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!!!

[askyourgran]

Sorry didn't read all the posts and missed the middle bit. Sounds like a scam to me.

[NoMercy]

The other driver sounds like a scabby parasite. I've still got real whiplash now from being shunted last Boxing Day!

Stand your ground and tell them you'll get the police involved if necessary!

[EDDIE51]

^^ I agree something is wrong here. Just 3 days between the incident and TLC11 getting a claim for whiplash???
It would take weeks to even get a confirmed diagnosis of whiplash, it takes well over a week just to trace another driver and send them a letter.
I strongly suspect we have not got the full story.

[factor-fiction]

It looks that way, Eddie. I can't see how the driver could have traced TLC so quickly based on the circumstances described

[TLC11]

I am astonished she got my plate number, seriously - that's clever! I didn't get hers and I was behind her! I'm very good with makes and models of cars -and I didn't get that either.

I received a letter from a company approved by my insurance company saying they will repair my car after my accident. It also has a summary of the alleged incident as reported by the third party. I was in too much of a state to phone them tonight after work and didn't want to say or do the wrong thing, so thought I would sleep on it and call tomorrow.

I spoke with my friend who said the same as others on here. Say 'what accident' as far as I recall there was no collision. There is no damage to my car, except the tiny paint chip which could have been from a stone on the road or driving into a high kerb. If the paint from the chip has ended up on her car - who's to say its my paint?

This happened to my husband a few years ago. A guy nudged the back of his car. Both looked at the damage - a tiny scrape on the bumper. He gave hubby £50 for some t-cut and a pint, they both went their separate ways and nothing was heard of it again. Id have happily gave £50 if she left my insurance alone! But I couldn't do that as she didn't stop! Argh!

[DTCwordfan]

Report it to the police, not your insurance, the latter is not worth it, the police may follow through if they feel there is any element of scamming.....tighten your story up as Eccles and others have suggested.

You didn't mention the whiplash claim upfront - how strange? However, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and it's more reason for contacting the boys in blue - and soonest.

[EDDIE51]

^^ even more certain now this is a scam !
Just tell them the truth, no accident ,no damage (apart from the tiny chip) to your car and you DEMAND that your car is examined. If it happened as the other drivers says then at the very least your cars paint would be on the other cars bumper.

[TLC11]

As for the speed I totally agree, they have traced me on my plate number only and sent a letter. It says it was reported on 3rd June, a day after the incident, and I received all the paper work today!! Possibly trying to get a quick settlement? I don't know?! I didn't give any details at the scene as she left.

The letter I got has my insurance details on it, my car make, model and reg number. My home address and phone number and my mobile number. My date of birth. Details of the time, date and area of the incident, details for the third party's version of events, damage to vehicle and personal injury details.

What does alarm me slightly though is I changed my insurance policy to my married name at the beginning of the year, this letter has my maiden name on it.

[DTCwordfan]

agree divebuddy, there is an element of fish to this one.....unless TLC acts appropriately.

[TLC11]

DTC I only heard about the whiplash claim on the letter I got today...

[TLC11]

Think il pay a visit to the station tomorrow just to make a report to be filed. Don't want to be in any trouble over this.

[EDDIE51]

Its not even 3 days, it takes at least a day for a 1st class letter to arrive so the other party must have done it all in under 48 hours!

[askyourgran]

I would definately go to the Police with this. How did they get all your details, apart from that I would tell the Police that you are afraid they may harass you at home.

[TLC11]

I haven't had a phonecall yet, on my mobile at least. They could have called the house while I was out. I have the letter infront of me and it basically looks like I have already agreed I was to blame and this company are going to sort out the repairs. What I did notice though was it says 'third party -1' and 'witnesses-0'