Police turning up after bump

[alhitch]

Hi

I had a bump in my van the other week, I went into the back of car doing an emergency stop for a dead fox in the road…

Anyway I’ve informed my insurance and just letting them deal with it, this was on a Monday and come the Friday at 9 at night the police were at my door wanting to ask me questions about the accident.

I wasn’t in so they’re going to get in touch with sometime this week but my question is why?

It was a small bump minimal damage and it’s being left for the insurance companies to hash out, I’ve Never had a accident before so I don’t really no what happens with the process but I wasn’t expecting the police to be involved.

Has anyone had a similar situation? Or give me some insight please it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[Evanivitch]

It's reportable if someone other than yourself (the driver) is injured.

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ask-the-police...

[lost in espace]

Personally and from experience I wouldn't talk to them without a solicitor present. They might be trying to do you for driving without due care and attention.

[Chrisgr31]

Would the insurance company have reported it to the police if they thought it might be crash for cash?

[Hammersia]

lost in espace said:

Personally and from experience I wouldn't talk to them without a solicitor present. They might be trying to do you for driving without due care and attention.

Maybe watch clips of the Post Office enquiry for inspiration on how to answer police questions.

[rev-erend]

They are not your friends.

No comment for everything.

[SlimJim16v]

Evanivitch said:

It's reportable if someone other than yourself (the driver) is injured.

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ask-the-police...

Probably trying to claim for whiplash.

[vikingaero]

SlimJim16v said:

Evanivitch said:

It's reportable if someone other than yourself (the driver) is injured.

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ask-the-police...

Probably trying to claim for whiplash.

All 17 of them...

[NFT]

vikingaero said:

SlimJim16v said:

Evanivitch said:

It's reportable if someone other than yourself (the driver) is injured.

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ask-the-police...

Probably trying to claim for whiplash.

All 17 of them...

It may be about what you saw too op, they could be claiming another party was driving, potentially even a vastly bigger age group or sex, they may have been banned and driving under insurance naming someone else or anything.

Was there a notable injury?, deciding to claiming whiplash coming on after doesn't exactly need BiB at your door.

[alhitch]

Was literally a bump! Less than 20 mph id say, considering he slammed his brakes on to a dead stop on a 40 duel carriageway for a dead fox! Annoying enough as it is without having to deal with police….

[r3g]

vikingaero said:

SlimJim16v said:

Evanivitch said:

It's reportable if someone other than yourself (the driver) is injured.

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ask-the-police...

Probably trying to claim for whiplash.

All 17 of them...

In a Toyota Aygo.

[Bigends]

Evanivitch said:

It's reportable if someone other than yourself (the driver) is injured.

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ask-the-police...

Only if somebody alleges theyve been injured at the time of the accident and during the course of exchanging details .

[Nibbles_bits]

lost in espace said:

Personally and from experience I wouldn't talk to them without a solicitor present. They might be trying to do you for driving without due care and attention.

........technically the OP did drive into the back of someone.

Had they been paying attention and following at a safe distance.......

NB. I'm not saying they were. Just that my wife had a similar situation and the Police warned her that her driving may have fallen below the standards blah blah bleugh

[MBVitoria]

Nibbles_bits said:

lost in espace said:

Personally and from experience I wouldn't talk to them without a solicitor present. They might be trying to do you for driving without due care and attention.

........technically the OP did drive into the back of someone.

Had they been paying attention and following at a safe distance.......

NB. I'm not saying they were. Just that my wife had a similar situation and the Police warned her that her driving may have fallen below the standards blah blah bleugh

Indeed, if the OP is really, brutally honest with himself then chances are he was probably following too closely. One to reflect on.

That said, if I was him, I'd speak to the police to see what they want, but if pressed about the collision just say he's not prepared to discuss it unless required to do so at interview.

[anonymous-user]

alhitch said:

Was literally a bump! Less than 20 mph id say, considering he slammed his brakes on to a dead stop on a 40 duel carriageway for a dead fox!

Hmm sounds similar to the only bump I've ever had. My insurance company later phoned me to say the bloke was claiming for personal injury costs to himself and his 3 invisible passengers. £18,000. Fortunately my insurance company successfully fought it.

[Evanivitch]

Bigends said:

Evanivitch said:

It's reportable if someone other than yourself (the driver) is injured.

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ask-the-police...

Only if somebody alleges theyve been injured at the time of the accident and during the course of exchanging details .

It's still reportable regardless of the timing. OP obviously could only do so when they've been informed of said injury, but if that's hours or days later then it would still be on them to report. If the other party has reported it then so what?

As others have said, sounds sketchy for a crash for cash.

[Nibbles_bits]

JackJarvis said:

alhitch said:

Was literally a bump! Less than 20 mph id say, considering he slammed his brakes on to a dead stop on a 40 duel carriageway for a dead fox!

Hmm sounds similar to the only bump I've ever had. My insurance company later phoned me to say the bloke was claiming for personal injury costs to himself and his 3 invisible passengers. £18,000. Fortunately my insurance company successfully fought it.

A friend a similar. The lone driver suddenly had a passenger when he made the claim.
The insurance company said it wasn't worth disputing, and honoured the claim.

[Bigends]

MBVitoria said:

Nibbles_bits said:

lost in espace said:

Personally and from experience I wouldn't talk to them without a solicitor present. They might be trying to do you for driving without due care and attention.

........technically the OP did drive into the back of someone.

Had they been paying attention and following at a safe distance.......

NB. I'm not saying they were. Just that my wife had a similar situation and the Police warned her that her driving may have fallen below the standards blah blah bleugh

Indeed, if the OP is really, brutally honest with himself then chances are he was probably following too closely. One to reflect on.

That said, if I was him, I'd speak to the police to see what they want, but if pressed about the collision just say he's not prepared to discuss it unless required to do so at interview.

As above - dont fall for the 'we only need a quick chat about the accident' line. Ask if they want to interview you about the incident - if yes - arrange a time and date at a Police station with legal advice. If no, they may be able to explain what they want to know over the phone. Theyll need your full details and documents at some stage though.

[r3g]

Bigends said:

As above - dont fall for the 'we only need a quick chat about the accident' line. Ask if they want to interview you about the incident - if yes - arrange a time and date at a Police station with legal advice. If no, they may be able to explain what they want to know over the phone. Theyll need your full details and documents at some stage though.

Don't do any of this unless you want to incriminate yourself whilst believing you are just "helping the police with their enquiries". The only interest the police have in this is pinning a charge or conviction on someone, and that person is you, and they know exactly what wording to use in their questioning to get you to incriminate yourself in your answers. Don't say you weren't warned!

PS. in case you weren't aware, bigends in a cop.

[anonymous-user]

Careful, they may be trying to trick you into giving fingerprints!