Courtesy car "hit and run"
Discussion
I had a courtesy car yesterday from a main dealer (warranty repair). I took mum to visit my aunt in a care home. The car was parked in the care home's car park.
Sitting in my aunt's room, looking out of the window, I saw the courtesy car rock violently sideways, with a reversing pickup truck jammed into the side of it. By the time I'd run out of the building, the pickup truck was just pulling out onto the road. Got the registration number, went to look at the car, then back into the care home to find the manager. The pickup belongs to the care home's gardener. He's not a direct employee, but a contractor with his own business.
The manager and the duty manager came out to look at the damage, and took some photos. She called her head office for advice, while I called 101 to report failure to stop. 101 took some details, and told me to go along to the nearest police station, which I did today.
The care home manager tried calling the gardener, also emailed him. No response. She said that she would keep trying to get hold of him, and that head office were "on the case", as it's not acceptable for someone working on their behalf to act in this way. It's quite a hefty ding, so I can't see how he wouldn't have noticed it.
I stopped off at the dealer on the way home. Several thousand pounds of damage to a 2 month old Sharan - needs a new offside quarter panel and sliding door rails. They were OK about it, hung around for a bit and filled out a form. They wouldn't let me take my own car until I coughed up the excess (£500).
I went to the police station today, as advised. As soon as I told them that it was in a car park, they lost all interest. This despite the fact that I know who it was, saw him do it, and he just drove off. Not a police matter apparently.
I went back to the care home, just a couple of miles from the police station. The manager still hasn't had a response from the gardener. She hasn't told him why she wants him to call back, so it's pretty obvious he knows what happened, that's why he's avoiding her.
She gave me his name and phone number, and contacted head office to get his address (which I haven't got yet).
I've given the dealer the name and phone number for their claim form.
So, I'm £500 down, and the dealer has a courtesy car that'll be off the road for a few weeks. The gardener will lose the care home contract, but will probably get off by denying it was him. No other witnesses. Mum saw him drive out of the car park, but not the actual impact. No CCTV.
What do I do now?
Do I inform my own insurance company? (I was driving the courtesy car on the garage's insurance, and I wasn't in the car when it got hit).
Do I have to declare it when I renew my insurance?
It's bad enough being £500 down, with little chance of getting it back, without it costing me more for the next few years.
Sitting in my aunt's room, looking out of the window, I saw the courtesy car rock violently sideways, with a reversing pickup truck jammed into the side of it. By the time I'd run out of the building, the pickup truck was just pulling out onto the road. Got the registration number, went to look at the car, then back into the care home to find the manager. The pickup belongs to the care home's gardener. He's not a direct employee, but a contractor with his own business.
The manager and the duty manager came out to look at the damage, and took some photos. She called her head office for advice, while I called 101 to report failure to stop. 101 took some details, and told me to go along to the nearest police station, which I did today.
The care home manager tried calling the gardener, also emailed him. No response. She said that she would keep trying to get hold of him, and that head office were "on the case", as it's not acceptable for someone working on their behalf to act in this way. It's quite a hefty ding, so I can't see how he wouldn't have noticed it.
I stopped off at the dealer on the way home. Several thousand pounds of damage to a 2 month old Sharan - needs a new offside quarter panel and sliding door rails. They were OK about it, hung around for a bit and filled out a form. They wouldn't let me take my own car until I coughed up the excess (£500).
I went to the police station today, as advised. As soon as I told them that it was in a car park, they lost all interest. This despite the fact that I know who it was, saw him do it, and he just drove off. Not a police matter apparently.
I went back to the care home, just a couple of miles from the police station. The manager still hasn't had a response from the gardener. She hasn't told him why she wants him to call back, so it's pretty obvious he knows what happened, that's why he's avoiding her.
She gave me his name and phone number, and contacted head office to get his address (which I haven't got yet).
I've given the dealer the name and phone number for their claim form.
So, I'm £500 down, and the dealer has a courtesy car that'll be off the road for a few weeks. The gardener will lose the care home contract, but will probably get off by denying it was him. No other witnesses. Mum saw him drive out of the car park, but not the actual impact. No CCTV.
What do I do now?
Do I inform my own insurance company? (I was driving the courtesy car on the garage's insurance, and I wasn't in the car when it got hit).
Do I have to declare it when I renew my insurance?
It's bad enough being £500 down, with little chance of getting it back, without it costing me more for the next few years.
