Hit and run - minor damage. Police not interested
Discussion
I parked my car in a local convenience store car park a week ago and was told as I returned to it that someone had hit it and drove off.
My rear bumper is scuffed, I have a faulty parking sensor in that location. I also do not know what damage there is behind the bumper.
The witnesses gave me their phone number, their name as well as occupation, which was solicitors. They also gave me the registration of the car, colour, make and that it was a small mpv.
The two witnesses were together and both agree my car was hit with a loud bang and that, in their opinion, the other driver would have been well aware of hitting my car.
I attempted to report the incident to the police but they have told me that they are not interested as no one was injured. They told me to report it to my insurers, I do not want to do this as I do not want to make a claim and suffer loss of ncb, higher premium and paying excess.
What I do want is for the other driver to suffer the consequences of their action. I believe that as my property has been damaged the police must take action, more so as I doubt the other driver has reported it to them within 24 hours.
Is this worth pursuing with the police, will quoting that damage has been done to my property get them moving or is there an alternative?
Many thanks in advance.
My rear bumper is scuffed, I have a faulty parking sensor in that location. I also do not know what damage there is behind the bumper.
The witnesses gave me their phone number, their name as well as occupation, which was solicitors. They also gave me the registration of the car, colour, make and that it was a small mpv.
The two witnesses were together and both agree my car was hit with a loud bang and that, in their opinion, the other driver would have been well aware of hitting my car.
I attempted to report the incident to the police but they have told me that they are not interested as no one was injured. They told me to report it to my insurers, I do not want to do this as I do not want to make a claim and suffer loss of ncb, higher premium and paying excess.
What I do want is for the other driver to suffer the consequences of their action. I believe that as my property has been damaged the police must take action, more so as I doubt the other driver has reported it to them within 24 hours.
Is this worth pursuing with the police, will quoting that damage has been done to my property get them moving or is there an alternative?
Many thanks in advance.
Surprised the Police didnt want anything to do with it. I was under the impression that they have a duty of care to investigate.
Someone did a hit and run on my GTD and took off my wing mirror. I called Police Scotland and they took a statement from here/ They did some door to door enquiries and checked for CCTV but unfortunately could not find any but at least they tried.
Ended up costing me £420 to repair and replace which was a total PITA and it makes me angry that someone would do that. Only think I can do it pay the money and hope Karma comes back and bite them hard in the ass!
Someone did a hit and run on my GTD and took off my wing mirror. I called Police Scotland and they took a statement from here/ They did some door to door enquiries and checked for CCTV but unfortunately could not find any but at least they tried.
Ended up costing me £420 to repair and replace which was a total PITA and it makes me angry that someone would do that. Only think I can do it pay the money and hope Karma comes back and bite them hard in the ass!
Use form V888 to request driver details from DVLA. Or let your insurance do it. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/v888-re...
Or retrieve insurance details here: https://www.mib.org.uk/check-insurance-details/che...
Or retrieve insurance details here: https://www.mib.org.uk/check-insurance-details/che...
Similar thing happened to Mrs Langtounlad.
GP at her practice saw her car being hit and took note of the vehicle details.
We simply notified her insurer and they did the rest. Took our statement & colliding vehicle details, got a corroborating statement from the GP.
Our car ended up with a complete bumper respray and we had an equivalent (MX5) hire car for the duration of the repair.
The car was away for almost 2 weeks as that included waiting for the assessor to see the car and authorise the repairs.
At renewal time there was no change in our premium and we actually renewed with the same insurer.
(I usually end up changing insurer each year via Quote Me Happy etc to keep the quotes competitive.)
In summary - report it to your insurer and let them sort it.
FWIW if the silly woman had made herself known at the time, I'd happily have taken the car to a local bodyshop that we know and had it repaired at a lower price and without the hire car costs.
She knew that she'd done it, witnessed by the GP from a window but not seen by her, and chose to drive off in her people carrier.
Definitely worked out much more expensive for her.
GP at her practice saw her car being hit and took note of the vehicle details.
We simply notified her insurer and they did the rest. Took our statement & colliding vehicle details, got a corroborating statement from the GP.
