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lyonspride
Original Poster
702 posts
24 months
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As the topic suggests, my mate was rear ended last night by a scruffy old 4x4, which was then driven off at speed.
He has witnesses, he called the Police (who weren't interested). He's now found the vehicle (half the town are on his Facebook), though the owner has removed the very distinctive spare wheel cover and shoved it down behind the drivers seat, the damage to the front is obvious.
What's the procedure to make the BiB stand up and take notice?
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Furry Exocet
1,868 posts
50 months
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Tell your mate to take his documents to the Police station to report the accident. Then contact your insurance company
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Tyre Tread
6,320 posts
85 months
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The person who drove off left the scene of an accident. Go to your local police station and insist on it being investigated. Give them the full details of the other car and details of the witnesses.
The other driver has a legal obligation to stop and exchange details. The Police can force him to provide his insurnace details.
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Snowboy
3,200 posts
20 months
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When you say there weren’t interested….
Exactly what did they say?
Did they suggest he come in and fill out a form, did they offer to send someone out to take a statement?
Does ‘not interested’ mean they didn’t send the flying squad round immediately with blue lights flashing?
Or did they actually say (in the voice of Bill Bailey from Hot Fuzz) ‘Not int’rested mate, muh’
Are you just complaining about their lack of urgency?
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lyonspride
Original Poster
702 posts
24 months
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Snowboy said: When you say there weren’t interested….
Exactly what did they say?
Did they suggest he come in and fill out a form, did they offer to send someone out to take a statement?
Does ‘not interested’ mean they didn’t send the flying squad round immediately with blue lights flashing?
Or did they actually say (in the voice of Bill Bailey from Hot Fuzz) ‘Not int’rested mate, muh’
Are you just complaining about their lack of urgency? No, he was told that he should contact his insurance company and that because nobody was injured, it was a civil matter. The thing is, he could repair the damage himself, it's not a high value car. New tail light, rear window cracked, bumper seems ok and a few dents need pulling/pushing out. If he goes via the insurance (as a new but not young driver), the car will be written off and he's likely to find he'll be unable to get insurance at all next year.
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daz3210
5,000 posts
109 months
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He could try getting all the witnesses to 'independently' report a crime being witnessed.
Basically get them to attend a local station and report what they saw.
If they are still not interested, the local 'rag' may be, basically embarrass them into action if thats the only way.
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Mr GrimNasty
2,470 posts
39 months
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Furry Exocet
1,868 posts
50 months
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lyonspride said: No, he was told that he should contact his insurance company and that because nobody was injured, it was a civil matter.
The thing is, he could repair the damage himself, it's not a high value car. New tail light, rear window cracked, bumper seems ok and a few dents need pulling/pushing out.
If he goes via the insurance (as a new but not young driver), the car will be written off and he's likely to find he'll be unable to get insurance at all next year.
Has your "Mate" been to the Police station to report it? or just phoned up? He/she needs to attend a Police station, taking their driving documents with them and report it. It may be that the other driver has already done this, within the 24hr period required if they didn't stop at the time.
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lyonspride
Original Poster
702 posts
24 months
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Furry Exocet said: lyonspride said: No, he was told that he should contact his insurance company and that because nobody was injured, it was a civil matter.
The thing is, he could repair the damage himself, it's not a high value car. New tail light, rear window cracked, bumper seems ok and a few dents need pulling/pushing out.
If he goes via the insurance (as a new but not young driver), the car will be written off and he's likely to find he'll be unable to get insurance at all next year.
Has your "Mate" been to the Police station to report it? or just phoned up? He/she needs to attend a Police station, taking their driving documents with them and report it. It may be that the other driver has already done this, within the 24hr period required if they didn't stop at the time. Well im assuming he went to the Police station, he lives practically next door to it. But having no spoken to him since yesterday, he might have been on his way to work at the time.
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speedyguy
1,468 posts
72 months
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lyonspride said: Well im assuming he went to the Police station, he lives practically next door to it. But having no spoken to him since yesterday, he might have been on his way to work at the time. Living next door to one & finding one that's actually open where they will answer the door are 2 completely different things'
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Honestherbert
305 posts
16 months
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I feel for you mate, I was actually rammed off the road by a drunk driver (presuming as he drove off! but looked leathered) on the way to work one morning, ended up going through a hedge and into a caravan park! I only managed to get the first 4 parts of his number plate though, went straight to the police station fully decked out in my prison officer uniform to report it and was told the same, not interested and a civil matter as nobody was injured  They did agree to come and look at the damage to my car though, and upon seeing it was modified with pretty wheels gave me a 7 day producer to prove my insurance! utter waste of time tbh,however about 2 months later I got a letter from Cambridgeshire Constabluary giving me the details of the vehicle involved and recommending me to pass it on to my insurance company.
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Jagmanv12
484 posts
33 months
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Tyre Tread said: The person who drove off left the scene of an accident. Go to your local police station and insist on it being investigated. Give them the full details of the other car and details of the witnesses.
