Advice for hit and run
Discussion
Hi chaps, had parked my car just near train station. My wife remained in the car and someone pulled up allongside the car, a lady then came towards it and opened up very hard and whacked my car. My wife got out of the car and went towards them, the girl said sorry but there were two men in the front and one asked the girl if she hit the car, she said yes, then he instructed the driver to drive off fast. My wife was unable to get the registration plate of the car and does not remember what it looks like etc. We have noted the approximate time of the incident.
Is it worth pursuing it with the police as a hit and run and maybe they have it on cctv (happened very close to osterly station). Or is it just going to end as a waste of time and better I just get it fixed up myself (my insurance excess is £500)
Thanks in advance
Is it worth pursuing it with the police as a hit and run and maybe they have it on cctv (happened very close to osterly station). Or is it just going to end as a waste of time and better I just get it fixed up myself (my insurance excess is £500)
Thanks in advance
If there are no injuries then this is a civil matter and the police will not give you any assistance.
If you can get their number from cctv you could persue a civil case but it won't lead anywhere.
If you persue it you will have to declare the incident to your insurers and this will likely impact your insurance renewals.
If it is just a door ding (not 100% sure from your description) then I highly suggest just getting it sorted at your own cost.
Sad, but that's the way it is.
If you can get their number from cctv you could persue a civil case but it won't lead anywhere.
If you persue it you will have to declare the incident to your insurers and this will likely impact your insurance renewals.
If it is just a door ding (not 100% sure from your description) then I highly suggest just getting it sorted at your own cost.
Sad, but that's the way it is.
Thankyou kindly.
SilverSpur said:
If there are no injuries then this is a civil matter and the police will not give you any assistance.
If you can get their number from cctv you could persue a civil case but it won't lead anywhere.
If you persue it you will have to declare the incident to your insurers and this will likely impact your insurance renewals.
If it is just a door ding (not 100% sure from your description) then I highly suggest just getting it sorted at your own cost.
Sad, but that's the way it is.
If you can get their number from cctv you could persue a civil case but it won't lead anywhere.
If you persue it you will have to declare the incident to your insurers and this will likely impact your insurance renewals.
If it is just a door ding (not 100% sure from your description) then I highly suggest just getting it sorted at your own cost.
Sad, but that's the way it is.
In reality there's nothing you can do besides pay for it or claim it on insurance.
I had an incident last year where I was sat on the vertical part of a T waiting to turn right. Someone came from the left side and turned right onto the vertical, cutting the corner by 1m or so, right into me.. Scraped the entire front of my car and bent the wheel out of alignment. I looked in rear view expecting them to stop but they slowed down for a second then floored it.
I span around to try and give chase but my wheel was so badly out of alignment I decided it wasn't worth the risk. Had to claim on my insurance as I didn't have the cash to repair it myself. I wish I had now, I'm 23 and claiming that on my insurance has ruined me for the next few years.
I had an incident last year where I was sat on the vertical part of a T waiting to turn right. Someone came from the left side and turned right onto the vertical, cutting the corner by 1m or so, right into me.. Scraped the entire front of my car and bent the wheel out of alignment. I looked in rear view expecting them to stop but they slowed down for a second then floored it.
I span around to try and give chase but my wheel was so badly out of alignment I decided it wasn't worth the risk. Had to claim on my insurance as I didn't have the cash to repair it myself. I wish I had now, I'm 23 and claiming that on my insurance has ruined me for the next few years.
SilverSpur said:
If there are no injuries then this is a civil matter and the police will not give you any assistance.
If there are injuries IME the police will still not give you any assistance. In future I suggest in such situation immediately taking a picure or video of the car...
Sorry to hear that.
I'm assuming dashcam is the way forward, would that have stood up in court?
I'm assuming dashcam is the way forward, would that have stood up in court?
LiamM123 said:
In reality there's nothing you can do besides pay for it or claim it on insurance.
I had an incident last year where I was sat on the vertical part of a T waiting to turn right. Someone came from the left side and turned right onto the vertical, cutting the corner by 1m or so, right into me.. Scraped the entire front of my car and bent the wheel out of alignment. I looked in rear view expecting them to stop but they slowed down for a second then floored it.