Surely the garage’s insurer will be very interested in talking to the gardener (or rather his insurers) as they’re going to be footing the bill for the repairs, other than the £500 your excess is contributing.
There’s no point involving your own insurer.
ETA: I wouldn’t be declaring anything to my insurer, either. What exactly would you be telling them? A car which doesn’t belong to you, which was on someone else’s insurance policy, and which you weren’t even sat in, was hit by someone in a private car park?
There’s no point involving your own insurer.
ETA: I wouldn’t be declaring anything to my insurer, either. What exactly would you be telling them? A car which doesn’t belong to you, which was on someone else’s insurance policy, and which you weren’t even sat in, was hit by someone in a private car park?
Edited by PorkInsider on Thursday 21st December 15:55
Not telling my own insurance company was my first thought. The only benefit to me could be their involvement (using the legal protection that I pay them every year) in getting my excess back. I don't suppose the legal protection covers losses not insured by them though.
The garage were very interested to know who the driver was. I'm sure that their insurers will be too.
I tried googling the name, but it doesn't bring up any business details. I guess he's a sole trader. It did bring details of his father, who has an additional first name (confirmed by the care home staff). He used to run the business until his son took over. No sign of the business, just details of a local society of which he was the president.
The manager of the dealership said that he would try ringing the gardener himself. He may pick up the phone if he thinks it's potential new business.
The woman at the police station (in uniform "police staff", but not actually proper police) told me that they would be interested if it was a supermarket car park, but not a care home or a school. No idea why the difference, since they are all private places that have public access. Maybe supermarkets have more clout, and wouldn't put up with being told to deal with it themselves.
They used to get involved with accidents in privately owned (non-council) public car parks. They pursued a driver who hit my mum's car a few years ago, and he was prosecuted for failure to report/leaving the scene. No idea if they would bother now.
I know that policing is all about money these days, but since I witnessed it happen, and know who it was, I thought it might be an easy way for them to bump up the "solved case" figures.
The local force have form for this type of "not our problem" attitude. They will no longer chase up drivers who steal fuel from petrol stations. I don't understand why this is a lesser crime than shoplifting. Nick some razor blades or meat from our shop, they will attend. Drive off with £50 of fuel, it's "a civil matter, your fault for letting them fill up before paying".
The garage were very interested to know who the driver was. I'm sure that their insurers will be too.
I tried googling the name, but it doesn't bring up any business details. I guess he's a sole trader. It did bring details of his father, who has an additional first name (confirmed by the care home staff). He used to run the business until his son took over. No sign of the business, just details of a local society of which he was the president.
The manager of the dealership said that he would try ringing the gardener himself. He may pick up the phone if he thinks it's potential new business.
The woman at the police station (in uniform "police staff", but not actually proper police) told me that they would be interested if it was a supermarket car park, but not a care home or a school. No idea why the difference, since they are all private places that have public access. Maybe supermarkets have more clout, and wouldn't put up with being told to deal with it themselves.
They used to get involved with accidents in privately owned (non-council) public car parks. They pursued a driver who hit my mum's car a few years ago, and he was prosecuted for failure to report/leaving the scene. No idea if they would bother now.
I know that policing is all about money these days, but since I witnessed it happen, and know who it was, I thought it might be an easy way for them to bump up the "solved case" figures.
The local force have form for this type of "not our problem" attitude. They will no longer chase up drivers who steal fuel from petrol stations. I don't understand why this is a lesser crime than shoplifting. Nick some razor blades or meat from our shop, they will attend. Drive off with £50 of fuel, it's "a civil matter, your fault for letting them fill up before paying".
Someone has caused considerable damage to someone else`s property and ran away. This has got to be a police matter (whats the correct legal term?).
Mr Plod is just fobbing you off,they cant be bothered. A letter on the correct desk might do the trick?
As soon as the garages insurance company has that guys reg` number they will be on to him. I suppose though at the end of the day all your interested in is your £500. Getting that back may be difficult?
Mr Plod is just fobbing you off,they cant be bothered. A letter on the correct desk might do the trick?
As soon as the garages insurance company has that guys reg` number they will be on to him. I suppose though at the end of the day all your interested in is your £500. Getting that back may be difficult?
Old Merc said:
Someone has caused considerable damage to someone else`s property and ran away. This has got to be a police matter (whats the correct legal term?).
Mr Plod is just fobbing you off,they cant be bothered. A letter on the correct desk might do the trick?
