Minor car accident, no information exchanged

sweetpeanut

I rear ended someone when they came to a sudden stop and I didn’t react quick enough. It wasn’t at fast speed. No visible damage to mine or their car from my point of view. They got out of the car, hurled some abuse at me through my window then got back into the car and drove off.

I was in shock and did not say anything. I didn’t even get the chance to speak or get out of the car.

we didn’t exchange any personal information or insurance. I didn’t get his reg number and I’m not sure if they made a note of it or not..

what do I do in this case?

BlakeS94

Nothing, you'll know about it If your insurance company contact you. If not, you're home free.

antodeco

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120668142#Comment_120668142

In reality, if the other driver didn't take the OPs details, I don't even think it will go near insurance

BlakeS94

I know that. What I meant was only way OP will know is if insurance company contacts

Del2005

I've been in a few low speed RTCs, I was hit, and after a quick look with no damage said see you later, this was in old cars without parking sensors etc. With my new car I wouldn't be so fast to say it's OK as you can't see what's damaged.

OP if in doubt you can report the RTC to your insurance and the Gardaí. But it's highly unlikely the other person will report it, they might not be legal.

antodeco

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120668702#Comment_120668702

I know that too, but how can the insurance company contact the OP if the other driver doesn't have the insurance details in the first place...

bish76

OP, it happens. Take it a lesson and move on unless someone contacts you.

User1998

Count yourself lucky that he drove off

kirving

Report to the Gardaí and insurance company ASAP.

The reason he drove away was because he's already dodgy.

You need to move forward assuming that he took your registration, and is getting his own dodgy doctors report and vehicle damage report. You could be contacted in 23 months time, when you have zero record, recollection or evidence of what happened, with a whiplash claim sitting in front of you, and your insurance company unwilling to cover you as you never reported it.

Your policy document will state that you are required to contact your insurance company about any incident big or small. Write down exactly what happened right this minute. Times, places, car occupants, details. Take photos of any damage (or not) to your car.

I have literally just been through something very similar - and despite no claim being made yet, my insurance company already surveyed my car, has an investigator interview me, done a site survey and contacted the Gardai to have all their ducks in a row should the other party try to pull anything funny.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120668816#Comment_120668816

Any logical person would think that - but the person I bumped had no insurance, tax or NCT (all months out), and they still called whiplash. I guess the potential payout is more than the consequence for no insurance.

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120669020#Comment_120669020

As above.

It happened me once when a young lad slid into the back of my car when it was icy.

I was in a company car in a job I was leaving soon so I just told him to be on his

way and be more careful.

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120670631#Comment_120670631

Fair play to you for being easy going about it - but that's not the failsafe approach which the OP needs to take.

By not reporting it, they are leaving themselves potentially open to serious problems down the line if their insurance decide to be difficult about paying out. I am currently going through this process (with someone who to my knowledge hasn't yet claimed), but I know I'm fully protected because I engaged with my own insurance compay.

conor2469

Judging by the way the other party behaved, I doubt they have an insurance company to report the incident to

AndrewJRenko

Make your own detailed notes now about everything you can remember - where, when, weather, the driver's appearance and clothing, what he said and how you responded, the other car - just in case.

mikeecho

Do nothing.

If you hear anything, just ask.. "what accident"

bish76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120669483#Comment_120669483

Sorry to hear you are having to go through terrible experience. Its a worse nightmare to deal with no insurance party in a crash.

Trying to put it together - you had a minor crash 23 months ago with someone with no insurance etc. Now they are asking for injury claim of whiplash but then you mention no claim has been made yet ? If no information were exchanged at the time, how do you know its the same person ? I would thought the party making claim has to prove it happened in a way to cause injury. It requires witnesses, photos to damage of vehicle, doctors reports etc. No ?

mikeecho

Basically people are telling the OP to report a traffic collision, where they have zero info about the other driver/car , and where there is no damage.

What do you think the Garda are going to do ?

What do think the insurance company is going to do... Other than leave an open claim on the policy.

harmless

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120674002#Comment_120674002

I agree, do not report this. OP was tailgating and will be found 100% at fault losing their no claims bonus but only if the other driver reports it. So lets hope that they do not.

If it comes to it the insurance will pay out, they won't say you're not covered because you didn't report it as this is a very difficult legal route for them to go down.

kirk.

Expect the insurance co to send an investigator

Same thing happened to me , worked out ok in the end but they will want to gather as much info as possible

Notify the insurance cos you'll have no peace of mind if you don't waiting for a possible claim and a possible insurance cancellation

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120672538#Comment_120672538

Sorry no, it was very recently. The other driver claimed whiplash at the side of the road. They had no insurance/tax/NCT, so I can only imagine that they are seeking more in damages than being caught for no insurance is going to cost them.

Basically the reverse, I (my insurance company) are on the backfoot as I bumped the other car, so really the onus is on me (my insurance company) to prove that the damage to the car is inconsistent with any injuries.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120674002#Comment_120674002

The Gardai will do nothing, aside from maybe make an note of the report, which the OP's insurance company may want should a claim come.

The insurance company may ask for pictures, or for an assessor to view the car to ensure no damage has occurred.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120675406#Comment_120675406

Your insurance policy document will require you to report all collisions which may have resulted in injury. This is so that they can best prepare a defense against a potential fraudulent claim in future. By not reporting, the OP's insurance company can't really defend the case and so will be more likely to be forced into paying anything that is demanded of them.

kirk.

You might get lucky and never hear anything

Your only defence worst case scenario is to have reported the incident , and that not getting details is an honest mistake

I figured the insurance co sent an investigator to me cos they wanted to suss me out ( I was driving a banger) and also to build a picture (car, occupants injuries etc )to fight any potential claim

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058298837/minor-car-accident-no-information-exchanged

I rear ended someone when they came to a sudden stop and I didn’t react quick enough. 

Why did they come to a sudden stop?

Braking randomly and letting someone bump into the back of you is a classic scammer trick.

If this guy had a rear-facing dash cam, he has a video of your car, your car reg, and your car colliding with his. What the video wouldn't show is the absence of damage to his car.

I would shoot an email to your insurance company emphasing the minor nature of the collision and your suspicion about the guy's motives.

sweetpeanut

The road was busy on an early morning and you know yourself how traffic builds… people jamming on breaks. It definitely was my own fault that I didn’t react enough to the traffic ahead. My concern is, I wanted to exchange details but they didn’t give me the chance to before they drove off.

Opening a possible claim would shoot up my insurance premium right? For how long?

HorseSea

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120670885#Comment_120670885

Unfortunately it does not matter, if they have OPs reg they can get insurance details from Gardai and are still able to claim. It does not matter to the OP whether they had tax, insurance or NCT. Rightly or wrongly they are still able to make a claim. It's up to the Gardai to persue the lack of Tax, Insurance, Licence, NCT etc.

kirk.

There's no guarantee you won't be in trouble if u don't report the incident although u might get way with it

Nothing much happened to my premium after the claim above (side on damage only )

If they don't claim I presume 'no claims' etc isn't affected but you have an accident on your record ?

kirving

As small claim won't necessarily shoot up your insurance.

A compromise may be for you to get a private assessor to give you an official damage report.

If anything ever does come from the person you hit, you'll be able to show no damage, and also no signs of a previous repair. Since there was no damage - you never reported it.

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120681986#Comment_120681986

You will have to notify any new insurer for 5 years after the accident.Some say 6 years.Potentially 6 years pf higher premiums.It's a tough call.The mention of a rear dashcam would worry me-it's a possibility