TLC11]

So yesterday I was sitting in a huge que of traffic that seemed to go on for hours. I hadn't moved in a while so was sitting with my foot on the break and gazing out of the side window at a plane. I was nearly at the end of this jam.

Now during my gazing I head a bump which jolted me ever so slightly. I'm pregnant and didn't feel the belt dig into me so it was more of a noise than an impact. What I don't know is if I rolled forward slightly or the girl in front of me went to move and rolled back.

Anyway the two of us kind of looked at each other in the mirrors, and after a second she drove off as the traffic had cleared.

I pulled over when I got off the busy road but she was away, there is no damage to my car except one tiny paint chip on the front bumper, about the size of a pea. It's not dented, it's like a flake.

I never got her reg as it happened so fast and I honestly don't know who's to blame. I'm now panicking that she got my reg and will report me for a rear end hit and run or something!

I don't want to report to insurance and draw attention if there is no need as no damage observed ( her car 'looked' fine when she drove of) and nobody was hurt. As I said in pregnant and if I thought it was enough to cause any I jury I'd have been straight to hospital.

Any ideas on what to do?!! I'm scared and don't want to do the wrong thing!!!

[EDDIE51]

Methyl, I even turn the engine off if I am waiting at a level crossing for the train to go past. The engine re-starts instantly so you lose no time and save fuel.

[TLC11]

Can I just clarify - I was at the END of the traffic que, hence why I think she released her hand brake and rolled into me.i wasn't ready to move, she was. It was crawling traffic, so not entirely stationary. It happened and she drove off as traffic was now clear.

Also, for your information I did post here before about a car incident that was not my fault and the insurance of the party at fault paid out. Why is that relevant to the question I asked now?

[TLC11]

So an update. I came in today and the driver of the other car has made an insurance claim against me for 'whiplash'

My question now is where do I stand in the sense that she drove off and didn't leave me details?

Bloody nightmare...

[EcclesCake]

You were there and we were not. If I were you I would give some serious consideration to your version of events based on the first two paragraphs of your OP before you respond to the claimants insurance company or contacting yours.

[TLC11]

I have the start / stop technology on my car so the engine was off. If I rolled it was 1-2mph at the very most. Even if she nudged into me - I'm still responsible as I was behind? And she drove off...?

[whiskeryron]

//

So yesterday I was sitting in a huge que of traffic that seemed to go on for hours. I hadn't moved in a while so was sitting with my foot on the break //

Sorry to be a pain TLC, but you really should apply your handbrake when parked in a queue.

[TLC11]

Yeah - I know that now! So where do you stand if someone rolls back into you? No witnesses and other driver in front drove off...?

[EcclesCake]

As you have admitted here you don't know what happened I would suggest you don't stand anywhere at the moment. Hence my suggestion that you give some serious consideration to your account and you should try to recall a bit more about what actually happened.

Do you even know what the car in front looked like?

They may be scamming you but you could do a fair bit to try and help yourself.

[TLC11]

I know the colour and the first 3 digits of the reg (I think) that's all. A whiplash claim and car damage sounds hideous considering my car is fine (one tiny scrape) and I am fine with a seatbelt around a huge tummy! For all I know she could have previous damage an as I did not inspect it I wouldn't know! Just a nightmare really.

[EDDIE51]

Reply that you are unaware of any accident and your car has no damage.
Say NOTHING more than that, the other party has to prove that there was a accident , impossible to do without anyone stopping and exchanging details.
If anything is said about the pea size chip just say it was there anyway.
The other driver is trying it on.

[jno]

agree with Eddie; it sounds like someone is trying to scam you. Do as he suggests.

[TLC11]

If I deny all knowledge as suggested, how far would they go to unravel what actually happened? Would they check street cameras? There is one on that stretch of road but I don't know if it was anywhere near the incident. Or, what if she has cameras fitted? And I'm effectively caught lying?! Sorry about the what it's - I'm panicking!

[jno]

a guy once stopped me and told me I'd scraped his car. I had no idea. We had a look and neither car even had a scratch. He wasn't a scammer, he thought I'd touched his car - and maybe I had, but I hadn't noticed; so he drove off happy. Saying you felt no collision doesn't mean there wasn't one, it just suggests it was too small to notice.

If she really has it on camera, it beats me how she can plan to claim a whiplash injury from a 2mph bump!

[TLC11]

Ah ok I'm with you, so I say I don't appear to recall a collision occurring, and such they need to prove it did occur? It baffles me - someone trying to make a fast buck is my best guess.

[factor-fiction]

The other driver did well to read your registration number in her rear view mirror and record it as she drove away.
You will probably now find she had 4 passengers in the car.

[EDDIE51]

Just do as I suggested and say you were unaware of any incident and that you are willing for your car to be inspected for damage. It is IMPOSSIBLE that your car would not be damaged if the accident happened as the other driver says.
CCTV would only prove your side of the story if there was any so it would be in your favour if there is any.
An almost identical incident happened to me , the other party withdrew the claim as soon as I asked for my car to be inspected for damage.

[NoMercy]

How on earth did she get your registration number if she was in front and simply drove off?

[EDDIE51]

^^ I'm beginning to wonder if the 'other driver' is a professional scammer.
It is starting to sound like it.

[askyourgran]

Not supposed to leave the scene of an accident however slight, both parties should agree that there is no damage done and that is that. I don't think you need to worry about the car or her reporting it, she's more likely to be panicking like you. As long as you and the baby are OK.