I span around to try and give chase but my wheel was so badly out of alignment I decided it wasn't worth the risk. Had to claim on my insurance as I didn't have the cash to repair it myself. I wish I had now, I'm 23 and claiming that on my insurance has ruined me for the next few years.
I had an incident last year where I was sat on the vertical part of a T waiting to turn right. Someone came from the left side and turned right onto the vertical, cutting the corner by 1m or so, right into me.. Scraped the entire front of my car and bent the wheel out of alignment. I looked in rear view expecting them to stop but they slowed down for a second then floored it.
I span around to try and give chase but my wheel was so badly out of alignment I decided it wasn't worth the risk. Had to claim on my insurance as I didn't have the cash to repair it myself. I wish I had now, I'm 23 and claiming that on my insurance has ruined me for the next few years.
kazino said:
Sorry to hear that.
I'm assuming dashcam is the way forward, would that have stood up in court?
Dashcam is definitely the way forward. Incident happened in December and a cam was #1 on my wishlist! I'm assuming dashcam is the way forward, would that have stood up in court?
LiamM123 said:
In reality there's nothing you can do besides pay for it or claim it on insurance.
I had an incident last year where I was sat on the vertical part of a T waiting to turn right. Someone came from the left side and turned right onto the vertical, cutting the corner by 1m or so, right into me.. Scraped the entire front of my car and bent the wheel out of alignment. I looked in rear view expecting them to stop but they slowed down for a second then floored it.
I span around to try and give chase but my wheel was so badly out of alignment I decided it wasn't worth the risk. Had to claim on my insurance as I didn't have the cash to repair it myself. I wish I had now, I'm 23 and claiming that on my insurance has ruined me for the next few years.
I had an incident last year where I was sat on the vertical part of a T waiting to turn right. Someone came from the left side and turned right onto the vertical, cutting the corner by 1m or so, right into me.. Scraped the entire front of my car and bent the wheel out of alignment. I looked in rear view expecting them to stop but they slowed down for a second then floored it.
I span around to try and give chase but my wheel was so badly out of alignment I decided it wasn't worth the risk. Had to claim on my insurance as I didn't have the cash to repair it myself. I wish I had now, I'm 23 and claiming that on my insurance has ruined me for the next few years.
I contacted the police and gave them all the info I had, make and model of the vehicle, but no number plate. They were pulling onto the M25 so I said there would be a vehicle driving with a heavily damaged right side of the car driving in the given direction but ultimately without a camera to prove it there's nothing you can do. The thing that has annoyed me the most is that I have to put this down on my insurance as an incident that was my fault despite the fact my vehicle was in neutral with the handbrake on!
I wouldn't let this go. My grandmother had her car dinged by a chap in a hotel car park, police totally and utterly useless, hotel staff totally and utterly useless. Got the man's name, reg no, video footage of the incident, police couldn't be arsed. Insurance company then came back and told us he wasn't insured! We told police there was an uninsured driver going about the place, give a toss they did not.
Dashcams rarely help with a ding.
It usually isn't focused on the part of the car being hit - for example, how is a dashcam going to help when someone opens a door onto your car? It might catch them driving off but unless you have video of the actual incident occurring then it means nothing as evidence.
They also rarely catch the number plate of someone bumping you. Also if your car is parked it isn't going to be on.
You are more likely to catch video of someone damaging someone else's car whilst you are close to them.
Rear ended? Got a rear facing dashcam to?
And what if you do have video evidence? Its still likely an insurance issue NOT a police issue. Unless it is particularly great footage showing the actual incident occurring, showing the number plate and the driver of the car, its still going to likely be a 50/50 claim at best when its contested.
And it will still only end up as a civil matter in a small claims court. Good luck with getting a payout with that.
Dashcams have their uses, minor dings ain't one of them. My dashcam footage of a van driving off after side swiping my stationary car was of no use, as the dash can didn't actually show the van hitting the car, just driving off after.
So it will end up in small claims court at best, and that still doesn't mean you'll get a payout.
