If you’re even a tiny bit uncomfortable with the situation after you’ve been “bumped” by a car from behind, you don’t have to sit still and wait for events to unfold around you. You may feel that you’re obligated - legally and morally - to stick around and exchange ownership and insurance information, but your safety is premium.
Here are the steps you need to take to ensure your safety after a suspicious fender bender occurs:
- Make sure you keep yourself in a position that you can quickly drive away from. You don’t want to be boxed in by traffic or the bumper’s own vehicle.
- Don’t get out of your car. The so-called “damage” inflicted in the Bump won’t go away just because you don’t examine it immediately.
- Keep your windows mostly closed, and inform the other driver that you’d like to drive to a “safe” place, i.e. local police or fire station, etc. to exchange information. If it’s a legitimate bump, you can be certain the other driver will follow you. If he doesn’t, thank your lucky stars.
- Get on your cell phone and call 911 and report an attempted carjacking. You may believe it was your imagination working overtime, but what if it wasn’t? Remember as many details about the driver and the car that bumped you to give to the police. Your assistance now may help prevent the future carjacking of someone else who was not as savvy as you.
Sometimes a fender bender is just a fender bender, but you need to use your best judgment, common sense and gut instinct to make that decision. Because discerning the difference between a fender bender and a Bump is one of the most important decisions you may ever have to make.