Minor Car Accident in Melbourne Today

Lwhatthehell on 21/11/2018 - 12:45
Last edited 21/02/2020 - 12:28 by 1 other user

Hi Everyone

Edit:Thank you everyone for the advise. This is all sorted.

Had a minor car scrape today. I was in the left lane, indicating and merging into the right lane. As far as I can remember, I did a head check and indicated and looked at my side mirror, and there was no car. As I was merging into the right lane, all of a sudden I hear a bit of a collision and a horn. So I move back into my lane and slow down, thinking we will stop and exchange details, but this person just decides to zoom by, overtake the car in front of me and get into the left lane.

There I was confused and astonished, as to how this car all of a sudden came out of no where and we had a minor collision. The car definitely oversped and tried to get out of the scene asap.

I wasn't able to get the rego at that point in time but I could see that it was a silver wagon/suv sort of a car, looked like a Mitsubishi as well.

Wasn't sure if I should speed and catch up as there were many cars around and it was traffic. I even started doubting if we collided as the other person just sped off, as if nothing happened. But after 2 or 3 redlights, I did see a car with the same description, and looked at the person inside, it was a woman that was laughing and from what I could see talking, must be on the phone, and she was checking the rear view mirror at the red light. Now why would someone do that stopped on a red light so I noted the rego.

I was on the way to work and it was busy so I didn't stop to check the damage, got to work, checked the damage, minutest of scratches, not even worth calling the insurance or chasing her.

I am also not sure if I am at fault here or not, the damage is over my right rear wheel, 95% of it I could just wipe off, there is just a few scratches which I could easily just buff out. I was almost half way into merging into the right lane, not sure if she was contesting my merge or some shit.

Now, I'm not sure if I should report this to the police. I don't know if she didn't think it was worth stopping or she got scared or she got my rego, thinking she just needed that. I just want to have a record showing that she didn't stop and what happened at the accident, if she lies to her insurance company or something. Then again, if I report to the police they might give me a fine or something, as I am not sure if it could be me at fault here. However, my biggest question is why this person would speed off, if they really were innocent, you'd expect the person to stop and start screaming at you.

What do you guys think?

Automotive Accident

closed Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2018 - 13:00
    +5

    Sorry. I was in a hurry to make an appointment.

  • HighAndDry on 21/11/2018 - 13:07
    +3

    Imo, not worth the inconvenience and trouble of making a claim if it's literally "minutest of scratches". She might not have even noticed your cars touched (maybe the dmg wasn't even from today but was pre-existing and you didn't actually bump at all).

    Added to that - the possibility that you are at fault (you were merging - that makes you at fault by default), and if she contests that she was speeding, all that's left is you merged unsafely and caused a collision.

    I'd just leave it, honestly.

    • whatthehell on 21/11/2018 - 13:12

      Hi, Thanks for the comment. I was just wondering if I should report to the police, just so that we have a record of what happened. I'm not making a claim to the insurance company. In case, If she decides to report me and say I didn't stop or something. We definitely bumped as I head it clearly and paint was screwed, I just wiped most of it out, because it only scraped the first layer of the paint. There was quite a bit of scraping, I was just able to rub it all off.

      • HighAndDry on 21/11/2018 - 13:16
        +1

        I was just wondering if I should report to the police, just so that we have a record of what happened.

        That's completely up to you. I personally wouldn't be bothered, out of apathy and to avoid the risk that on the off chance the police have absolutely nothing to do, they might try to go after her for hit-and-run, and then they can call you in as a witness (and you'll be forced to attend). Low risk, still not worth the risk. Imo.

        • whatthehell on 21/11/2018 - 13:26

          Thank you for the reply again. I'm just wondering if they accuse me instead if they make an insurance claim, that I didn't stop. I went back into the left lane and started slowing down, but they zoomed by. There is no way I know of to get in contact with the person by just knowing their rego, unless I take it to the police. I also don't want the police to bother with a hit and run, as I will get involved too and its all just messy.

    • CMH on 21/11/2018 - 16:48

      if she contests that she was speeding

      This doesn't really matter unless they were speeding enough to be considered reckless driving. A whole other kettle of fish to prove.

      Road rules state that you have to give way to others on that lane. No provision for drivers to be driving legally or in a roadworthy car or to be following the speed limit.