It usually isn't focused on the part of the car being hit - for example, how is a dashcam going to help when someone opens a door onto your car? It might catch them driving off but unless you have video of the actual incident occurring then it means nothing as evidence.
They also rarely catch the number plate of someone bumping you. Also if your car is parked it isn't going to be on.
You are more likely to catch video of someone damaging someone else's car whilst you are close to them.
Rear ended? Got a rear facing dashcam to?
And what if you do have video evidence? Its still likely an insurance issue NOT a police issue. Unless it is particularly great footage showing the actual incident occurring, showing the number plate and the driver of the car, its still going to likely be a 50/50 claim at best when its contested.
And it will still only end up as a civil matter in a small claims court. Good luck with getting a payout with that.
Dashcams have their uses, minor dings ain't one of them. My dashcam footage of a van driving off after side swiping my stationary car was of no use, as the dash can didn't actually show the van hitting the car, just driving off after.
So it will end up in small claims court at best, and that still doesn't mean you'll get a payout.
Thanyou for sharing your experience, as you said it appears to be extremely limited in it's use.
For driving related accidents as opposed to stationary ones, in that time would it stand up much better for insurance claims?
For driving related accidents as opposed to stationary ones, in that time would it stand up much better for insurance claims?
SilverSpur said:
Dashcams rarely help with a ding.
It usually isn't focused on the part of the car being hit - for example, how is a dashcam going to help when someone opens a door onto your car? It might catch them driving off but unless you have video of the actual incident occurring then it means nothing as evidence.
They also rarely catch the number plate of someone bumping you. Also if your car is parked it isn't going to be on.
You are more likely to catch video of someone damaging someone else's car whilst you are close to them.
Rear ended? Got a rear facing dashcam to?
And what if you do have video evidence? Its still likely an insurance issue NOT a police issue. Unless it is particularly great footage showing the actual incident occurring, showing the number plate and the driver of the car, its still going to likely be a 50/50 claim at best when its contested.
And it will still only end up as a civil matter in a small claims court. Good luck with getting a payout with that.
Dashcams have their uses, minor dings ain't one of them. My dashcam footage of a van driving off after side swiping my stationary car was of no use, as the dash can didn't actually show the van hitting the car, just driving off after.
So it will end up in small claims court at best, and that still doesn't mean you'll get a payout.
It usually isn't focused on the part of the car being hit - for example, how is a dashcam going to help when someone opens a door onto your car? It might catch them driving off but unless you have video of the actual incident occurring then it means nothing as evidence.
They also rarely catch the number plate of someone bumping you. Also if your car is parked it isn't going to be on.
You are more likely to catch video of someone damaging someone else's car whilst you are close to them.
Rear ended? Got a rear facing dashcam to?
And what if you do have video evidence? Its still likely an insurance issue NOT a police issue. Unless it is particularly great footage showing the actual incident occurring, showing the number plate and the driver of the car, its still going to likely be a 50/50 claim at best when its contested.
And it will still only end up as a civil matter in a small claims court. Good luck with getting a payout with that.
Dashcams have their uses, minor dings ain't one of them. My dashcam footage of a van driving off after side swiping my stationary car was of no use, as the dash can didn't actually show the van hitting the car, just driving off after.
So it will end up in small claims court at best, and that still doesn't mean you'll get a payout.
A similar thing happened to me. I needed to decide which of two things I wanted: to hunt down and chase the guilty party until they "did the right thing" (which they never do), or to suck up my pride and admit that fixing it myself would cost less time, money and effort.
I took the second option. It sucks but society isn't set up in a way which makes it worth your while to chase damage that's worth less than a few hundred quid. My smart repair cost £80 and several years later, I still think it was the right option. I still think the person who did it was best described with several swear words, but trying to "make them pay" just wasn't worth it. At best, I would have had several hundred pounds of unpaid legal bills and a lot of my time wasted.
Best of luck, OP, whatever you choose.
