Hello all,
3 weeks ago my car was hit by an unscrupulous Fiesta driver who then decided to drive off.
I have since paid £350 to replace a steering rod and realign the wheels and ~ £250 is pending to fix the bodywork.
I reported this to the Police and my insurance company immediately, but things have not progressed since. How long does this normally take and can my insurance company try and sort this out independently of the Police or are they the limiting factor?
Thanks,
Rob.
|
|
It may be a really silly question but ... Did you get the vrm of the car and any sort of description of the car and the driver. If not the Criminal Protection Society will say not to bother.
|
|
Yes. Got the registration number, make and model of car and a relatively basic description of the driver.
|
|
I wrote my car off due to a car pulling out on me causing me to hit the central reservation. I didn't touch the other car. He stopped, as did all the traffic, but then drove off. I had three separate witnesses who noted his registration. The attending police officers entered his registration into the police car's onboard computer and came up with a name and address immediately. However, due to the Data Protection Act they were not allowed to release this info to my insurance company. The insurance company had to apply to the DVLA and it took around 10 days for the info to come back. In the meantime the police launched their own investigation - it all took a long long time I'm afraid ! Good luck.
|
I wrote my car off due to a car pulling out on me causing me to hit the central reservation. I didn't touch the other car. He stopped, as did all the traffic, but then drove off. I had three separate witnesses who noted his registration. The attending police officers entered his registration into the police car's onboard computer and came up with a name and address immediately.
I personally have never swerved my car in order to avoid hitting a party at fault for the reasons you have jsut given above.
In the absence of the independant witnesses, and you not having the time to note the 'offending' dirvers' registration your insurance would be liable and you'd lose your NCB. Even so, if you had taken the offending drivers' details and the Police went and chatted to him after the event, in the absence of any damage to his car and no witnesses - he coudl simply deny he either caused the accident or was even there. It is a natural inclination to swerve - but do think of the consequences.
By hitting the driver there can be no question who was at fault and that the car 'was there'.
Again, I'm NOT advocating people simply plough into one another or without due regard to safety etc. but it does bear thinking about that in ana ttempt to avoid hitting the offending driver/vehicle, you swerve, miss them and end up writing off your own car or worse still, hitting other traffic, you're the one left holding the can...and your insurance company the bill.
If it's their fault, then it's their fault, hit them and deal with it from there.
|
|
I have wondered what would have happened if I collided with the other car instead of trying to avoid it and hitting the central reservation wall. As this accident happened at around 85mph I feel that there would have been two vehicles spinning across four lanes of traffic instead of just my car. As for worrying about my NCB (protected) or possible damage to my vehicle - this was the last thing going through my mind at the time - the main thought being ' Hope that I get out of this in one piece '. Written on the computer screen your advice seems plausible and correct but during the actual event it is much more difficult to follow.
|
|
|
|
He may be one of the invisible motorists who hasn't registered the vehicle in his name or bothered with insurance.
--
\"Nothing less than 8 cylinders will do\"
|
|
Suprising as it may seem, you have good grounds to ask the DVLA for the driver details yourself. Go to your LVLO tell them what you want and if you can show good reson they will, for a fee, provide you with the details of the owner/keeper.
|
I can think of a few reasons why the enquiry seems to be at a standstill but not one to cover the fact that the investigating officer hasn't made contact to up date, so:
Back to the PS where you reported it and have a word with them to find out.
DVD
|
Found this information:
"Release of another vehicle?s keeper details
"You can obtain the name and address of the registered keeper of a vehicle if you can show reasonable cause for needing the information.
"Members of the public will need to complete form V888. Companies can either complete form VQ3 or apply in writing giving full details of the reason for the enquiry and the vehicle registration mark. Both forms are available from DVLA.
"The fee for information at a specific date of event is £2.50 per vehicle. If further information is required, for instance, a copy of a document or additional keeper information, a fee of £5 is required per vehicle.
"Send your application to: Vehicle Record Enquiries, Vehicle Customer Services, DVLA, Swansea SA99 1AJ."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
Stuartli
Thanks for fleshing out my stunning lack of attention to detail !
|
Pugugly
No problem, it's just a question of knowing where to look, gleaned from decades of experience as a journalist...:-)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
|
|
|
|
If I'm not mistaken, then if a driver fails to stop at the scene of a damage only accident then the offence is sumamry only and upon conviction should lead to a fine and penalty points. However, if it was a 'Personal Injury' accident, and the the offending party fails to stop and exchange details then the offence is ARRESTABLE.