Our car ended up with a complete bumper respray and we had an equivalent (MX5) hire car for the duration of the repair.
The car was away for almost 2 weeks as that included waiting for the assessor to see the car and authorise the repairs.
At renewal time there was no change in our premium and we actually renewed with the same insurer.
(I usually end up changing insurer each year via Quote Me Happy etc to keep the quotes competitive.)
In summary - report it to your insurer and let them sort it.
FWIW if the silly woman had made herself known at the time, I'd happily have taken the car to a local bodyshop that we know and had it repaired at a lower price and without the hire car costs.
She knew that she'd done it, witnessed by the GP from a window but not seen by her, and chose to drive off in her people carrier.
Definitely worked out much more expensive for her.
I had a similar incident earlier this year but without any witness. Luckily I had dashcam footage showing the registration of the vehicle I parked next to.
I rang the Police aswell, they didn't show much interest as was minor damage only. My insurer though we're first class. Within 48 hours the car was in a garage for repairs, I had a courtesy car, my NCB had been reinstated and they had waved my excess payment.
The other party denied any responsibility yet their insurer have still ended up settling for the entire amount.
I have recently renewed and the policy has only raised by £50 (I expected that anyway due to the insurance tax rise) so looks like the claim had little to no impact.
I'd just report it to your insurer and let them get on with it.
I rang the Police aswell, they didn't show much interest as was minor damage only. My insurer though we're first class. Within 48 hours the car was in a garage for repairs, I had a courtesy car, my NCB had been reinstated and they had waved my excess payment.
The other party denied any responsibility yet their insurer have still ended up settling for the entire amount.
I have recently renewed and the policy has only raised by £50 (I expected that anyway due to the insurance tax rise) so looks like the claim had little to no impact.
I'd just report it to your insurer and let them get on with it.
As regards the other post
The sheer fact that you DONT want to inform the insurance company says more to me about how far they have gone in terms of treating their customers who are basically paying another tax on motoring.
Than it does on you, police, not shocked at all, sorry but they have better things to do and are critically short staffed. It would be like ringing up your local hospital about a cold.
A damn shame, but to be expected sadly.
The sheer fact that you DONT want to inform the insurance company says more to me about how far they have gone in terms of treating their customers who are basically paying another tax on motoring.
Than it does on you, police, not shocked at all, sorry but they have better things to do and are critically short staffed. It would be like ringing up your local hospital about a cold.
A damn shame, but to be expected sadly.
PaddyPadsPat said:
Surprised the Police didnt want anything to do with it. I was under the impression that they have a duty of care to investigate.
Someone did a hit and run on my GTD and took off my wing mirror. I called Police Scotland and they took a statement from here/ They did some door to door enquiries and checked for CCTV but unfortunately could not find any but at least they tried.
Ended up costing me £420 to repair and replace which was a total PITA and it makes me angry that someone would do that. Only think I can do it pay the money and hope Karma comes back and bite them hard in the ass!
Police do but there simply isn't time to chase every thing like this.Someone did a hit and run on my GTD and took off my wing mirror. I called Police Scotland and they took a statement from here/ They did some door to door enquiries and checked for CCTV but unfortunately could not find any but at least they tried.
Ended up costing me £420 to repair and replace which was a total PITA and it makes me angry that someone would do that. Only think I can do it pay the money and hope Karma comes back and bite them hard in the ass!
Even if it should be.
Went the DVLA route a good few years ago when someone clunked my car.
Wrote a letter to the address supplied by the DVLA. The culprit coughed up rather than go the insurance route, the damage was less than £200.
Had a much more serious clattering of a car parked up more recently, several thousand pounds worth of damage, no one saw anything no CCTV evidence, had to go the insurance route.
Mithering the police when you can sort this yourself doesn't look like the best use of police time IMHO.
Wingo.
Wrote a letter to the address supplied by the DVLA. The culprit coughed up rather than go the insurance route, the damage was less than £200.
Had a much more serious clattering of a car parked up more recently, several thousand pounds worth of damage, no one saw anything no CCTV evidence, had to go the insurance route.
Mithering the police when you can sort this yourself doesn't look like the best use of police time IMHO.
Wingo.
Of course the police didn't want to know - your car was technically on private land.
