Falsely accused of hit and run

[TeslaRoadster783]

Hi Guys,

I was starting my Hyundai N30 up and the exhaust must have set off the alarm of the Toyota Land Cruiser behind me. As I drove away a woman in her 50s yelled oi! at me and ask what I was doing trying to drive away after hitting the car behind me. The thing is that I have never made impact with the Land Cruiser behind me.

The woman claimed that she saw me hit that car, which i asked her to prove it and she said that I set off the alarm as I backed into the car which is total nonsense as I did not reverse at all. After back and forth arguing she said I guess its best if cops deal with it and walked away. I circled back and saw her talking to a security officer about 2-3 mintues later and the security officer looked at me as I drove past, but said nothing.

How screwed am I? I am absolutely certain that I did not make contact with any cars in that carpark. WIll cops just ignore it if she can't produce evidence of it or will cops contact me? There is very minor scratches on the rear bumper from some fool leaving a shopping cart and it hitting my car which I am worried that cops will pick up if they look at my car.

TLDR - started car, set off alarm of car behind me due to loud exhaust, woman accused me of hit and run because she heard the alarm go off and saw me drive off.

Thanks

Edited by TeslaRoadster783 on Monday 19th May 02:45

Edited by TeslaRoadster783 on Monday 19th May 02:46

[Mad Maximus]

Not worth worrying about. If it ever comes up as a problem deal with it then.

[Smint]

Worth having rear as well as front facing cameras, they're cheap as chips these days, in any possible situation just press the appropriate button on the device to ensure it isn't overwritten.
Have them in both of our cars because so many liars about these days someone hits you up the arse is likely to clear off, deny it, or claim you reversed into them with 3 'indy' witnesses seeing it all.
You don't need to tell anyone at the time you have footage, if they fail to spot the camera(s) at the time even better let them dig themselves into a hole.

[Griffith4ever]

if she pursues this through her insurer, yours will defend you, and she will have to provide evidence. Both of you will have to go to court, especially you.

This happened to me recently, and it dragged on for nearly two years. I sent photos of my unmarked van to my insurer. A week or so before the court date her insurance legals did not submit the required paperwork to the court on time, and a few days before the hearing , After seeing my signed statement and agreement I was attending court, they dropped the case entirely.

Apparently this is not unusual. I have a thread on it here.

It wasn't much hassle, and it didn't cost me anything, but it was annoying having a pending claim during that time.

TLDR: She'll need to provide evidence and attend court. If she hasn't any evidence you just need to show willing to attend court.

Edited by Griffith4ever on Monday 19th May 07:48

[Alex_225]

Did you take any photographs at the time? My only worry would be if she fabricates a load of damage and tries to blame it on you, assuming it was her own car and she wasn't just being a busy body.

As said, your insurance should defend you but it would be bonkers picking it up with the police when there literally was no damage and if you definitely didn't hit it (I believe you), she never actually saw the cars make contact she's just assuming.

[LightweightLouisDanvers]

Was there any damage to the Landcruiser?
If not the owner is hardly likely to try to pursue a claim.

[E-bmw]

Alex_225 said:

Did you take any photographs at the time? My only worry would be if she fabricates a load of damage and tries to blame it on you, assuming it was her own car and she wasn't just being a busy body.

As said, your insurance should defend you but it would be bonkers picking it up with the police when there literally was no damage and if you definitely didn't hit it (I believe you), she never actually saw the cars make contact she's just assuming.

^^^^ Wot 'e said.

As you didn't mention it I am guessing not.

She could do anything & call it evidence which would now be virtually impossible to disprove.

[kestral]

TeslaRoadster783 said:

Hi Guys,

I was starting my Hyundai N30 up and the exhaust must have set off the alarm of the Toyota Land Cruiser behind me. As I drove away a woman in her 50s yelled oi! at me and ask what I was doing trying to drive away after hitting the car behind me. The thing is that I have never made impact with the Land Cruiser behind me.

The woman claimed that she saw me hit that car, which i asked her to prove it and she said that I set off the alarm as I backed into the car which is total nonsense as I did not reverse at all. After back and forth arguing she said I guess its best if cops deal with it and walked away. I circled back and saw her talking to a security officer about 2-3 mintues later and the security officer looked at me as I drove past, but said nothing.

How screwed am I? I am absolutely certain that I did not make contact with any cars in that carpark. WIll cops just ignore it if she can't produce evidence of it or will cops contact me? There is very minor scratches on the rear bumper from some fool leaving a shopping cart and it hitting my car which I am worried that cops will pick up if they look at my car.

TLDR - started car, set off alarm of car behind me due to loud exhaust, woman accused me of hit and run because she heard the alarm go off and saw me drive off.

Thanks

Edited by TeslaRoadster783 on Monday 19th May 02:45

Edited by TeslaRoadster783 on Monday 19th May 02:46

Never ask people to prove it. They just might.

