Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Autowirral Minor Accident What To Do

Just been involved in a minor rta. Had to brake sharply as car in front did. Managed to stop in time ok but the vehicle behind didn't and bumped into the back of us. No visible damage to either vehicle bumpers but daughter bruised knee on dash and jolted her neck and back as did I.
Seems a bit conflicting about the need to report to police.
In the "excitement" only swopped name and registration as I didn't see any need to claim for damage to vehicle.
Presume its best to notify insurers but what about Police.

i would ALWAYS recommend reporting it to the police & getting them on the scene no matter how small the RTC, as details can always change. my dad had a similar situation where there was minor cosmetic damage and there was one lad in the other vehicle but then a few weeks later he got a letter from the insurers saying that there were 5 people in the other car and that they are blaming him for cutting them up then slamming on in a "crash for cash" style thing and he had to fight for a long time to prove that wasn't the case but without photographs and a police report etc then he couldn't prove anything and i think he got swizzed.

Insurers only need to be notified if you wish to claim (they like to count informing them as a claim even if you just inform them so i'd avoid that until absolutely necessary, then if they say why then just say you forgot) but i would DEFINITELY have gotten the police on scene to make sure everyone is open and honest and who they say they are and so details and the number people involved don't magically change later. I would also have taken pictures of everything and everyone including taking photos of their ID because all you have is a name (which you aren't able to verify) and a reg plate which the car could have been stolen or the driver uninsured and their name could magically change later to the real person who owns/it's insured under.

also injuries such as whiplash can appear later. Story time; I had a crash just over a year ago on the M53 where the car in front of me slammed on and hit the barrier and i hit the brakes and turned away but still hit him at about 50 and my car flipped and rolled and ended up upside down, i was able to crawl out with only very minor cuts (the car had 7 airbags which saved my life) and i even went into work the day after but still had a doctors appt at my GP just for a check-up and i was signed off for 3 weeks, it took about 4 days for whiplash to kick in, it just kind of happened one day/overnight and my back and neck and shoulders just felt like they were frozen and were agony to move, but for the 3-4 days after the crash i was fine and able to walk, not huge distances but the same gait and pace as usual, and then one evening/night it all just hit me & my body and i was suffering from whiplash for a couple of weeks and only about 2-3 days before i went back to work did it ease off. I still get flashbacks and sleepless nights even now but no physical effects.

so ultimately my advice would be; yes always get police on scene no matter how minor the accident & injuries can also be delayed so you may need to claim for them on insurance.

sorry for the long post.

no need for the police, as long as you are both insured

Lucky escape there J demo.glad you have recovered I know about the delayed whiplash. About 25 year ago car ran into back of me with quite a bit of damage to bumper. Thought I was ok till about a week later when neck back and sciatic nerve started playing up-- took about a year of regular physio and stuff to get it reasonable. Was not going to make a claim till got fed up with buying painkillers etc. Got all the physio fees paid . Would definitely not want to go down that route again--just keeping an eye on my daughter as she felt the nerve twinge down her back. Seems fine now.
Know the insurers sometimes want to count it as a claim just when you notify them and don't claim.

I would keep an eye on your daughter too,a few years ago a girl had a car crash on the Wiend Mount rd junction.She seemed fine but she died a few days later I think head injury that didn't get picked up.

Cheerful responses there.As above police don't need to be involved but certainly notify your insurers.

If there is no injury, the police won't attend, however it would have still been a good idea to report it and get an incident number.

You also don't know what money-chasing story the other parties are going to say.

Best to take pictures before the vehicles are moved, together with any visible damage to those vehicles.

Best get your daughter checked out by a doctor. Just glad you are both OK.sorry to hear this news

Yes contact the police to get a report reference number off them. This will be asked for by your insurance company.

It takes a 5 min call, a few details and as I say the all important incident ref number will be given.

Ask insurers about police and they said if only minor (no damage) ,no one hurt and not causing obstruction the police are not interested and will just say contact your insurers.
Seems to be following me---4 cars involved in a shunt outside the school I was doing crossing duty.(Frankby Road, ). Looks like one car had run into the back of another and shunted it into the next 2. They then have driven off without stopping. Police definitely in attendance for that.