Failure to report a collision
Discussion
The Police have been round in the last few days and left a card asking me to contact them ASAP. The GF immediately goes "what have you done?!" 
Anyway, I'm alleged to have bumped into a car back in April in my old Transit. I can't remember the incident at all and certainly wouldn't have driven off if I'd have known I hit something. The Police are coming round on Saturday (after the GP qualifying) I presume to take a statement. I had no visible signs of damage on my van, but it was a tough old thing with many blind spots and no view out of the rear, not that that's any defense.
What do you reckon I'll get if found guilty?
Anyway, I'm alleged to have bumped into a car back in April in my old Transit. I can't remember the incident at all and certainly wouldn't have driven off if I'd have known I hit something. The Police are coming round on Saturday (after the GP qualifying) I presume to take a statement. I had no visible signs of damage on my van, but it was a tough old thing with many blind spots and no view out of the rear, not that that's any defense.
What do you reckon I'll get if found guilty?
I would imagine to be convicted of the offence it would have to be proved that you were aware of the accident in the first place. If there is doubt about that then you should be found innocent.
About 10 years ago I parked up a Range Rover on some on-street parking. When I returned to it, from the front, I got in, reversed as I needed to and pulled away. About 3 hours later a Police officer arrived at the office and told me I'd collided with a moped. It turned out that a 16 year old nugget had parked his moped at a right angle to and right behind the RR, and that I'd tapped it when I'd reversed. Once I'd gone it then fell over, damaging the indicators.
The officer was happy that I didn't know anything had happened and left me with the lads contact details to sort out for myself.
About 10 years ago I parked up a Range Rover on some on-street parking. When I returned to it, from the front, I got in, reversed as I needed to and pulled away. About 3 hours later a Police officer arrived at the office and told me I'd collided with a moped. It turned out that a 16 year old nugget had parked his moped at a right angle to and right behind the RR, and that I'd tapped it when I'd reversed. Once I'd gone it then fell over, damaging the indicators.
The officer was happy that I didn't know anything had happened and left me with the lads contact details to sort out for myself.
sniff petrol said:
The Police have been round in the last few days and left a card asking me to contact them ASAP. The GF immediately goes "what have you done?!"
Anyway, I'm alleged to have bumped into a car back in April in my old Transit. I can't remember the incident at all and certainly wouldn't have driven off if I'd have known I hit something. The Police are coming round on Saturday (after the GP qualifying) I presume to take a statement. I had no visible signs of damage on my van, but it was a tough old thing with many blind spots and no view out of the rear, not that that's any defense.
What do you reckon I'll get if found guilty?
Tell the truth and if you didn't know you didn't know. I would imagine they will get you to swap details and deal with the matter under insurance. Good luckAnyway, I'm alleged to have bumped into a car back in April in my old Transit. I can't remember the incident at all and certainly wouldn't have driven off if I'd have known I hit something. The Police are coming round on Saturday (after the GP qualifying) I presume to take a statement. I had no visible signs of damage on my van, but it was a tough old thing with many blind spots and no view out of the rear, not that that's any defense.
What do you reckon I'll get if found guilty?
My brother-in-law recently went through this after being reported for some kind of offence whilst driving his artic round a roundabout. The police never actually bothered giving him any details (aside from the location and time of the "incident"), we assume somebody got clipped, or felt that he was doing something dangerous.
The boys in blue just sent a NIP, then a month or two later they sent a form demanding that he detail the "incident" in his own words. Obviously he had trouble with that! He just wrote something about not being aware of anything out of the ordinary happening, nobody had made any attempt to flag him down, and he had found no damage on his vehicle during his inspections around that date. Some time later he received a letter saying they would not be taking any action regarding the "accident he had been involved in".
Seriously, that's all you get out of them. The man's livelihood was left dangling from a thread for months, and even his sisters contacts within the police force were unable to help (advice was "just answer the questions and otherwise ignore it")
The boys in blue just sent a NIP, then a month or two later they sent a form demanding that he detail the "incident" in his own words. Obviously he had trouble with that! He just wrote something about not being aware of anything out of the ordinary happening, nobody had made any attempt to flag him down, and he had found no damage on his vehicle during his inspections around that date. Some time later he received a letter saying they would not be taking any action regarding the "accident he had been involved in".
Seriously, that's all you get out of them. The man's livelihood was left dangling from a thread for months, and even his sisters contacts within the police force were unable to help (advice was "just answer the questions and otherwise ignore it")
Do get confirmation of dates and a description of the vehicle as well so you can try and remember if you were even there.