      In other words had OP hit this other person who has a disqualified drivers licence, driving an unregistered car doing 10kmph over, OP will still be liable for damages (although the other driver will be in a whole different world of pain with the cops).

      • HighAndDry on 21/11/2018 - 16:52

        OP will still be liable for damages

        Yeah pretty much.

  • 87percent on 21/11/2018 - 13:17

    i'd be careful that the other person doesn't claim that YOU drove off. Unless you have the music super loud with a sub woofer or something, you know when you've been hit/hit something

    • whatthehell on 21/11/2018 - 13:22

      Yes, thats exactly what I am worried about. I'm 100% sure we had a bit of a collision, as my paint on the right rear fender was scraped. It was just very unusual of the other person to just speed off. Maybe they didn't realise they had a collision and just sped off, or maybe they knew what happened and sped off.

  • hawkeye on 21/11/2018 - 13:26
    +8

    What the hell where's the bloody pics that's compulsory in threads like this?

  • singlemalt72 on 21/11/2018 - 13:52
    +7

    No MS Paint diagram of incident?

  • loginid on 21/11/2018 - 13:53
    +1

    It's stories like this that make me happy that I installed a dashcam and you should too! They're cheap and you won't regret it next time something like this happens. You'll have their license plate on video!

  • Godric on 21/11/2018 - 13:58
    +7

    Please submit your MS Paint depiction of the events that occurred for OzBargain Claims specialists to better assist

  • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2018 - 14:09
    +3

    If you have no idea where the car came from, chances are, you're at fault.

    A fleeing driver doesn't mean they are at fault. They may be driving illegally (which people will mean automatic liability) or under influence etc, but you failed to merge safely.

    If you challenge it and you're unable to produce proof indicating other factors, you're likely to be liable for the damages and any cost incurred with this entire process.

    Get a dashcam

  • IanC on 21/11/2018 - 14:09
    +2

    Had a similar incident in Brisbane several years ago..
    Touched the back of a use with LHS mirror just enough to flip it back.
    Very heavy traffic and no way could indicate to the ute to pull over..
    Simply contacted my insurance company and got them to put it on record in case anything arose.
    Nothing did and everyone happy.

  • pf2 on 21/11/2018 - 14:40
    +5

    Maybe she also merged from the next lane over? I've had a few near misses recently where I'm merging into a middle lane at the same time as a car the next lane over. Luckily I head checked and was able moved back into my lane.
    Please head check both the lane you're merging into AND the next lane over people!

  • keishton on 21/11/2018 - 14:56

    get the blue sky sea dashcam from amazon for like $80. without it insurance is basically a roll the dice game on whether you get dicked hard or not

    • 87percent on 21/11/2018 - 15:49

      do any insurance companies give a discount on your car insurance if you have one?

      • CMH on 21/11/2018 - 16:44

        Nope

        • Filbert on 22/11/2018 - 13:47

          Actually am pretty pissed at AAMI atm, but that is another story. Was looking at Dudget direct and if I put in Dashcam it reduced the premium. Not by much but about $30 on $700.

          • CMH on 22/11/2018 - 14:14

            @Filbert: Oh wow.

            I called a couple of insurers and they said no. I just assumed none of them will.

  • DarthAntz on 21/11/2018 - 14:58

    username checks out

  • Yummy on 21/11/2018 - 15:46
    +1

    You need to turn/twist your head (blindspot check) much further, especially if you attempts to merge into middle lane, as shits always happen on the middle.

  • Mike88 on 21/11/2018 - 17:04
    +1

    How do you not know that you are at fault? Please read the road rules before you drive again.

  • Medrad on 22/11/2018 - 09:24

    Got no proof, damage is minimal, insurance premiums are costly. Just buff out and move on. If police contact you from another party, then start telling your story.

  • HeWhoKnows on 22/11/2018 - 17:59

    Here we go again.
    Another minor accident story to waste everyones time.
    And guess what…
    "OP wasn't able to get the rego"

    And OP wants our opinion????

    Thats easy

    This is a total waste of time
    You got nothing and no witnesses either
    End of Story

    And the best part….
    'There OP was confused and astonished, as to how this car all of a sudden came out of no where"

    So OP had NO IDEA about what was happening around him. Kind of makes OP look rather GUILTY
    That would really go down well as part of OP's statement
    Great driver!

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