Rammed off road by HGV, who then drove off

[djglover]

Any ideas on this one. HGV drove me off the motorway by driving into the rear side, then drove off I got the company name but not the reg.

Have notified insurance who won't peruse other party without number plate. I stand to loose excess and NCB

Any ideas on the best way to follow up the company for the reg.. leave to police or just peruse them myself, I have my doubts the police are that bothered..

[scott15]

Going to have to persue yourself i'd have thought. In my experience, Police are less than useful in these situations.

You usually have to give them every little detail, down to how many hairs approximately completed the eyebrow of the suspect.

[hman]

hindsight but - dashcam.


Personally I would contact the company, by phone and post (to formalise it) mention that you have reported it to the police and that if they could assist with the enquiries then it may prevent you from talking to the local newspaper.

They should be able to tell roughly who was where and at what time as most trucks are tracked. Include photos of your damage and if there is any paint on your car from the truck point this out in the photos. Also if you have a description of the driver then include that too.

[Jim1556]

djglover said:

Any ideas on this one. HGV drove me off the motorway by driving into the rear side, then drove off I got the company name but not the reg.

Have notified insurance who won't peruse other party without number plate. I stand to loose excess and NCB

Any ideas on the best way to follow up the company for the reg.. leave to police or just peruse them myself, I have my doubts the police are that bothered..

Why didn't you chase? Unable to do to the damage caused?

I feel for you, I bought a dashcam for just such an occassion - nearly needed it once... See below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvDfl95ProU&li...

[s p a c e m a n]

Big company or someone with only a couple of trucks? Most places with a fleet of 30+ lorries will have them on tracker and will give you the information if you are nice and sensible with them, it may take a few phone calls to sort out but you'll probably get there in the end. Getting irate down the phone with them won't get you too far and I would expect to be passed about a couple of times and have to phone back whilst they look into it, if it's a crappy firm with a few motors you've got no hope.

[djglover]

Thanks for the thoughts…

Couldn't chase as I was forced into a coned area, collecting several cones under the front of the car as a booby prize. I was then stranded in a coned and taped off area.

Its not a haulage firm, but a food manufacturing company that has a distribution fleet also.. Doesn't look like a massive operation

ETA: I have also contacted Highways agency to see if it was caught on CCTV, but drew a blank there..

Edited by djglover on Tuesday 19th August 21:19

[hman]

arrange a meeting with the md

[Alucidnation]

3663?

[djglover]

No, not them.

[TVR1]

A dashcam isn't really going to help the OP when hit from behind, is it.

[djglover]

No, not them.

[Some Gump]

Contact company. Offer them the option of helping you resolve it. If they decline, remind them that the only other way would be to appeal for witnesses.

[elanfan]

Surely this is one for the police to investigate - presumably there is damage and maybe you have a little ache in your neck (not suggesting a clain BTW) but an injury incident must be investigated.

Perhaps a call to the fleet manager first with a threat to report to police??

[anonymous-user]

Sorry to hear of your experience OP.
As a trucker myself my suggestion would be that you contact in writing/email the company involved and explain fully what has happened, be polite and honest and point out that you will await a response also in writing within x many days, tell the company that if you do not get a response then you will take the matter up with the police, VOSA and the area traffic commissioner for further investigation, this will include tachometer time and motion checks together with a cross reference of recent vehicle movements to place the vehicle in question ( unless of course they have something like Isotrak which would save a lot of bother)
Any decent company should keep good records both of staff, jobs and maintenance/repair systems.
It would help if you named the company so people such as myself who are in the industry could help further, if you don't want then feel free to PM me the name and I will reply via PM.
Whatever you do, do not under any circumstance handle the matter via phone, always use email or letters for evidential purposes, calling the office phone monkey on a bad day will get you no where!!!

[Nigel Worc's]

Bloody good luck op.

Just a thought, and not looking to take the piss, are you of the opinion that the lorry driver actually knows he has hit you ?

[mybrainhurts]

scott15 said:

Going to have to persue yourself i'd have thought. In my experience, Police are less than useful in these situations.

Ed Balls would tend to disagree with you. £1000 and five points for failing to stop.

[s55shh]

just a thought. which motorway and time. Maybe one of us got a vid of the reg.

[Lotus Notes]

Companies will know where their vehicles have been on any given date. Contact them with the details and explain that you expect to be compensated.

Where I have worked in the past; After investigation, the driver would be sacked and the relevant party compensated. You don't put someone in charge of £300k of truck and trailer without managing them correctly.

[anothernameitist]

^ plus VOSA or whoever they are now also "manage" the fleet and issue the O licence or revoke the licence too

[Centurion07]

Jim1556 said:

Why didn't you chase? Unable to do to the damage caused?

I feel for you, I bought a dashcam for just such an occassion - nearly needed it once... See below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvDfl95ProU&li...

Nice reactions but you lose points for no use of the horn or finger gestures.