The other driver has a legal obligation to stop and exchange details . The Police can force him to provide his insurnace details. That's what I always thought but from the OP and HonestHerbert it seems that is no longer the case. So if there's no injury the offending driver can just drive away and it's not an offence??
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crazy about cars
2,321 posts
38 months
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Shame on the police force these days...
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Sparta VAG
412 posts
16 months
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Jagmanv12 said: That's what I always thought but from the OP and HonestHerbert it seems that is no longer the case. So if there's no injury the offending driver can just drive away and it's not an offence?? It doesn't cease to be an offence, but in the triage of competing resources, damage-only RTCs will generally not be attended and are usually dealt with on the phone.
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caiss4
736 posts
66 months
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Honestherbert said: I feel for you mate, I was actually rammed off the road by a drunk driver (presuming as he drove off! but looked leathered) on the way to work one morning, ended up going through a hedge and into a caravan park! I only managed to get the first 4 parts of his number plate though, went straight to the police station fully decked out in my prison officer uniform to report it and was told the same, not interested and a civil matter as nobody was injured They did agree to come and look at the damage to my car though, and upon seeing it was modified with pretty wheels gave me a 7 day producer to prove my insurance! utter waste of time tbh,however about 2 months later I got a letter from Cambridgeshire Constabluary giving me the details of the vehicle involved and recommending me to pass it on to my insurance company. This sounds familiar. A good number of years ago when I had attained the giddy heights of a MkII Escort I was rammed off the road by a guy in an old Jag (I assumed he was drunk as it was chucking out time) The Escort suffered a squashed front o/s wing, removed bumper (chrome, not plastic) and a dislodged headlight. I did get a number plate and I had a passenger witness. All reported at the local nick who did nothing until the following morning. The guy said he was at the scene but he didn't have contact. Apparently the BIB checked his car but owing to the rust there was no clear evidence of a collision. Being the morning after a breath test proved negative. I returned to the nick in question and insisted they take paint samples (pale blue!). I was only 3rd party and didn't have the cash to make repairs so put a 'scrappy' headlight in the hole where it should be held in with gaffer tape. Eventually the BIB decide to go ahead with a prosecution. The guy's insurance company weren't interested as, naturally, he hadn't admitted liability. Roll on a few months and it finally goes to court. Me and my witness are called to give evidence. Night before I get a call to say the case is adjourned. I was really fed up because the car still needed fixing (his insurance company had said that an ex-gratia payment may be made if he was found guilty). I called the officer responsible and they confided the guy had been involved in another hit and run resulting in the death of the other driver. He was stopped a mile or more from the scene with his Jag on fire! To this day I wonder if the response had been more immediate (my statement to the police said that when I was rammed I had eye contact which left me in no doubt it was a deliberate act) then their might be someone still alive! BTW, I did get a pay out from his insurance.
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deltashad
2,738 posts
66 months
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One of our cars was hit and run by a taxi in October last year. The police were given 3 witnesses and the taxi's plate number.
It took numerous complaints and lots of pestering at the Police to get the driver in for a statement (six months after incident occured). I still don't know if the driver was charged with anything.
Good luck to your mate. It's definitely NOT a priority job for them.
My advice is, if you ever have an accident and your car isn't too badly damaged, just carry on your way. No one gives a crap other than the person who's car has been hit.
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Furry Exocet
1,868 posts
50 months
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deltashad said: One of our cars was hit and run by a taxi in October last year. The police were given 3 witnesses and the taxi's plate number.
It took numerous complaints and lots of pestering at the Police to get the driver in for a statement (six months after incident occured). I still don't know if the driver was charged with anything.
Good luck to your mate. It's definitely NOT a priority job for them.
My advice is, if you ever have an accident and your car isn't too badly damaged, just carry on your way. No one gives a crap other than the person who's car has been hit. When its put up against all the other jobs that come in, then no its not a priority
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jamoor
7,042 posts
84 months
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Last time I checked I'm sure it's a criminal offence not to stop and give your details...
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mondeoman
6,776 posts
135 months
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Furry Exocet said: deltashad said: One of our cars was hit and run by a taxi in October last year. The police were given 3 witnesses and the taxi's plate number.
It took numerous complaints and lots of pestering at the Police to get the driver in for a statement (six months after incident occured). I still don't know if the driver was charged with anything.
Good luck to your mate. It's definitely NOT a priority job for them.
My advice is, if you ever have an accident and your car isn't too badly damaged, just carry on your way. No one gives a crap other than the person who's car has been hit. When its put up against all the other jobs that come in, then no its not a priority Well if f  king well should be!!!
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TallbutBuxomly
11,888 posts
85 months
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The police do what they can with what they've got. At the mo they've got nothing so they prioritise.
Of course they would have better resources and more time if they didn't have to waste so much time on the benefits scroungers and immigrants and if the courts actually punished the crims. ...
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