Insurance Help
Discussion
(Posted it in the wrong place)
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=189373&f=141&h=0
I live on the edge of a new estate, part of which is still under construction. As a consequence there's a lot of site traffic knocking about.
Sometime this morning while my car was parked on the road, something/someone has nicely remodled the whole near-side rear panel for me with two great gouges and the panel all dented in.
From the fact that the gouges are covered in plaster dust, its pretty obvious what happened. Problem is.....yep....nobody saw it.
Any ideas what to do? I've been talking to the site managers who are being as helpful as they can. They pretty much know who did it (delivery of plaster board) but they didn't actually witness it. They rang the manager of the delivery firm who said they'll try to find out who was responsible. I'm pretty sure I can guess the outcome of the "investigation".
I've taken loads of photographs. What next? Police?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=189373&f=141&h=0
I live on the edge of a new estate, part of which is still under construction. As a consequence there's a lot of site traffic knocking about.
Sometime this morning while my car was parked on the road, something/someone has nicely remodled the whole near-side rear panel for me with two great gouges and the panel all dented in.
From the fact that the gouges are covered in plaster dust, its pretty obvious what happened. Problem is.....yep....nobody saw it.
Any ideas what to do? I've been talking to the site managers who are being as helpful as they can. They pretty much know who did it (delivery of plaster board) but they didn't actually witness it. They rang the manager of the delivery firm who said they'll try to find out who was responsible. I'm pretty sure I can guess the outcome of the "investigation".
I've taken loads of photographs. What next? Police?
Where the vehicle was parked is this outside the estate under development- the "road" as yet may not have been adopted but if open to all and sundry will remain a road for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act in relation to accident reporting.
Here we have damage to another vehicle so the obligation on the driver of the vehicle responsible was to stop and give details. In not stopping or not giving details, obligation to report in 24 hours if he was aware damage had been done.Failure to do so offences.
Consider reporting to local police as a hit and run but because of no injury and current climate you may not get a response.
Only way to tie this up will be through Forensic paint/debris samples - other vehicle by now may well have been doctored/washed destroying valuable evidence.
DVD
Here we have damage to another vehicle so the obligation on the driver of the vehicle responsible was to stop and give details. In not stopping or not giving details, obligation to report in 24 hours if he was aware damage had been done.Failure to do so offences.
Consider reporting to local police as a hit and run but because of no injury and current climate you may not get a response.
Only way to tie this up will be through Forensic paint/debris samples - other vehicle by now may well have been doctored/washed destroying valuable evidence.
DVD
Dwight VanDriver said:
Where the vehicle was parked is this outside the estate under development- the "road" as yet may not have been adopted but if open to all and sundry will remain a road for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act in relation to accident reporting.
Here we have damage to another vehicle so the obligation on the driver of the vehicle responsible was to stop and give details. In not stopping or not giving details, obligation to report in 24 hours if he was aware damage had been done.Failure to do so offences.
Consider reporting to local police as a hit and run but because of no injury and current climate you may not get a response.
Only way to tie this up will be through Forensic paint/debris samples - other vehicle by now may well have been doctored/washed destroying valuable evidence.
DVD
Cheers DVD.
The road is the main road through the estate. Not sure of its adoption status (there are no street lights yet and no proper top surface).
I'll wait and see what happens next. I never thought about it from a hit-and-run angle. As you say though, current climate and all that.
Wankers. They could've at least done the driver's side as there's a scratch on the door that needs painting
Sorry to read about your grief. 
Your road is clearly not adopted but that is somewhat irrelevent.
Report the matter to the police and thus have it on record. Plus, you will need the incident number for your insurance claim.
Inform your insurance company of who you believe inflicted the damage as they will contact the firm and want their insurance details, driver etc.
Best way to get to 'em and keep your no claims bonus in tact
Your road is clearly not adopted but that is somewhat irrelevent.
Report the matter to the police and thus have it on record. Plus, you will need the incident number for your insurance claim.
Inform your insurance company of who you believe inflicted the damage as they will contact the firm and want their insurance details, driver etc.
Best way to get to 'em and keep your no claims bonus in tact
OK, so far....
The company that delivered the plasterboard have spoken to the driver that made the delivery and he had denied damaging my car. No surprises there then.
I'm just wondering what the building firms legal position is here? Given that the accident occured on their land (assuming that, given the fact that the road has not been adopted) have they a duty of care to ensure safety for residents property? There are no signs saying "Park at your own risk" which would be the normal disclaimer (and it would be a bit unenforceable given that its a residential area).
So, in the event that the delivery firm maintain their innocence, does it fall back on the building firm?
I'm just wondering who to persue. The delivery firm directly or the builder and let their insurance company deal with the delivery firm?
The company that delivered the plasterboard have spoken to the driver that made the delivery and he had denied damaging my car. No surprises there then.
I'm just wondering what the building firms legal position is here? Given that the accident occured on their land (assuming that, given the fact that the road has not been adopted) have they a duty of care to ensure safety for residents property? There are no signs saying "Park at your own risk" which would be the normal disclaimer (and it would be a bit unenforceable given that its a residential area).
So, in the event that the delivery firm maintain their innocence, does it fall back on the building firm?
I'm just wondering who to persue. The delivery firm directly or the builder and let their insurance company deal with the delivery firm?
Delivery firm driver is the only person liable and as he is driving delivery firm vehicle under their insurance the buck stops there.
Obviously, driver will 'go into denial' to protect himself.
Insurance companies are very good at sorting these
out. It's all part of their days work.
But to add 'fire' to your very worthy argument make sure you let the site manager and HIS bosses know you will take action against their sloppy and dangerous site management skills and trust they are well insured!
Another 'scare' tactic is to suggest their site has an inspection by the local Health and Safety if they don't square up.
They won't want the site shut for 5 minutes as that COSTS!
Obviously, driver will 'go into denial' to protect himself.
Insurance companies are very good at sorting these
out. It's all part of their days work. But to add 'fire' to your very worthy argument make sure you let the site manager and HIS bosses know you will take action against their sloppy and dangerous site management skills and trust they are well insured!
Another 'scare' tactic is to suggest their site has an inspection by the local Health and Safety if they don't square up.
They won't want the site shut for 5 minutes as that COSTS!
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