While some driving offences can be committed on private land an offence of 'failing to stop', under section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 cannot.
In addition The Data Protection Act does not allow the Police to release PNC details of a driver or vehicle involved in a collision that is not reportable under the Road Traffic Act.
While some driving offences can be committed on private land an offence of 'failing to stop', under section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 cannot.
In addition The Data Protection Act does not allow the Police to release PNC details of a driver or vehicle involved in a collision that is not reportable under the Road Traffic Act.
Edited by LordBretSinclair on Thursday 9th November 15:36
LordBretSinclair said:
Of course the police didn't want to know - your car was technically on private land.
While some driving offences can be committed on private land an offence of 'failing to stop', under section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 cannot.
If the public have access then it will apply. While some driving offences can be committed on private land an offence of 'failing to stop', under section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 cannot.
LordBretSinclair said:
Of course the police didn't want to know - your car was technically on private land.
While some driving offences can be committed on private land an offence of 'failing to stop', under section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 cannot.
Wrong. While some driving offences can be committed on private land an offence of 'failing to stop', under section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 cannot.
Edited by LordBretSinclair on Thursday 9th November 15:36
It's road or public place.
I'd just get the witness details, get the insurance details of the other driver from AskMID and make a claim through their insurer.
Why would you lose NCB or pay an excess for a non-fault claim where the other car can be traced? It just won't happen, especially not with independent witnesses. Sure, you'll have to declare a non-fault claim but that should make the square root of bugger all to your premiums if you shop around at renewal.
As for the police, can your witnesses identify the driver? If not how do the police prove who was driving? Even if they can, is it really in the public interest to spend all that time and money for a car park ding? The other driver will pay the consequences through having a fault claim on their record and possible loss of NCB if not protected, probably be way more of a penalty than anything the courts would dish out for anything so minor.
Why would you lose NCB or pay an excess for a non-fault claim where the other car can be traced? It just won't happen, especially not with independent witnesses. Sure, you'll have to declare a non-fault claim but that should make the square root of bugger all to your premiums if you shop around at renewal.
As for the police, can your witnesses identify the driver? If not how do the police prove who was driving? Even if they can, is it really in the public interest to spend all that time and money for a car park ding? The other driver will pay the consequences through having a fault claim on their record and possible loss of NCB if not protected, probably be way more of a penalty than anything the courts would dish out for anything so minor.
The police seem to be interested in anything which involves a bit of work these days.
My sister also suffered a hit & run a couple of weeks ago, while waiting at a set of lights to turn right a car going straight on side swiped her and carried on driving, my sister gave chase, beeping her horn & flashing lights to gain the drivers attention, the car was clearly trying to evade the situation as it performed a quick u turn, speeding off again, my sister stayed behind the car which then pulled into a pub car park and the driver spoke to my sister for a minute trying to say they didn't know she'd hit my sisters car, the driver stank of booze, my sister tried to get the keys from the car to stop her driving off but it was keyless, the driver then drove the car at my sister & my niece to get away, my sister called the police on 999 only to be told by the call handler that as the person had left the scene they wouldn't be attending or putting a call out despite my sister having the make, model & reg of the car & a description of the driver.
She then sat in a police station for 2 hours reporting the incident and was told the call handler was wrong not to put a call out, poor effort from all concerned on that incident.
My sister also suffered a hit & run a couple of weeks ago, while waiting at a set of lights to turn right a car going straight on side swiped her and carried on driving, my sister gave chase, beeping her horn & flashing lights to gain the drivers attention, the car was clearly trying to evade the situation as it performed a quick u turn, speeding off again, my sister stayed behind the car which then pulled into a pub car park and the driver spoke to my sister for a minute trying to say they didn't know she'd hit my sisters car, the driver stank of booze, my sister tried to get the keys from the car to stop her driving off but it was keyless, the driver then drove the car at my sister & my niece to get away, my sister called the police on 999 only to be told by the call handler that as the person had left the scene they wouldn't be attending or putting a call out despite my sister having the make, model & reg of the car & a description of the driver.
She then sat in a police station for 2 hours reporting the incident and was told the call handler was wrong not to put a call out, poor effort from all concerned on that incident.
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