neighbour hit my car and drove off_please help

katrina123

Oppoosite my house, someone hit my car with their car, scratched mine up.
My car was parked up in street.

He drove off.
witnesses told me, knocked on my door. (pedestrians, who live on same street)

WHATS BEST THING TO DO?

- GET CASH OFF HIM?
- CALL COPS?
- GO THROUGH INSURANCE....ring them up for advice?
- SPEAK TO HIM FIRST?

and in what order to do these things?

thankyou

ciano125

First things first, turn your caps lock off.

Personally, I would get written statements from as many witnesses as possible, and give them to your insurance company, let them sort it out, that's what they're for. You can also report it to the police while you're at it (and give them copies of the witness statements as well, that won't hurt).

If someone is prepared to damage your car and drive off, then they probably won't be the most reliable person to deal with if you were thinking of just getting them to pay for the damage. With a bit of luck they'll get busted for leaving the scene of an accident as well.

Hintza

Personally I would always speak to someone first and see what they say.

jrrowleyws

Be careful as insurers generally want accidents reported within 48 hours, its probabily also worth logging it with the police as its an offence not to stop at the scene of an accident. Getting a crime number doesnt neccessarily mean he will be visted by the police.

You may aswell also speak to him, asap, and see what he says. Dont say you have any witnesses, claim you saw him and see what his reaction is. If he denies it then bring up the witnesses and see what he says. You're in a strong position having external witnesses to the incident!

katrina123

thankyou

he has not returned yet. My friend says I should report it , if I decide to, within 24 hours, or it could adversly affect my claim/case.
So ill wait for him for few hours, then knock the door, ask who drive the car in question if anybodys in, to ask him to come see me right now, or im reporting incident to cops and insurance. And then tonight i will ring my insurance and police. I dont want to sleep on this.

And tomorrow i will speak to witnesses, to see how involved they want to get.
If insurance/police say they want to speak to them or go on record, i need to ask them first.

McKneff

I have just had experience of nearly the same thing.
Farmhand scraped my car, found him and he told me to take it to a garage
for a quote. The farmhands boss admitted that he was liable. I got an accident management company to sort everything out for me. But I know now that I could just as easily have done it myself by contacting his insurnace company
and just taking the claim forward. Unless there is a dispute over liability there is no reason for your own insurnace company to be informed. I was given this
advice by the accident management company as my own insurance company would have upped my premiums next year and many of them do, just for reporting it to them.

Wouldnt bother with the police, they wont be interested and will do absolutely nothing. So i wouldnt waste your time.
Talk to him first, but nicely

katrina123

thanks to all.

I approached other house members in front of house, they phoned him, he admitted it.... came back in 30mins....

he admitted it to me. He said he could fix it himself.
I said i wanna use a garage shop.
Got his name and reg. He's insured he said and was ok to go through insurance if i wanted to.
He was up for doing whatever. He said sorry.

I drew up an agreement right there and then saying:
"I admit liability and agree to pay the damage (after seeing quote)". and he signed it....

is this a good agreement? its rubbish...it doesnt even say accident details.... lol

so just get a quote or two tmrow and put them to him....
and no need to ring insurance and cops today is there?

vaio

McKneff wrote: »

......... Unless there is a dispute over liability there is no reason for your own insurnace company to be informed. I was given this advice by the accident management company as my own insurance company would have upped my premiums next year and many of them do, just for reporting it to them. .....

very bad advice, there are clear questions on all proposal forms asking about incidents, irrespective of fault, tell lies here and you risk having future claims for loss/damage to your car rejected.

Even more dumb to do it when the TP insurance company has it down as a claim and therefore it’s on the claims database which all companies have access to

McKneff

I am only relaying what this AM company has told me, i even mentioned
the insurance data base but they said it didnt matter, so how are these AM companies in existance then' especially as they are giving false information.

Hintza

vaio wrote: »

very bad advice, there are clear questions on all proposal forms asking about incidents,

This is wshere I get confused. The OP hasn't had an incident, he was nowhere near their car?

Treadway1

Hintza wrote: »

This is wshere I get confused. The OP hasn't had an incident, he was nowhere near their car?

OP hasnt had an "Accident" but there has been an "incident" involving damage to their car. Most, if not all, Ins. companies T&C's state that you ust tell them about any damage or incidents even if no action is taken, i.e. your wife/husband/daughter, etc. bumps into your car and you decide to get it fixed yourself, your insurance company would want to know about it! Bizarre I know, but thats how it is.