I got something similar to this one come through last year, just a letter from claiming insurance company not a visit from the BiB.
I was sure I had not touched any other vehicle so went through my diary and found I was abroad at the time. The final nail in the claim's coffin was that they described my car as a Royal Mail van. Told claiming insurance company to check the details again, turned out their witness had misremembered the number plate.
Chris
I got something similar to this one come through last year, just a letter from claiming insurance company not a visit from the BiB.
I was sure I had not touched any other vehicle so went through my diary and found I was abroad at the time. The final nail in the claim's coffin was that they described my car as a Royal Mail van. Told claiming insurance company to check the details again, turned out their witness had misremembered the number plate.
Chris
Update, today I've received a letter in my father's name 
(his first name is the same as my middle name so that may explain the mistake) giving me the option of doing a "driver improvement course" as an alternative to proceedings against me in a Magistrates Court for driving without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for other road users. The course would cost £155.
If I elect to take the course I will be issued a written warning and the matter will be closed.
(his first name is the same as my middle name so that may explain the mistake) giving me the option of doing a "driver improvement course" as an alternative to proceedings against me in a Magistrates Court for driving without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for other road users. The course would cost £155. If I elect to take the course I will be issued a written warning and the matter will be closed.
CVP said:
What did the police say when they came round to discuss the original alledged incident with you? Seems odd going straight to this option?
Chris
It was outside a shop and there's CCTV evidence apparently. Being as I was reversing onto the road (I know I shouldn't have but I'm sure we all have at some time) I'm in the wrong.Chris
Could the fact that they've sent the letter in my Dad's name be any sort of way out?
sniff petrol said:
CVP said:
What did the police say when they came round to discuss the original alledged incident with you? Seems odd going straight to this option?
Chris
It was outside a shop and there's CCTV evidence apparently. Being as I was reversing onto the road (I know I shouldn't have but I'm sure we all have at some time) I'm in the wrong.Chris
Could the fact that they've sent the letter in my Dad's name be any sort of way out?
slow_poke said:
sniff petrol said:
CVP said:
What did the police say when they came round to discuss the original alledged incident with you? Seems odd going straight to this option?
Chris
It was outside a shop and there's CCTV evidence apparently. Being as I was reversing onto the road (I know I shouldn't have but I'm sure we all have at some time) I'm in the wrong.Chris
Could the fact that they've sent the letter in my Dad's name be any sort of way out?
Chris
It seems that they have accepted the fact that you were unaware of the collision hence the fact that you have not been charged with failure to stop/report. However they are of the opinion that your actions at the time did constitute careless driving.
If I was you I'd be opting for the DIC.
Cat
If I was you I'd be opting for the DIC.
Cat
wiggy001 said:
Have you seen this evidence?
Anyway, shock horror, yet another good use of our police force.
if you were the owner of the car hit i'm sure you wouldnt be of that attitude!Anyway, shock horror, yet another good use of our police force.
gf was hit by a coach a few years ago, because the driver went over the white line and went down the side of the car he had no idea he hit someone, heavy traffic and unable to follow my gf took his reg and the person behind gave details as a witness.
Police helped track the owners of the coach, driver admitted he was there at that time etc, coach company paid for the damage.
point is you dont always know you've hit someone, and if your on the recieving end who are you supposed to turn to?
chr15b said:
wiggy001 said:
Have you seen this evidence?
Anyway, shock horror, yet another good use of our police force.
if you were the owner of the car hit i'm sure you wouldnt be of that attitude!Anyway, shock horror, yet another good use of our police force.
gf was hit by a coach a few years ago, because the driver went over the white line and went down the side of the car he had no idea he hit someone, heavy traffic and unable to follow my gf took his reg and the person behind gave details as a witness.
Police helped track the owners of the coach, driver admitted he was there at that time etc, coach company paid for the damage.
point is you dont always know you've hit someone, and if your on the recieving end who are you supposed to turn to?
They finally got in touch with the OP at least 2 months after the event. If there was CCTV, why the delay? Did the police really dig out a cctv tape that was 2 months old and sit watching it for this event?
My guess is that the OP may have done was he was accused of, the person he hit then had a small prang and is trying to claim from the OP for the damage.
But that's just my cynical mind!
Definitely would want to view the cctv myself before agreeing to a thing
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