Mercedes Sprinter Van - Rental Van hit-and-run CCTV but no license plate

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Wed 5 Aug 2020 10:34
Mercedes Sprinter Van - Rental Van hit-and-run CCTV but no license plate - WookieGee

Hi, looking for some legal opinion about liability. I have CCTV footage of a well know commercial hire van hitting my parked vehicle and driving off without stopping or leaving details. Unfortunately I don't have a number plate, a police report has been filed and insurance company informed. However as no-one is injured the insurance companies don't seem interested and say without a licence plate they can't accept a claim.

However it's my belief that I've proven the incident took place but am in no position to find the license plate. The rental van owner however will ultimately identify the damage to their property when the van is returned and reclaim their losses from the driver or the third party company who hired the van whereas I am left bearing the costs of the incident,

Am I correct in thinking there is a burden of proof now on the rental company to show that they are someone not liable for the damage regardless of the untraced license? And if they say the van is insured by a third party the burden of proof is to show that otherwise it must be assumed the van is insured with them and the driver has a rental agreement for costs (not an insurance policy)

It seems a convenient fact that the rental company will potentially profit from a criminal hit-and-run whilst watching the innocent party (me) bear the costs of this act.

I'm not a lawyer, but naturally feel aggrieved at the situation especially as my vehicle is brand new.

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Wed 5 Aug 2020 12:42
Mercedes Sprinter Van - Rental Van hit-and-run CCTV but no license plate - Gibbo_Wirral

If you have CCTV footage of a signed van hitting your car then send a couple of still images to the company and ask them to settle. Or upload the footage to Youtube as an unlisted video (so it doesn't come up in a search) and send them the link.

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Wed 5 Aug 2020 13:32
Mercedes Sprinter Van - Rental Van hit-and-run CCTV but no license plate - Brit_in_Germany

I suppose theoretically the van could be on a long-term hire agreement with the hirer providing insurance but yes, the hire company should be responsible until shown otherwise.

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Thu 6 Aug 2020 16:43
Mercedes Sprinter Van - Rental Van hit-and-run CCTV but no license plate - Palcouk

And if you have CCTV footage that clearly identifies the Commercial Hire company you can at the end of the day use an on-line claim against that Company for all your costs involved in the repair, and any consequential increased premium costs

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Wed 12 Aug 2020 13:27
Mercedes Sprinter Van - Rental Van hit-and-run CCTV but no license plate - HGV ~ P Valentine

I used to work for TLS, and done a bit for enterprise.

These companies sometimes sell their vehicles !, you have ben given good advice but I would post a copy of the cctv to their head office, and follow it up with a phone call, harass them basically, until you get justice.

I would not rely on the police, they are slow and lazy in such cases, and since no one was injured and there is only financial loss this will not go to the top of any pile.

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Fri 14 Aug 2020 22:55
Mercedes Sprinter Van - Rental Van hit-and-run CCTV but no license plate - Zippy123

These companies sometimes sell their vehicles !,

I thought they took their markings off them when they sold them to avoid reputational damage.

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