The offence, as ever, is committed by the 'driver of the vehicle' at the time - who as my fellow commentators have already hinted - might not be the registered owner/keeper.
So with all the above in mind, I'd suggest that if you are in a vehicle that has been 'hit' - then you must have suffered from some form of a 'injury'. It might be slight - but an injury never the less - thus making it a 'Fail to Stop Personal Injury RTA' thus giving the Police instant powers to act - rather than push paper and look to serve a summons which can take about six months.
So, help the Police to help you and report the accident as it was: Personal Injury.
Just FYI folks, I'm NOT suggesting or encouraging anyone to LIE to the Police or mis-state fact inorder to get them them to act. Use your own judgement and 'common sense'.
|
"So, help the Police to help you and report the accident as it was: Personal Injury."
Perverting the course of justice is also an arrestable offence.
|
|
|
|
Do you have legal cover included on your policy? If so, get them involved ASAP.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=25...6
Kevin...
|
|
|
About 18 months ago somebody managed to back into my car after leaving a pub (drunk). The incident was witnessed and the reg number given to the police. They then promptly lost the details meaning a drunk driver got off scott free even though it was called in on a 999 call.
I went to the police station the day after it happened and they didn't sem to want to get involved. Obviously getting out of their nice new police station to actually do anything which didn't involve a speed camera/gun was too much like hard work for them.
|
About 18 months ago somebody managed to back into my car after leaving a pub (drunk). The incident was witnessed and the reg number given to the police. They then promptly lost the details meaning a drunk driver got off scott free even though it was called in on a 999 call.
I thought that all 999 calls were recorded, so I wouldn't have thought that was possible. But obviously they managed it somehow.
Hope you filed a formal complaint.
|
|
|
About 18 months ago somebody managed to back into my car after leaving a pub (drunk). The incident was witnessed and the reg number given to the police. They then promptly lost the details meaning a drunk driver got off scott free even though it was called in on a 999 call.
ALL 999 calls are recorded - no 'ifs' or 'buts' so your call should be logged and also searchable from the Police Logging Terminal by inputting the date/time or other parameters.
But didn't the witness make a note of the offending vehicle's VRM? Did any of your other witnesses ake down the number? Who forwarded the number to the Police originally? Don't they have a copy? it's all well and good blaming the Police, but if it was MY car - then I'd give as much info. as possible to my insurance company and track down the driver.
CCTV is only good if the recording is of a good quality. Do they Police know there is CCTV? Did they sieze it? At the end of the day man, if the Police haven't done their job properly, then I'd suggest you should bring civil proceedings against the Police for your loss so your insurance doesn't end up paying for the damage and you loosing your NCB.
And yes, if what you say is true, then this IS shoddy and you should lodge an official complaint - I suspect though there might be a little more to the story perhaps? ;)
|
After more than 3 weeks of inactivity from my insurance company and being fobbed off by the Police, I found out that my report from the 26/2/5 (tried to report it immediately, but they didn't have the forms!) had been lost. I gave a second statement today.
This time, when checking the registration, they found that the car had been reported as 'badly vandalised' on the 18/3/5 (three weeks after the accident) and they had put a note on the car asking the owner to move it. How did they have the time to put a note on the car but not knock on the guy's door?!
My insurance company (Allianz Cornhill) have today decided to bother to try and get in touch with the owner's insurance company. They said this will take at least 3 weeks - they could have had this done by now!!! Also, when I mentioned that my policy was up for renewal on the 16/4/5 they said that, although I would only claim against his insurance, this 'open' claim would increased the cost of a new policy. Do you know what will happen if I try and get a new policy with another insurance company regarding this?
So, I'm mighty cheesed off with both the Police and my insurers... are cars really worth the hassle?
RP
|
After more than 3 weeks of inactivity from my insurance company and being fobbed off by the Police, I found out that my report from the 26/2/5 (tried to report it immediately, but they didn't have the forms!) had been lost. I gave a second statement today.