[paul_c123]

Should have treated it as if you'd hit her, taken plenty of pics of both cars, exchanged details, etc

I've never heard of an exhaust from one car close by, setting off the car alarm of another though. What is going on there? Faulty alarm on the Landcruiser?

[Countdown]

paul_c123 said:

I've never heard of an exhaust from one car close by, setting off the car alarm of another though. What is going on there? Faulty alarm on the Landcruiser?

That's what I was wondering. It must be a seriously obnoxious exhaust for it to be loud enough to set off an alarm.

[trashbat]

paul_c123 said:

I've never heard of an exhaust from one car close by, setting off the car alarm of another though.

I have! And it wasn't even that obnoxious.

[blueg33]

paul_c123 said:

I've never heard of an exhaust from one car close by, setting off the car alarm of another though.

My Tuscan did it on a regular basis - when leaving for work early in the morning I used to push it 50 metres down the lane to avoid setting off neighbours car alarms

[BertBert]

I got accused of knocking a fence over by me reversing my motorhome into it by the owner of the campsite I was staying in. Had a witness that said they heard the bang and saw me reverse into it and drive off. The thing is that I had Mrs Bert out the back sighting me and there's no way that it could have happened without her and me knowing about it!

I replied to the campsite owner with photos of the back of the motorhome to that effect. I expected an insurance claim to come through for me to fight, but heard no more about it.

To the OP you can only react to anything that happens from here. I suspect nothing will

[JQ]

blueg33 said:

paul_c123 said:

I've never heard of an exhaust from one car close by, setting off the car alarm of another though.

My Tuscan did it on a regular basis - when leaving for work early in the morning I used to push it 50 metres down the lane to avoid setting off neighbours car alarms

My sister's Chimaera would do the same. Driving down a narrow road with cars parked either side would cause chaos, although this was 20 years ago so I assume car alarms have improved over the years and become less sensitive.

[skyebear]

Colleague of my wife ended up in court due to similar. Two women reported her for hitting a car while turning in street. Police came to her house, saw damage to her car and charged her.

Now the colleague is a crap driver, however the damage occurred when she hit a different car on a previous occasion. My wife was with her at that time and saw her leave details. She might be an awful driver but she is honest.

When it got to court the JP/Sheriff threw it out as the police/fiscal had never bothered to establish if there actually was a victim/damage to another vehicle.

Gigantic waste of time, very stressful for colleague, and if OP ends up with similarly useless police officers and prosecutor picking up this case then a court date may be in their future.

Slightly off topic, but as my wife went to court to be a witness to the colleague's previous accident, I tagged along as had never seen the workings of a court before. Absolute pisstake as most of the defendants had failed to turn up so warrants for them were issued. amongst their other charges most were also meant to be appearing for failing to attend previously.

[KingNothing]

JQ said:

blueg33 said:

paul_c123 said:

I've never heard of an exhaust from one car close by, setting off the car alarm of another though.

My Tuscan did it on a regular basis - when leaving for work early in the morning I used to push it 50 metres down the lane to avoid setting off neighbours car alarms

My sister's Chimaera would do the same. Driving down a narrow road with cars parked either side would cause chaos, although this was 20 years ago so I assume car alarms have improved over the years and become less sensitive.

My Focus RS did it a number of times.

[Dave.]

JQ said:

blueg33 said:

paul_c123 said:

I've never heard of an exhaust from one car close by, setting off the car alarm of another though.

My Tuscan did it on a regular basis - when leaving for work early in the morning I used to push it 50 metres down the lane to avoid setting off neighbours car alarms

My sister's Chimaera would do the same. Driving down a narrow road with cars parked either side would cause chaos, although this was 20 years ago so I assume car alarms have improved over the years and become less sensitive.

Was this somewhere in Yorkshire? As about 20-25 years ago a Chim used to set the alarm off of my car daily.... I had to keep turning the sensitivity down til it stopped

[paul_c123]

Don't rely on "innocent until proven guilty". The other driver might produce a picture of a previous scratch/dent/whatever, then it is up to you to counter it to show nothing occurred. It would be your word against hers.

[Smint]

Talking of inefficient police, a hostile determined PC was dead set on nicking me for leaving the remnants of a tail lift at the scene of private residence gate damage, tail lift parts presumed to be part of the rigid i was allegedly driving on a tiny housing estate, cctv footage confirming this incident took place.

The fact i was many miles away and driving a loaded 11 car transporter (part of a 350 vehicle fleet not one of which boasted a tail lift) which couldn't have got anywhere near the house in question anyway simply didn't compute.

Eventually when a sensible lady at the station looked at the evidence the reg number alone wasn't even close.

Had nothing like registration plate issues from ill fated parking charge notices before, don't they hate it when you point out the blindingly obvious.

Edited by Smint on Monday 19th May 15:21

[popegregory]

So what you’re saying is a mad woman is trying her hardest to prove that she rear ended you?

How’s the neck…?