Hit By Flying Dirt

lipton

Sorry if this belongs in the insurance boards but I felt motoring was a bit more appropriate.

My dad and I have just got home after quite an eventful journey. Will traveling on the A27 a mini coming from the opposite direction lost control, and hit the central reservation at quite some speed narrowly missing us but showering the car with rocks, stones ect. We did not stop as there was nowhere to do so safely and to be honest we were still counting our lucky stars 1/4 of a mile down the road and the thought didn't come in until the shock had passed.

Unfortunately my car is now covered in dents/scratches and my windscreen mess of cracks and chips.
I'm covered fully comp by tesco so the windscreen shouldn't be a problem but am I able to claim off the mini's insurance for the rest of the damage or will I just have to fork out for it?

If anybody's been in a similar case I'd appreciate some advice , thanks in advanced.

catflea

Sorry, I'm a bit confused, how can a car coming in the other direction hit the central reservation and narrowly miss you? Surely it would be on the other side of the road?

As for the damage, I'm not sure that you will be able to do much - I assume that since you didn't stop you didn't take any details?

Incidentally, I know stretches of the 27 very well indeed, where did it happen?

lipton

I was in the over-taking lane and he was snaking across both lanes the other side going all over the show and if the central reservation barrier hadn't been there he would have driven right onto my side and into me. Obviously central reservation barrier was there and stopped the mini doing what barriers supposed to do but if he's been going faster he could have flipped it onto our side thankfully it wasn't that bad.
Anywho I digress...so you don't think there's much hope. Dad said that it might be worth calling the fuzz as they would have the mini's details if there was any point at all.

And it was between Chichester and Havant, about 2 miles from Chichester Tescos.

pendulum

Time is of the essence in this - if your going to do anything like try to claim from the other driver, start the process in motion by tracking down the driver and informing the insurance company tomorrow.

meritaten

If the mini was going at speed and you say the barrier did its job, then did the mini hit the barrier?
if it did then possibly there was an accident and police were called who would have a record of this. and possibly people were hurt or killed. but never mind that - your poor car was hurt!

McKneff

meritaten wrote: »

If the mini was going at speed and you say the barrier did its job, then did the mini hit the barrier?
if it did then possibly there was an accident and police were called who would have a record of this. and possibly people were hurt or killed. but never mind that - your poor car was hurt!

We really can do without people like you on these boards.

You started out really helpful, but it just degenerated into a sarcy
nasty post. Had a drink or two have you.
Cant post anything helpful,then jog on mate.

pendulum

meritaten wrote: »

If the mini was going at speed and you say the barrier did its job, then did the mini hit the barrier?
if it did then possibly there was an accident and police were called who would have a record of this. and possibly people were hurt or killed. but never mind that - your poor car was hurt!

I don't think you have to tell the OP that people could have been hurt, when he's just told you he stared death in the face watching a car skidding head on towards him... your post is totally useless, just out of interest, do you have a problem with the appropriate authority claiming for the damage to the crash barrier, or is that a case of "aww, poor crash barrier got hurt - never mind" as well?

custardy

i would contact the police and see if they attended the scene and if so get the details of the car

december

To be honest I'm surprised that the OP said that they just drove on, in an accident such as this surely a phone call to the emergency services would have been in order as the other party may have been injured and also to identify themselves as a witness.

Anyway, I'd suggest contacting the police to see if they can help to identify the car that caused the damage although they might not be too pleased that you witnessed an accident and did not stop.

DaveMacD

december wrote: »

Anyway, I'd suggest contacting the police to see if they can help to identify the car that caused the damage although they might not be too pleased that you witnessed an accident and did not stop.

But there is no requirement to stop and report an accident unless you are injured. The only legal requirement is to report it within a certain period of time. If the accident was on the other carriageway, then it is a REALLY bad idea for the average motorist to stop and try to assist. The OP has already posted that the gravel hitting the window gave them a bit of a shock, so they probably weren't thinking clearly about it at the time.

rev_henry

Another thought to track down the details would be to contact the relevant highways authority. When you hit a central reservation and damage it or something like that, they usually find out who the driver is and claim for the damage off said driver's insurance company, so they might know.
Also OP, why not just inform your insurance company of all the details and location and let them do the legwork for you? They should be able and willing to, its what you pay them for. Also utilise your legal advice cover and ask them whether you can claim off the other driver. The damage could hardly not be the mini's fault, and your insurers should be willing to do all this as it'll save them having to pay out for the damage, IYSWIM.