I took the second option. It sucks but society isn't set up in a way which makes it worth your while to chase damage that's worth less than a few hundred quid. My smart repair cost £80 and several years later, I still think it was the right option. I still think the person who did it was best described with several swear words, but trying to "make them pay" just wasn't worth it. At best, I would have had several hundred pounds of unpaid legal bills and a lot of my time wasted.
Best of luck, OP, whatever you choose.
Going to have it repaired myself. As you stated is just going to be a waste of time so shall not bother following it up.
blearyeyedboy said:
A similar thing happened to me. I needed to decide which of two things I wanted: to hunt down and chase the guilty party until they "did the right thing" (which they never do), or to suck up my pride and admit that fixing it myself would cost less time, money and effort.
I took the second option. It sucks but society isn't set up in a way which makes it worth your while to chase damage that's worth less than a few hundred quid. My smart repair cost £80 and several years later, I still think it was the right option. I still think the person who did it was best described with several swear words, but trying to "make them pay" just wasn't worth it. At best, I would have had several hundred pounds of unpaid legal bills and a lot of my time wasted.
Best of luck, OP, whatever you choose.
I took the second option. It sucks but society isn't set up in a way which makes it worth your while to chase damage that's worth less than a few hundred quid. My smart repair cost £80 and several years later, I still think it was the right option. I still think the person who did it was best described with several swear words, but trying to "make them pay" just wasn't worth it. At best, I would have had several hundred pounds of unpaid legal bills and a lot of my time wasted.
Best of luck, OP, whatever you choose.
kazino said:
Thanyou for sharing your experience, as you said it appears to be extremely limited in it's use.
For driving related accidents as opposed to stationary ones, in that time would it stand up much better for insurance claims?
They are great for showing other people having accidents!!!For driving related accidents as opposed to stationary ones, in that time would it stand up much better for insurance claims?
SilverSpur said:
Dashcams rarely help with a ding.
It usually isn't focused on the part of the car being hit - for example, how is a dashcam going to help when someone opens a door onto your car? It might catch them driving off but unless you have video of the actual incident occurring then it means nothing as evidence.
They also rarely catch the number plate of someone bumping you. Also if your car is parked it isn't going to be on.
You are more likely to catch video of someone damaging someone else's car whilst you are close to them.
Rear ended? Got a rear facing dashcam to?
And what if you do have video evidence? Its still likely an insurance issue NOT a police issue. Unless it is particularly great footage showing the actual incident occurring, showing the number plate and the driver of the car, its still going to likely be a 50/50 claim at best when its contested.
And it will still only end up as a civil matter in a small claims court. Good luck with getting a payout with that.
Dashcams have their uses, minor dings ain't one of them. My dashcam footage of a van driving off after side swiping my stationary car was of no use, as the dash can didn't actually show the van hitting the car, just driving off after.
So it will end up in small claims court at best, and that still doesn't mean you'll get a payout.
It usually isn't focused on the part of the car being hit - for example, how is a dashcam going to help when someone opens a door onto your car? It might catch them driving off but unless you have video of the actual incident occurring then it means nothing as evidence.
They also rarely catch the number plate of someone bumping you. Also if your car is parked it isn't going to be on.
You are more likely to catch video of someone damaging someone else's car whilst you are close to them.
Rear ended? Got a rear facing dashcam to?
And what if you do have video evidence? Its still likely an insurance issue NOT a police issue. Unless it is particularly great footage showing the actual incident occurring, showing the number plate and the driver of the car, its still going to likely be a 50/50 claim at best when its contested.
And it will still only end up as a civil matter in a small claims court. Good luck with getting a payout with that.
Dashcams have their uses, minor dings ain't one of them. My dashcam footage of a van driving off after side swiping my stationary car was of no use, as the dash can didn't actually show the van hitting the car, just driving off after.
So it will end up in small claims court at best, and that still doesn't mean you'll get a payout.
If I was a biker I'd have one always on. yes there will be circumstances when they will help. But I think you'd need several running all the time with different angles to prove your case in many accident circumstances, giving different angles etc,
Might help stopping someone arguing against fault if you tell them you have the evidence on video though. People often accept blame at the scene of an accident only to lie later. Perhaps it will stop them lieing.
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