Rather Frustrated with the Old Bill

Rather Frustrated with the Old Bill

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The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
I apologise in advance if this is long and boring.

About 6 weeks ago now, my girlfriend and I were playing tennis after work. We both drove to the tennis courts separately. Being lazy, I parked right outside the courts. She parked further away.

After the match (I won by the way!!), we went back to my car, dumped everything in it and I drove off home. She walked back to her car and drove off home also.

I got home quicker than she did and had a drink ready for when she came in the door - I had whacked on the TV so lost track of time. All was good when she came in...except she was crying.

It turns out that some chap (older pot bellied chap with bad breath - we'll come to that later) side-swiped her on the roundabout. So, coming off the motorway, she was in lane 2 (of 3). He was alongside her in lane 3. As you come onto the roundabout, a 4th lane is added, but the line separating 2 & 3 is constant around the roundabout. The extra lane coming onto/off of the roundabout all sort of goes on with lane 1.

So, Lane 3 becomes 4, lane 2 becomes 3. And then a little further it goes back to 3 lanes as one peels off back down the motorway.

Aerial photo:



She was coming from the bottom right hand part of the image and was hoping to leave the roundabout to the North. (the inner most lane you can see which looks like new tarmac in that photograph is actually a separate lane that takes the traffic without it joining the roundabout, hence my comment of 3 lanes to 4 to 3.

What has happened is as the 4 become 3 (I sound like a Spice Girl now) as the roundabout straightens up to go back over the motorway, she's held her ground in (what is now) Lane 2 just after the carriageway re-joining the motorway as there's a vehicle in Lane 1 there. Chappie in Lane 3 moves across. She sees it, but there isn't anything that can be done (someone following) and he sideswipes her.

It's not a great deal - nobody died. Not the end of the world. Anyway, they carry on around the roundabout, take the exit and stop in a layby. Now, the bit that really pissed me off - he gets out and gives her the full hair dryer treatment calling her every name under the sun. He didn't touch her, however he did physically intimidate her.

Not only is my girlfriend a patient girl, quite pretty, slim, petite, blonde - she's generally a nice bird - let's face it, she puts up with me (and she doesn't even know I'm writing this!!). The reason for me saying this is you can see how she's physically intimidated by a taller, pot belly older chap.

She didn't have her phone, or anything as it was all dumped in my car.

She starts off being berated standing outside the cars, but because she's feeling physically intimidated, she gets back in the car, but lowers her window. He still continues to have a go. After between 5 and 10 mins he gets back in the car and off he goes. She comes home.

Anyway, not only has he berated her, but after repeated attempts to get his details, he refuses to give any further information - he won't give his name, address or any contact details. The only thing she can do in scribble his reg on a scrap of paper in the car as he drives off.

As we have the reg, we speak with 101 and eventually end up at 10pm down the station making a statement. The chap who we first spoke to on 101 was great and the chap who took the statement at High Wycombe station was fantastic, supportive and helpful. That's where my praise ends. Of course, we wouldn't be going down this route had the chap just coughed up his contact/insurance details so this could be resolved after the event.

I understand he didn't report the accident which I believe means that the crime here (I don't think being a is a crime!) is the failure to exchange names and addresses (or similar wording).

Yesterday we receive a letter from the police saying that they are not perusing and prosecuting the chap, however they did provide his postal address. I can't explain in writing how frustrated I am at the whole situation...and it took nearly 6 bloody weeks!!!

Of course my first thought was to go around there (less than a mile from my house) stopping off at Sainsburys on the way for some frozen sausages for his lawn, however as my local Sainsburys is currently closed for refurbishment and I can't be arsed to go further out of my way, I feel it's better not to physically go there.

What are my options? I'm going to pursue it with an accident management company, however the way he behaved really shouldn't be tolerated - is there anything I can do to persuade the old bill to prosecute?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
He said, she said. Innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt, no evidence to do anything.

Insurance for any damage, and get on with your lives.

surveyor

17,768 posts

183 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
He said, she said. Innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt, no evidence to do anything.

Insurance for any damage, and get on with your lives.
Two cars contacted. Bet there was evidence if anyone could have been arsed to look for it, especially as presumably failure to report/exchange does not depend on blame. Other priorities presumably, but it does not make it right for victims...

The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
surveyor said:
TooMany2cvs said:
He said, she said. Innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt, no evidence to do anything.

Insurance for any damage, and get on with your lives.
Two cars contacted. Bet there was evidence if anyone could have been arsed to look for it, especially as presumably failure to report/exchange does not depend on blame. Other priorities presumably, but it does not make it right for victims...
Exactly what I was thinking. He said she said is well and good - as you say. I'm asking about the fact he failed to provide the required details when 2 vehicles impacted.

Terzo123

4,309 posts

207 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
The Moose said:
Exactly what I was thinking. He said she said is well and good - as you say. I'm asking about the fact he failed to provide the required details when 2 vehicles impacted.
Did she provide her details to the other driver?