As soon as the garages insurance company has that guys reg` number they will be on to him. I suppose though at the end of the day all your interested in is your £500. Getting that back may be difficult?
The police do seem to be taking a rather relaxed view of this particular crime, but they normally do not pursue these kinds of cases once the driver has been identified and their insurance company has been involved. Perhaps the police view is that, if the details are already known to the victim, there in little reason to devote scarce police resources towards this? They might be more interested if it turns out the vehicle wasn't insured at the time. Has the OP checked MID?Mr Plod is just fobbing you off,they cant be bothered. A letter on the correct desk might do the trick?
As soon as the garages insurance company has that guys reg` number they will be on to him. I suppose though at the end of the day all your interested in is your £500. Getting that back may be difficult?
No, I haven't checked MID. The dire warnings about making an enquiry about a vehicle not belonging to me put me off. I'll leave that to the insurance company. It is taxed and MOT'd though.
I think I will struggle to get my excess back, as there's nothing in it for the insurance company to pursue it.
I think I will struggle to get my excess back, as there's nothing in it for the insurance company to pursue it.
a.lex said:
clockworks said:
No, I haven't checked MID. The dire warnings about making an enquiry about a vehicle not belonging to me put me off. I'll leave that to the insurance company. It is taxed and MOT'd though.
There is also a £4 option for "injured parties" in traffic accidents to use.Also, it IS a police matter, I'd be lodging a complaint with them.
a.lex said:
clockworks said:
No, I haven't checked MID. The dire warnings about making an enquiry about a vehicle not belonging to me put me off. I'll leave that to the insurance company. It is taxed and MOT'd though.
There is also a £4 option for "injured parties" in traffic accidents to use.Old Merc said:
a.lex said:
clockworks said:
No, I haven't checked MID. The dire warnings about making an enquiry about a vehicle not belonging to me put me off. I'll leave that to the insurance company. It is taxed and MOT'd though.
There is also a £4 option for "injured parties" in traffic accidents to use.Or you don’t understand the paying bit?
The paying bit is to obtain the details of the vehicle’s insurer, rather than just finding out whether or not it’s insured according to MID.
Old Merc said:
I don't understand this? I've used askmid many times to check on cars not belonging to me,all for free.
The free one for your own car just says "yes it's insured" or "no, it's not".The paid service gives you an insurer and policy number so you know who to contact regarding a claim.
Edit: Beaten to it.
PorkInsider said:
You don’t understand that it’s an offence under the DPA to obtain information you are not rightfully entitled to know?
Lol. If the police aren't interested in a hit and run I doubt they will give a toss about the heinous crime of "misusing" a website just to see if a vehicle is insured.
PorkInsider said:
Surely the garage’s insurer will be very interested in talking to the gardener (or rather his insurers) as they’re going to be footing the bill for the repairs, other than the £500 your excess is contributing.
<nods>Just pass the gardener's details, and the home manager's details, to the garage for their insurer. Job jobbed. You've paid the excess, and if/when the gardener's insurance coughs, you'll get it back.
PorkInsider said:
There’s no point involving your own insurer.
ETA: I wouldn’t be declaring anything to my insurer, either. What exactly would you be telling them? A car which doesn’t belong to you, which was on someone else’s insurance policy, and which you weren’t even sat in, was hit by someone in a private car park?
But which was in your care. You know that question on the proposal form/comparison site...?ETA: I wouldn’t be declaring anything to my insurer, either. What exactly would you be telling them? A car which doesn’t belong to you, which was on someone else’s insurance policy, and which you weren’t even sat in, was hit by someone in a private car park?
If it makes a difference to the premium, they needed to know. Who wants to be declaring a cancelled policy...?
a.lex said:
clockworks said:
No, I haven't checked MID. The dire warnings about making an enquiry about a vehicle not belonging to me put me off. I'll leave that to the insurance company. It is taxed and MOT'd though.
There is also a £4 option for "injured parties" in traffic accidents to use.mortones2 said:
Re "I went to the police station today, as advised. As soon as I told them that it was in a car park, they lost all interest." The RTA applies to car parks etc open to the public. So it sounds as though the plod are fobbing you off.
It applies to car parks where there's an expectation of access to the general public. That doesn't include a care home's car park, any more than it included Mrs Miggins' driveway before she moved in to the home.I still haven’t got a response from Essex Police regarding the incident below where my house was hit nearly 2 weeks ago. We have the car details including registration number but so far nothing.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Any ideas?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Any ideas?
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