Sorry mate, but your 'complaint' doesn't hold water. If your 'report' was simply over the 999 System then there WILL be a record (see other posts Re: recording of 999 calls) and if it was reported as a 'Crime Report' (unlikely since hit and run doesn't come under the Home Office Crime Recording standards - but hey you never know these days) then you will have a Crime Reference number which CANNOT be lost since each Crime Ref. # is UNIQUE to an incident. With stringent auditing, you 'cant lose' such reports because once an entry has been made it is there forever and ever - truly.
For the Polcie not having the forms? Thats just plain fobbing off by the Police (if thats what they really said!) I guess you 'knew' that you were being fobbed off by the Police, yet you did nothing. I don't whats worse - knowing that you've been ripped off (and not realise it) or know you are being ripped off, know about it and do nothing?
Really and truly man, deicde which side of the fence you're on.
How did they have the time to put a note on the car but not knock on the guy's door?!
The sticker is only a 'Police Aware' sticker that goes on 'abandoned' cars and if the guy shown as the Registered Keeper (or last known keeper) is from outside of the Police Area then they usually get the Force that covers the area to go round. If the Police didn't go round to the Fiesta and stick a Police Aware notice on it - then you'd complain that they haven't done anything!
The Police Aware sign is the first step in having the vehicle removed by the Council.
My insurance company (Allianz Cornhill) have today decided to bother to try and get in touch with the owner's insurance company. They said this will take at least 3 weeks
It is never in your own Insurance companies interest to pursue a claim - regardless of fault since if they lose they load your premium. You have to drive it all the time and insist they 'do their job' properly and keep at them. If they see that you can be fobbed off or you are showing no intrest, then why on earth should they spend time and money on enquiries - they'll simply load your premium. Who looses? You do.
Perhaps you should stop blaming everyone else for your misfortune and get on that phone and chase your Insurance company to complete it's enquiries ASAP and keep calling the Police for updates as to whats happened. BTW your insurance companies investigation is not linked to the Police's - they are two independant yet parallel investigations that can come together at some stage, but one is not linked to the other. Think of a 'damage only' accident. The Police aren't called to those, or if they are, and in the absence of any aggravating factoers will not make any written reocrd, save for ensuring both aprties have exchanged details. Your insurnace company then pursues matters in the absence of a Police investigation.
Good luck man, get pro-active!
|
I have been proactive (patronising git!). I work very long hours and have still hounded the Police as much as possible. The system for tracing accidents is that the officer takes the report at the station, this gets sent to the 'Traffic Accidents Office' and is then given an RTC number (NOT a crime reference number as you erroneously suggested) before being 'dealt with' by the station covering the location where the accident occured.
In my case, the error happened between reporting it and it being sent to the traffic accidents office. The officer I reported it to insisted that the 'paper trail' was intact and that the office was overwhelmed with paperwork. I couldn't be expected to doubt his every word, could I?
As for my insurance company, I gave them the VRM on the evening of the accident and they said they'd try and trace it. They didn't. What can I say?
RP.
|
>Do you know what will happen if I try and get a new policy with another
>insurance company regarding this?
Stick with your current insurer until this is sorted out. If you swap now, your new insurer will load your policy because of the damage and you'll have thrown away any incentive for the old company to help you.
As I asked before, do you have legal cover included with your policy? If you do, this is the time to use it.
Kevin...
|
|
|
>>and is then given an RTC number (NOT a crime reference number as you erroneously suggested)
I said that it was UNLIKELY that a Crime Report number would be given out for something like this since it isn't 'criminal' as defined by the Home Office Crime Reporting Standards, but then again, these same rules say that if a person insists that a crime has occured, then it has - no matter what the reporting officer beleives, the matter gets recorded as a crime - but can then be screened out / no crimed or whatever at a later date.
So if you were to allege and affirm to the Officer that what happened was say...criminal damage, that the otehr driver deliberately drove into you and was negligent and careless ad deliberately caused the damage (ie: damaged property of another either willfully or carelessly) then you could conceivably have the 'car accident' crimed as a Crime Report - but it would very quickly be screened out and dealt with as a simple 'fail to stop'. I never intimated in my comment that you WOULD get a crime report for a simple fail to stop road traffic accident - but if you insist that it be crimed then it can. Thats all I'm saying.
Oh and we all work all hours of the day (and night!) and I apologise for coming across as patronising. You have to help yourself to help others - really push your insurance company and like someone else said, if you have legal cover, use them.
Good luck!
|
|
|
|
|
|
