Car accident. Third party didn't stop

mrmichaelf

I was involved in a car accident last Thursday evening. In short a woman on her mobile overtook me, pulled back in suddenly striking the front of my car sending me into a grass verge. She drove off without stopping. I did get her number plate

Firstly, the police refused to attend the scene of the accident and said I would have to visit the station personally.
I did this, a statement was took and my vehicle checked to which the officer became suspicious of the lack of paint transfer with only a small amount of paint from her vehicle which was on my alloy wheel.
The police told me it would be at least a week to ten days until an officer would be interviewing her. Plenty of time for her to cover up any damage.

I informed my insurers who told me she would likely deny everything therefor a 50/50 settlement is the best I can hope for. They said the fact she drove off won't effect anything with regards to insurance.

I've been to hospital with severe back pains and have been diagnosed with a slipped disc.

Today my insurers called to say her insurance company have agreed to fund a hire car for me but will withdraw this as soon as she denies it was her fAult (this sounds very strange).

As of yet I've heard nothing from the police. Just shows if you run, your likely to get away with it.

buglawton

You seem convinced she was on her mobile. If you have a record of the exact time of the collision, the phone company will give up the corroborating info to the police if they want to make the effort to request it (lots of paperwork so maybe they only do this in really serious cases). As a minumum it will confirm where she was at the time - she may claim she was using a hands free anyway.

Think carefully about what you remember and then decide what to push for.

mrmichaelf

I've got the exact time I have the call to police about 30 seconds after the collision on my mobile. She was 100 percent on a mobile.

wardende

sounds to me like the third party's insurance company have already admitted liability. If your insurance company have said that the other insurance company are paying for the hire car then its pretty much case closed.

What you must watch out for though is that your claim isnt settled on a 50 50 basis, this is often a kop out that insurance companies use to settle up quickly. This will count as basically your fault as well as hers, so you both get screwed on making a claim and paying an excess.

mikey72

wardende wrote: »

sounds to me like the third party's insurance company have already admitted liability. If your insurance company have said that the other insurance company are paying for the hire car then its pretty much case closed.

What you must watch out for though is that your claim isnt settled on a 50 50 basis, this is often a kop out that insurance companies use to settle up quickly. This will count as basically your fault as well as hers, so you both get screwed on making a claim and paying an excess.

A cynical part of me would say it a guaranteed way for an insurance company to make more money. So 50/50 is the ideal way for them to go. Who do you appeal to?
I actually saw one website recently stressing it was a no claim discount, not a no blame discount, so any claim regardless of fault would increase your premium.

wardende

thats cobblers, if you claim against the other insurance company as it wasnt your fault at all then you are not going to lose your no claims discount, however your insurance company may note it on the letter when sending out proof of no claims that a claim was made however this didnt affect no claims.

My brother owns a personal injury company and his specialty is RTA so I know what Im saying is accurate.

Insurance companies would quicker push for 50 50 as it involves minimal investigation.

From what the OP has said though, this would be a gross injustice should it be decided on a 50 50 so if your insurance company try to call you and get you to go along with them you should fight it tooth and nail.

Keith

If the OPs wheels are wider than his car then it shouldn't pass an MOT. If the other parties wheels are wider than their car, it shouldn't pass an MOT.

How did the only paint transfer occur on the wheels?

mikey72

wardende wrote: »

thats cobblers, if you claim against the other insurance company as it wasnt your fault at all then you are not going to lose your no claims discount, however your insurance company may note it on the letter when sending out proof of no claims that a claim was made however this didnt affect no claims.

My brother owns a personal injury company and his specialty is RTA so I know what Im saying is accurate.

Insurance companies would quicker push for 50 50 as it involves minimal investigation.

From what the OP has said though, this would be a gross injustice should it be decided on a 50 50 so if your insurance company try to call you and get you to go along with them you should fight it tooth and nail.

Ah well, if your brother says so, it must be true.
Personally, I'll go with the fact any claim will increase your basic ptremium, even though on paper the ncd percentage may be the same.

skiddlydiddly

Keith wrote: »

If the OPs wheels are wider than his car then it shouldn't pass an MOT. If the other parties wheels are wider than their car, it shouldn't pass an MOT.

How did the only paint transfer occur on the wheels?

Watch out, Columbo's about.

roddydogs

Surely on a 50/50 claim, you both only pay 1/2 the "Excess"?

cyclonebri1

Keith wrote: »

If the OPs wheels are wider than his car then it shouldn't pass an MOT. If the other parties wheels are wider than their car, it shouldn't pass an MOT.

How did the only paint transfer occur on the wheels?

Front bumper (corner point), level with wheel centre will be 1st point of contact if the other car drove into op as stated, car probably steered clear then?. Case closed Columbo. :D

Actually a similar thing happened to our car when my BIL borrowed it. Driving up a tight terraced street with cars parked everywhere someone reversed out on to the road and I ended up with a written off car. Both doors creased, rear quarter panel and rear bumper trashed. He claimed not at fault, but because the 1st point of contact was actually a score on the front ally, they acepted that as proof that my car was part way past him when he hit mine. :)