Anxiety after minor car accident.

[Rinka]

Hi Guys,
I’m getting a bit ahead with my anxiety at the moment again.
I’ve had a minor car accident. My front bumper has scratches and a hole in it. My first estimate was at about 338.50. Which is not too bad but still Because my excess is 550.

It just makes me crazy.
Not to mention that I’m scared about anything coming back from the other driver like a law suit or a police investigation.
Thing is I was so beside me during the aftermath of the accident that I only collected his name, birthdate and license plate number and gave that to him.

My insurance found him, but still I’m running in circles in fear of something else in regards to this lurking behind the corner.

Anyway two days after the accident, I got a penalty for stopping in a box junction, paid 65 direectly

Now I’m worried that in the next two weeks there will be more like a red light or speeding or anything and I will loose more money and get penalty points.

Thank you for maybe reading my rant, it means a lot.
Would be nice to get some advice in regards to this.

 

[janemariesayed]

Hi Guys,
I’m getting a bit ahead with my anxiety at the moment again.
I’ve had a minor car accident. My front bumper has scratches and a hole in it. My first estimate was at about 338.50. Which is not too bad but still Because my excess is 550.

It just makes me crazy.
Not to mention that I’m scared about anything coming back from the other driver like a law suit or a police investigation.
Thing is I was so beside me during the aftermath of the accident that I only collected his name, birthdate and license plate number and gave that to him.

My insurance found him, but still I’m running in circles in fear of something else in regards to this lurking behind the corner.

Anyway two days after the accident, I got a penalty for stopping in a box junction, paid 65 direectly

Now I’m worried that in the next two weeks there will be more like a red light or speeding or anything and I will loose more money and get penalty points.

Thank you for maybe reading my rant, it means a lot.
Would be nice to get some advice in regards to this.

Oops! So you've made a bit of a balls up with your driving. I noticed that when I started to drive. I was free of any kind of police record or criminal activity but then suddenly I would start doing all kinds of things wrong with my driving.

Calm yourself down. I know it is a worry but stay calm or you will bring about more silly mishaps. That is all they are silly mishaps. Just tell the truth and take the consequences if there are any due. Think of it as a game of monopoly.

Getting estimates, always get three before going ahead. Do you have a scrap yard near you where you could get a good bumper for next to nothing?

When I had only been driving for a few months, I was in my Citroen Visa Club which only had like a little lawn mower engine so it wouldn't go fast. I was on an A road which had 3 lanes. I was in the inside lane and I came to a slip road where my lane would have joined another road. I checked all my mirrors and looked behind my shoulder and there were no cars on the road. So I pulled out into the middle lane. As I passed the slip road the lane I was on went back to the inside lane again. I was driving at 60 mph which was 10 mph under the speed limit.

Anyway, a car at this point sped past me on the outside lane. Skidded on the middle barrier and then cut right across my path, went up on the bank and turned over. I pulled over to see if the driver was okay and he accused me of trying to kill him. The police came and took my name then his insurance company wrote to me and they said 'without question who was at fault, we want the name of your insurer.'

That really annoyed me and scared me. There had been no car contact and I thought they were out to get me. In the end, it took my friend to come with me to my insurance company to tell them what had happened. The other driver was driving so damn fast that he suddenly found himself upon me and skidded because I was only doing 60. It took a while before I could drive that same stretch of road again.

Don't drive with the radio or music on. Don't do anything except drive. Focus on the driving and you should be okay. This is probably just a phase. If you are telling yourself that you will make mistakes then you probably will. So don't think about anything except driving when you are driving. You are going to be okay.

 

[Rinka]

Thank you for your reply.
I’m just making myself crazy really.
I’m thinking that that guy is getting the police involved or that someone else is doing that.
I know it’s not rational to think that, but the thing is I only gave him my name birthdate and licence plate, not my insurance details.
God I wish I could stop worrying but I kinda see my life going downhill from now on.
Also I’m starting a new job on Monday, that brings another set of fears. what if I’m getting prosecuted or have to go to the police, or I’m being bared from driving for a month, while in my probation period and then loose my job.
It’s just getting the better of me now.

 

[Rinka]

I contacted my insurance company and they informed me that the guy did contact them in regards to the accident and claimed for the car. The interesting thing is, a solicitor contacted them as well and claimed that he had minor injuries resulting from the accident and now wants to claim money for it.
It’s like all nightmares came true. I was expecting the car claim, but claiming for injury? Seriously?
He was the one wanting to go privately with the matter and now he is claiming for injury?
I suppose that a lot of people do that in order to get some quick cash, because it’s hard to prove that the injury is not from the accident. So the insurance pays out a set amount.
It’s just the thought of what could have happened if we really went through with it privately, if I really would have given him my address and phone number.
Ah makes me crazy.
So crazy that I’m nervous about driving again and that makes me quite sad.

 

[tigger]

Accidents happen..that's why they call them accidents and that's why you have insurance. And from now on you know to call the police right then and there and make a report..i've done it when it was a VERY minor accident in a parking lot with a few scratches on my car. In the whole big picture...you didn't get hurt..your car is fixable and a year from now you won't even remember this!