Doubt very much the other driver will say to the police she did. By your own admission she got back in her car.

Which all leads back to the he said, she said thing.

Let the insurance companies do their thing.

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
I'm slightly confused as to the relevance of the man's belly and/or bad breath.

sherbertdip

1,097 posts

118 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
I understood that there was a requirement to exchange Insurance details only for an accident, did your girlfriend offer her insurance details?

Maybe the Police popped round to ask him and he said he did give his details but she didn't give hers.

But it comes back to "stories"! I'm not sure what level the CPS get involved at but maybe them or the Police decided not to prosecute.

At the end of the day though it is all speculation and in reality for you (girlfriend) the end result is the same a 50/50 insurance claim.

Also can you make your posts shorter please. All we needed was;

GF and other driver collided, argued, other driver drove off without giving details, reported to police, initially good response then 6 weeks later told by Police they aren't taking it further here's his details, what am i to do?

Edited by sherbertdip on Thursday 20th November 19:09

PV7998

371 posts

133 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
I had a very similar situation a few years ago between me (on a bike) and a London Taxi (Bless them all). My bike was damaged, we stopped, the taxi driver offered me a bit of advice and drove off - despite me shouting at him that I wanted his name etc.

Luckily I didn't spend too much time at the Police Station reporting it, which was just as well as they did exactly the same for me as they did for you.

I understand why, no witnesses, minor damage, one against one stories............but that doesn't make it any less annoying.

My damage was that I had to buy a new wheel - not much really as the old one was knackered anyway, so I paid up and vowed to continue to love all taxi drivers as if they were my brother.

Was there much damage to hers?.......you might get some satisfaction through his insurance, although I imagine you'd take a hit for that as well.

Not much in the way of useful advice but that's it.

surveyor

17,768 posts

183 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
It's exchange details or report to the police within 24 hours. Sounds like op's better half did the latter.

The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
surveyor said:
It's exchange details or report to the police within 24 hours. Sounds like op's better half did the latter.
Again, exactly.

She said "let's exchange details". He ranted.

She said that she was getting back in the car as she felt intimidated. He ranted.

He's an unpleasant little .

It would be a prosecution on a plate for the old bill.

Terzo123

4,309 posts

207 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
surveyor said:
It's exchange details or report to the police within 24 hours. Sounds like op's better half did the latter.
Possibly he reported the incident to the police also, saying that a women crashed into his car, started shouting at him, got back in her car when he asked for her details and then drove off.

Who knows?



pinchmeimdreamin

9,837 posts

217 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
The correct response here varies dependant upon a few things.

How many Directorships you hold.

where on the scale you sit between Mr Butlins and Mr universe.

And the length of your goatee.


You have his address so anywhere from doing bugger all through accidentally spilling a box of screws on his drive one night to knocking on the door and having a not so polite word with him.

The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
No goatee I'm afraid. Maybe just sausages after all frown

surveyor

17,768 posts

183 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
Terzo123 said:
surveyor said:
It's exchange details or report to the police within 24 hours. Sounds like op's better half did the latter.
Possibly he reported the incident to the police also, saying that a women crashed into his car, started shouting at him, got back in her car when he asked for her details and then drove off.

Who knows?
And if had old bill would have facilitated an exchange of insurance details, not taken 6 weeks to say they can't be bothered and here is his address.

The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
Terzo123 said:
Possibly he reported the incident to the police also, saying that a women crashed into his car, started shouting at him, got back in her car when he asked for her details and then drove off.

Who knows?
No need to try to be a clever .

If that was the case, they'd say, oh - look. Your reg has been linked with another accident at about the same time and about the same place. Let's have a look... Etc

CoolHands

18,496 posts

194 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
What's the thing about the drink? confused I thought she was going to get done for drink-driving.

Terzo123

4,309 posts

207 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
The Moose said:
Terzo123 said:
Possibly he reported the incident to the police also, saying that a women crashed into his car, started shouting at him, got back in her car when he asked for her details and then drove off.

Who knows?
No need to try to be a clever .

If that was the case, they'd say, oh - look. Your reg has been linked with another accident at about the same time and about the same place. Let's have a look... Etc
The funny thing is, some people use different police stations, even funnier, some people use different police stations in different forces.

Who knows?

You certainly don't know, as you weren't there.

lbc

3,212 posts

216 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
The Moose said:
I apologise in advance if this is long and boring.
If you stuck to the facts it would have been much less boring. rolleyes

kwk

562 posts

177 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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What do you mean ' quite pretty'? You could be in serious trouble.

Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all
Terzo123 said:
The funny thing is, some people use different police stations, even funnier, some people use different police stations in different forces.

Who knows?

You certainly don't know, as you weren't there.
Now hold on a minute, this is Pistonheads so any post that contains any actual experience of police process/systems etc is automatically incorrect and the poster called a clever dick by people who don't know what they are taking about.

Unless that big computer that people bleat on about has finally been invented, you know the one that knows everything about everything.