Van reverses into Car Park gates
Discussion
A few days ago a van reversed into the car park gates at one of our offices, damaging them. The incident was recorded on CCTV and the facilities manager for that site contacted the Police as the van driver didn’t stop. The Police have advised that, as we are insured, we speak to our InsCo.
I can understand why this would be the right thing to do if it was an accident between two vehicles but is the process the same when it’s a Motor vehicle hitting a building? Doubly annoying as we raised our excess this year to cut down on the premium…
I can understand why this would be the right thing to do if it was an accident between two vehicles but is the process the same when it’s a Motor vehicle hitting a building? Doubly annoying as we raised our excess this year to cut down on the premium…
That's lazy of the police,so what if you're insured? If someone hit my car and drove off,it's insured but that doesn't mean it's nota crime! Based on that,EVERY drive away is OK
If you have the third parties details,eg name is on the van, go directly to them. If not then get details from DVLA and go directly, no need to get your insurance company involved.
They can hardly deny it on CCTV
If you have the third parties details,eg name is on the van, go directly to them. If not then get details from DVLA and go directly, no need to get your insurance company involved.
They can hardly deny it on CCTV
kowalski655 said:
That's lazy of the police,so what if you're insured? If someone hit my car and drove off,it's insured but that doesn't mean it's not?a crime! Based on that,EVERY drive away is OK
That was my initial reaction as well. Admittedly they have to prioritise and an inanimate gate won't be able to do a "sad face/compo" pic in the local paper but it does feel as if we've been fobbed off. kowalski655 said:
If you have the third parties details,eg name is on the van, go directly to them. If not then get details from DVLA and go directly, no need to get your insurance company involved.
They can hardly deny it on CCTV
Unfortunately we don't have the details. Are we allowed to go direct to DVLA? I didn't think DVLA would reveal details about individuals to anybody who wasn't authorized?They can hardly deny it on CCTV
Countdown said:
hutchst said:
Can ypu prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that the van driver didn't give his details to the gate after the collision?
Well we've asked but the gate remains mute. And his union rep suggested that we don't hassle him during this traumatic period 
Now-a-days the police will not get involved if there is no-one injured and both parties can exchange details. In this case because you have cctv evidence and the registration number of the van, it's cut & dried that he was at fault, and your insurance company are able to get his details from the DVLA and deal with it. The police would only get involved it your insurance company had problems with that and they requested their assistance.
Not the answer that maybe you're looking for, but that's how it is.
Not the answer that maybe you're looking for, but that's how it is.
Edited by Gafferjim on Thursday 4th May 09:17
spookly said:
DVLA will give out details for a nominal fee so long as you have a valid justification.
It costs £2.50 and takes around 4 weekshttps://www.gov.uk/request-information-from-dvla
You do need to be very specific about why you want the information - providing an account of the accident - and you need to clearly say that the van VRN (whatever) collided with your gate. Otherwise the request is likely to be rejected. You may need to accompany the form V888 with a supporting letter
OP we had similar. You can use form V888 from the DVLA, but it takes some time. We made an enquiry of the MID database, paid £4 and got the vehicle's insurance details;
http://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx
This gives you the insurance company name and policy number. We then called them (Tesco Insurance) and said their insured had damaged our wall. They of course said that their insured hadn't reported it, we sent CCTV frames and photographs of the damage. They contacted their insured who them admitted it, and Tesco paid for the repairs with no quibble.
I'd suggest forgetting any Police prosecution of the driver, but getting your damaged covered.
http://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx
This gives you the insurance company name and policy number. We then called them (Tesco Insurance) and said their insured had damaged our wall. They of course said that their insured hadn't reported it, we sent CCTV frames and photographs of the damage. They contacted their insured who them admitted it, and Tesco paid for the repairs with no quibble.
I'd suggest forgetting any Police prosecution of the driver, but getting your damaged covered.
Thanks for all the advice. I genuinely would not have believed there could be so many gate-related "puns".
. Will get the Site manager to give this a go. A bit annoying that people would do this and then just drive off but such is life.
catfood12 said:
OP we had similar. You can use form V888 from the DVLA, but it takes some time. We made an enquiry of the MID database, paid £4 and got the vehicle's insurance details;
http://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx
This gives you the insurance company name and policy number. We then called them (Tesco Insurance) and said their insured had damaged our wall. They of course said that their insured hadn't reported it, we sent CCTV frames and photographs of the damage. They contacted their insured who them admitted it, and Tesco paid for the repairs with no quibble.
I'd suggest forgetting any Police prosecution of the driver, but getting your damaged covered.
Cheers http://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx
This gives you the insurance company name and policy number. We then called them (Tesco Insurance) and said their insured had damaged our wall. They of course said that their insured hadn't reported it, we sent CCTV frames and photographs of the damage. They contacted their insured who them admitted it, and Tesco paid for the repairs with no quibble.
I'd suggest forgetting any Police prosecution of the driver, but getting your damaged covered.
. Will get the Site manager to give this a go. A bit annoying that people would do this and then just drive off but such is life.spookly said:
Countdown said:
Unfortunately we don't have the details. Are we allowed to go direct to DVLA? I didn't think DVLA would reveal details about individuals to anybody who wasn't authorized?
DVLA will give out details for a nominal fee so long as you have a valid justification.Gafferjim said:
Now-a-days the police will not get involved if there is no-one injured and both parties can exchange details. In this case because you have cctv evidence and the registration number of the van, it's cut & dried that he was at fault, and your insurance company are able to get his details from the DVLA and deal with it. The police would only get involved it your insurance company had problems with that and they requested their assistance.
Not the answer that maybe you're looking for, but that's how it is.
I thought if the driver has not reported the accident within 24hrs he/she has committed an offence and its the Polices job to enforce the law? Obviously they will have to investigate it first by speaking with the driver.Not the answer that maybe you're looking for, but that's how it is.
Edited by Gafferjim on Thursday 4th May 09:17
TooMany2cvs said:
spookly said:
Countdown said:
Unfortunately we don't have the details. Are we allowed to go direct to DVLA? I didn't think DVLA would reveal details about individuals to anybody who wasn't authorized?
DVLA will give out details for a nominal fee so long as you have a valid justification.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff