Some people really have no conscience.......

[Superhoop]

My Mum phoned me this morning in tears...

She was on her way into the office, (She was driving through Needham at the time) and was stopped in traffic, when the behind guy in a white transit(ish) pick up (that's the best description she could give) slammed into the back of her car.

She got out of the car, as did the guy in the van. He went over to her, and apologised, saying that he hadn't notice the stopped traffic, and asked her several times if she was ok - She was, but, quite angry, and I guess a little shocked by it all, but also said that she wanted his name, phone number and insurance details

The guy continued to ask if she was ok, and said he was going to get some paper and a pen from his van - When he got to the van, he called over to her, saying that they were in the middle of the road, and should both move over to let other traffic past

He got in his van, and started to move across to the side of the road, so my Mum got in her car and did the same....

At this point, the guy in the van puts his foot down and fks off, leaving my Mum just sat there wondering what the hell is going on.

She's contacted the police, who came to take a statement from her at lunchtime, and have given her a crime reference number. She has given them a partial registration number (R547???), and they say that they are hopefull that they can find the vehicle (Yeah right) but also said that it's likely that he's uninsured/driving with no licence/has no RFL/MOT, so she should start a claim through her own insurance

She's left with a 3 month old car, with a trashed rear bumper, rear lamps, and a seriously bent boot floor, and will end up claiming off her own insurance, and is understandably a more than a little upset

Now, whilst I acknowledge she may have been a bit nieve, and clearly too trusting, she hasn't reallydone anything wrong - As for the cattle trucker who just drove off - I can only hope the cheeky barsteward gets what's coming to him sometime soon

[Hark]

That really sucks. The world is full of pillocks unfortunately.

[Geordie boy]

I would imagine the police would be able to trace the van easily from knowing R547...? I would of thought that they would have systems to trace vehicle types from that sort of information.

Your mother probably was a bit to trusting, but its to late now. You can only hope they get the barsteward from what info they have, but highly likely that if he is the type of person to just drive off, he is also likely to be the type of person not to have the vehicle insured in his name.

It maybe a bit time consuming but it could be worth going and sitting on this route in a layby if there is one at the same time on another morning keeping an eye out.

If she has a crime number then will it not be classed as none fault and only cost her the excess? Not ideal but hopefully won't effect her no claims?

[Chicane-UK]

Unbelievable. What a completely selfish piece of sh!t!!

Surely in this CCTV society, a camera must have picked that van up. Good luck - I hope they find him and throw the book at him.

[Adz The Rat]

R reg Transit pick up?

He will have moved camp sites by now.

[Cost Captain]

Adz The Rat said:

R reg Transit pick up?

He will have moved camp sites by now.

this.

And if she has described it as a transit pickup type thing, its going to be pretty difficult to identify from the first half of the reg.

Its a st world and eventually we all get stung.

[Superhoop]

Geordie boy said:

I would imagine the police would be able to trace the van easily from knowing R547...? I would of thought that they would have systems to trace vehicle types from that sort of information.

I seriously hope so, but only time will tell I guess - The Police did say that if he was found, he would be prosecuted for leaving the scene of an accident

Adz the Rat said:

R reg Transit pick up?

He will have moved camp sites by now.

That was my first thought too....

The thing that bugs me, is that it sounds like he knew exactly what he was doing right from the off - By getting out of the van to talk to my Mum, and dragging out the apology, I guess witness' would have thought that he'd given over his details, and therefore didn't think anything was amiss

Chicane-UK said:

Unbelievable. What a completely selfish piece of sh!t!!

Surely in this CCTV society, a camera must have picked that van up. Good luck - I hope they find him and throw the book at him.

That was one of the first things I asked her, but unfortunately no CCTV

ETA: another quoted reply

Edited by Superhoop on Tuesday 28th September 21:19

[nelly1]

That does suck. A lot.

However:-

• She's not injured;
• He's obviously not insured, so even if they do find him, then what?
• She IS insured - and that's what us honest people pay for;
• Her car will get sorted;
• This sort of thing is, sadly, becoming the norm nowadays;
• Because of the point above, it's no biggie to the insurance company;
• Her premium shouldn't increase by too much as it's not a huge loss;
• He'll probably (and hopefully) cop it not too far down the line;
• It could have been worse. MUCH worse!

Chin up and don't worry - it's just a piece of metal and she's OK.

[General Price]

Adz The Rat said:

R reg Transit pick up?

He will have moved camp sites by now.

Wrong there,a caravan dweller would have been driving a 60 plate.

[Superhoop]

nelly1 said:

However:-

• She's not injured;
• She IS insured - and that's what us honest people pay for;
• Her car will get sorted;
• It could have been worse. MUCH worse!

Chin up and don't worry - it's just a piece of metal and she's OK.

That's exactly what I said to her when she called (although I think I actualy said that I don't care about the car, it can be replaced, but I only have one Mum) - It doesn't help that the car is so new though, well that and the fact that she now thinks she's a fool at the moment

[Somnophore]

I work in the industry, it's always better to be Injured in these situations, if there is PI, your insurers/solicitors will be working harder to find and pursue him, police will make it a priority etc.

[Superhoop]

Whilst I understand what you're saying, I'm pleased she's not - as has been said already, the car can be repaired, not so easy if it was my Mum that was damaged

[Fleckers]

Somnophore said:

I work in the industry, it's always better to be Injured in these situations,

Dont be fking daft !!!!!

[Hip2Bsquare]

Fleckers said:

Somnophore said:

I work in the industry, it's always better to be Injured in these situations,

Dont be fking daft !!!!!

I think he means the BiB take more of an interest, not that it is better to be hurt

Awful situation OP, hope your Mum is not too shaken and upset about it all now and that the police do trace the van and driver.

[bazking69]

Lets hope CCTV is on your side. If it is matey could be in an awful lot of trouble. hopefully...

[duncansaunders]

Too late for this time - but most phones have a camera these days.

Photo of the back of her car and one of the van at the scene would have been very useful.

[Jasandjules]

Somnophore said:

I work in the industry, it's always better to be Injured in these situations, if there is PI, your insurers/solicitors will be working harder to find and pursue him, police will make it a priority etc.

Well I am for one am quietly confident that tomorrow the Op's mum will have a sore neck (often the way even with very low speed impacts from behind) so if she informs her insurer of that then perhaps plod will put in more effort to find him?

[Somnophore]

That was my point, should she discover in a day or two she has whiplash she will find her chances of this being chased and settled increases manyfold.

[skip_1]

No witnesses?

[bigfatnick]

Somnophore said:

That was my point, should she discover in a day or two she has whiplash she will find her chances of this being chased and settled increases manyfold.

you mean whiplash actually exists? How do whiplash claims work with uninsured drivers?