Hit and run - insurance situation?
Hit and run - insurance situation?
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7db

Original Poster:

6,060 posts

260 months

Thursday 8th September 2016
quotequote all
An older gentleman I know was involved in a gentle rear-end collision at a set of traffic lights. He was stationary, and got tapped by another car. Everyone got out and there was a bit of aggressive chat from the following driver. The passenger stood in front of the number plate but eventually they got back in their car. As the old man wrote the details down, they snatched his notebook and drove at him to get away. He had to jump out of the way to avoid an accident.

He had a heart attack at the scene and ended up in hospital. The police were extremely helpful but ultimately have nothing to go on.

Does he have an insurance claim -- presumably not against the other car's insurers since they are unknown -- for damage to the car and his heart attack?

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 9th September 2016
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That is an extremely serious turn of events and I would be surprised if the police didn't conduct seriously extensive enquiries.

The victims insurers will pay for the damage to the car (if he has comp cover) and would also be helpful in trying to track down the other party.

Were there any witnesses at all?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

156 months

Friday 9th September 2016
quotequote all
7db said:
Does he have an insurance claim -- presumably not against the other car's insurers since they are unknown -- for damage to the car and his heart attack?
He can claim from his own insurer for the damage to the car.

But anything else would be down to finding the scumbags from the other car. Theoretically, there could be prosecution for theft, threatening behaviour, assault.

Cudd Wudd

1,118 posts

155 months

Friday 9th September 2016
quotequote all
The Motor Insurers' Bureau operate an untraced drivers' scheme: https://www.mib.org.uk/making-a-claim/claiming-aga...

The link sets out the procedure in terms of notifying the police within 14 days (done), making enquiries and notifying own insurer, who should then deal with the vehicle damage (assuming fully comp).

The MIB could be contacted regarding the heart attack side of things, which will be subject to medical causation, ie establishing that the injury was caused by the event. The MIB will typically contact the GP/hospital and in appropriate cases require an independent medical report.

7db

Original Poster:

6,060 posts

260 months

Friday 9th September 2016
quotequote all
desolate said:
Were there any witnesses at all?
There was an AA Driving instructor behind who may have seen it, but AA haven't been very successful in finding him -- they have a lot on the road in the area and the driving school vehicles aren't as well tracked as the mechanics vans.

Seems also to be a CCTV blackspot -- nothing around the area amazingly.

amancalledrob

1,248 posts

164 months

Friday 9th September 2016
quotequote all
Serious stuff. I hope he's ok in the end

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 9th September 2016
quotequote all
amancalledrob said:
Serious stuff. I hope he's ok in the end
Yes. The police should be all over this like a bad rash.

If they aren't I would camping at the station until someone in charge had told me why.

7db

Original Poster:

6,060 posts

260 months

Friday 9th September 2016
quotequote all
In fairness to the Police, I think they're doing all they can.

From what I've been told, the officer who attended was spectacularly polite, sympathetic and helpful (and pointed out it was more than likely our fellow travellers who train their kids to stand in front of number plates - who knew?).

But I don't really know what he can do to identify the driver or vehicle and without an identity, there's not much to go on. Frustrating when people operate so far outside the law, it seems to be unable to touch them.