Leaving scene of accident

bezzza

I would really appreciate some advice as I am getting conflicting information - a neighbour crashed into my parked car (she failed to stop at give way, mounted pavement and smashed into passenger side bonnet, headlight, front panel and door but carried on driving). I was unaware of crash as I was in the back of the house but 10 minutes after accident her father came and informed me of damage. He said she was so embarrassed and shocked and because she had kids in the car she just carried on driving. He said she is a new driver and was actually trying to stop stuff falling off dashboard hence reason for not slowing down and then not stopping.

So a week later I have still not received an apology from her (this is unrelated to question I want to ask but I am so annoyed that she didn't have the good manners to apologise especially now when I have chance to calm down - I really wasn't happy at the time) but I have friends telling me I should have reported her to the police and that I can get into trouble for not reporting the fact that she left the scene of the accident - is that right? I told the insurance company that she left the scene but they didn't advise me to contact the police. What should I do?

motorguy

I dont think 'leaving the scene of the accident' would apply here.

I had a similar incident with my four day old brand new passat at the turn of the year - a neighbour's daughter reversed into it and caused £1000 worth of damage. She drove back into her own drive and waited until her dad came home then they both came down. In fairness he paid in cash a couple of days later.

Hows the repair being handled. Insurance? or are they paying for it?

cyclonebri1

bezzza wrote: »

I would really appreciate some advice as I am getting conflicting information - a neighbour crashed into my parked car (she failed to stop at give way, mounted pavement and smashed into passenger side bonnet, headlight, front panel and door but carried on driving). I was unaware of crash as I was in the back of the house but 10 minutes after accident her father came and informed me of damage. He said she was so embarrassed and shocked and because she had kids in the car she just carried on driving. He said she is a new driver and was actually trying to stop stuff falling off dashboard hence reason for not slowing down and then not stopping.

So a week later I have still not received an apology from her (this is unrelated to question I want to ask but I am so annoyed that she didn't have the good manners to apologise especially now when I have chance to calm down - I really wasn't happy at the time) but I have friends telling me I should have reported her to the police and that I can get into trouble for not reporting the fact that she left the scene of the accident - is that right? I told the insurance company that she left the scene but they didn't advise me to contact the police. What should I do?

Leave it to the insurance to sort it out, what benefit is there to you in reporting it, and as you now have details they will not want to know.

There's always a major argument about what is good cause for leaving an accident, there being no one being there at the time being one, and had you been there the fact that you were enraged and she a female with children being another.

Let it be if all proceeds without issue although it was discourteous to say the least

bezzza

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Leave it to the insurance to sort it out, what benefit is there to you in reporting it, and as you now have details they will not want to know.

There's always a major argument about what is good cause for leaving an accident, there being no one being there at the time being one, and had you been there the fact that you were enraged and she a female with children being another.

Let it be if all proceeds without issue although it was discourteous to say the least

Ooh that's a weight off my mind - didn't really want to report it as it is all being dealt with through the insurance (her husband came and gave me his insurance details) - the only other thing I am upset by now is that it looks like my 12 year old Rover 100 is about to be written off and I will not be able to afford to buy another car in as good condition (with new starter motor, cold start sensor, crank sensor and distributor recently fitted during the horrible weather) with such low mileage (just over 44k) as they will only offer market value which is virtually nothing - really upsetting when the car was parked.

Oh and I would never have physically attacked her for hitting my car (I'm a 38 year old woman) but she could have put a note through the door over the past week if she couldn't face me (I'm not THAT scary except first thing in the morning without make up LOL)

Oh well now to wait for the bad news confirming the pitiful market value of car.

Thanks to everybody who has replied and offered help

maninthestreet

Trying "trying to stop stuff falling off dashboard" isn't reason enough for failing to stop after an accident.

motorguy

bezzza wrote: »

Ooh that's a weight off my mind - didn't really want to report it as it is all being dealt with through the insurance (her husband came and gave me his insurance details) - the only other thing I am upset by now is that it looks like my 12 year old Rover 100 is about to be written off and I will not be able to afford to buy another car in as good condition (with new starter motor, cold start sensor, crank sensor and distributor recently fitted during the horrible weather) with such low mileage (just over 44k) as they will only offer market value which is virtually nothing - really upsetting when the car was parked.

Oh and I would never have physically attacked her for hitting my car (I'm a 38 year old woman) but she could have put a note through the door over the past week if she couldn't face me (I'm not THAT scary except first thing in the morning without make up LOL)

Oh well now to wait for the bad news confirming the pitiful market value of car.

Thanks to everybody who has replied and offered help

If the car is worth more to you than to the insurance company, why not see if its worth buying back and repairing? There'll be lots of Rover 100's in scrap yards so getting the bits might not be difficult. Might be worth having it looked at by a cheap repair shop and getting an estimate for using S/H parts.

bezzza

Well that was a horrible call from the insurance company (I'm still crying as I'm so upset over losing my car - I know it wasn't much but to me it was) - the car needs £1,500 of work as they need to replace virtually the whole of the passenger side as well as new bonnet and headlight (I know they hugely inflate prices but even I was shocked) so they have written it off and offered me ................. £500! Where can I buy a perfectly running car for that price? I wouldn't mind but I'd only filled the car with petrol the previous evening so there goes another £25. It's so annoying as I wasn't even driving the car at the time to cause an accident - I feel like I am being penalised as I now have to mention this "accident" when I do get a new car to get insurance - I know it's not supposed to affect your premiums but it must be relevant or they wouldn't ask, would they? Apparently I get to keep the courtesy car for a week after I receive the cheque so gives me a little bit of time to find something else. Off to have a whinge (I can hear you all laughing at how attached I am to my little Rover 100 LOL)

bezzza

maninthestreet wrote: »

Trying "trying to stop stuff falling off dashboard" isn't reason enough for failing to stop after an accident.

That's what I thought - if she'd been trying to avoid running a child over I'd understand more - but I do have to admire the honesty her father showed as he could have said she was avoiding a dog or something (although the fact that another neighbour saw the accident is probably the reason they are accepting full responsibility).

Goes to look at Autotrader expecting disappointment sob

McKneff

You dont have to accept their first offer, reject it and see what they come up with.

Best wishes.

kolin_2

yeah, they'll be plenty of bargins on autotrader of cars that are in good nick too.

e.g. my girlfriend is trying to get rid of her old (V reg) Ford Escort. Absolutely nothing wrong with it, flew through MOT, serviced well, 77K miles, has some dents, for around £200-300 quid.

so there are bargins to be had,.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Bezzza, find some equivalent cars for sale in the ads and print them off and if needs be submit them to the insurance company to back up your estimated value of your car.

I assume you have a small hire/courtesy car at their expense whilst this is going on...might be worth telling them that you need a car quickly and may need to involve an accident handling company (without doing so it'll get complicated) to get the ball rolling..that might concentrate their mind.