Car hitting a pedestrian, pedestrian's fault - any advice?

donner_kebab

Hiya everyone,

I really hope someone can give me some advice for my friend...he is very worried and I can't help!

Basically there was a group of teenagers about to walk in front on the road when they all (bar one) saw my friend driving along the road. They all stopped by one of them walked out in front of the car when my mate slammed on his brakes and the girl bumped the bonnet and was on the floor.

She got up and went to sit down. She said she was fine and her friends (including her brother who was there at the time) said she was fine and it was completely her fault. They even then went on to check over the car for damage despite my friend saying not to worry about the car.

Two independent witnesses saw the accident and said it was no way the driver's fault. They gave him their details. One of them even flagged down a police car, informed them what happened to which the police drove up to the accident, then left without even leaving their car!

The girl has gone to hospital to get checked over just in case and the brother said he would call my mate to let him know if there are any problems. The teenagers were all very polite and they then got into their car which was on the same road and left.

My mate called a police hotline who said he has to report this within 24 hours. But he has no details about the girl.

What should he do? Does he need to file a police report despite having no details? What could the police do without her name? Am I right in thinking they could not do anything unless the girl came forward and then if the witnesses and everyone says it was her fault, my friend would be ok? Does he need to tell his insurance company too? It would be awful if his cover was increased at renewal due to someone else not looking when crossing the road but I imagine these things can happen?

Any help would be fab! x

Scooby_Doo.

donner_kebab wrote: »

Hiya everyone,

I really hope someone can give me some advice for my friend...he is very worried and I can't help!

Basically there was a group of teenagers about to walk in front on the road when they all (bar one) saw my friend driving along the road. They all stopped by one of them walked out in front of the car when my mate slammed on his brakes and the girl bumped the bonnet and was on the floor.

She got up and went to sit down. She said she was fine and her friends (including her brother who was there at the time) said she was fine and it was completely her fault. They even then went on to check over the car for damage despite my friend saying not to worry about the car.

Two independent witnesses saw the accident and said it was no way the driver's fault. They gave him their details. One of them even flagged down a police car, informed them what happened to which the police drove up to the accident, then left without even leaving their car!

The girl has gone to hospital to get checked over just in case and the brother said he would call my mate to let him know if there are any problems. The teenagers were all very polite and they then got into their car which was on the same road and left.

My mate called a police hotline who said he has to report this within 24 hours. But he has no details about the girl.

What should he do? Does he need to file a police report despite having no details? If it was not reported at the time then yes. What could the police do without her name? That is of no concern to your friend, they'll record it and file it. Am I right in thinking they could not do anything unless the girl came forward and then if the witnesses and everyone says it was her fault, my friend would be ok? Does he need to tell his insurance company too? He should do yes. It would be awful if his cover was increased at renewal due to someone else not looking when crossing the road but I imagine these things can happen?

Any help would be fab! x

Remember he only has 24 hours to report it to the police. He could argue he already has but who were those officers at the scene?

donner_kebab

Huge thanks for letting me know Scooby Doo. Seems crazy to me that the Police didn't get out of the car and at least check everyone was ok, maybe even breathalyze him or something. He is very worried in case the girl changes her mind and tries to make out she was injured etc but I imagine he will need to cross that bridge if he ever came to it. Would his insurance rise do you know? If the police agreed it was an accident and no one was hurt? x

Superbiatch

The same happened to me, I reported it within 24 hours and be warned you could be contacted anytime up to 6 months after the 'accident' and possibly be prosecuted

Yorkie1

Agree with all Scooby Doo said, except that actually he has to report it as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 24 hours. That's not the same as having a full 24 hours in which to decide when to report. It also has to be reporting in person, not over the phone.

As it seems the officers didn't stop and take his details at the scene, my view is that that does not qualify as having reported the accident to them at that point.

Did anyone at the scene ask him for his details?

Did he obtain the details of the independent witnesses or anyone else at the scene?

Scooby_Doo.

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Agree with all Scooby Doo said, except that actually he has to report it as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 24 hours. That's not the same as having a full 24 hours in which to decide when to report. It also has to be reporting in person, not over the phone.

As it seems the officers didn't stop and take his details at the scene, my view is that that does not qualify as having reported the accident to them at that point.

If the pedestrian is injured it's a good neglect of duty though.

Tilt

Fully agree. Were they real policemen? Dosn't sound like what they would normally do! I would certainly mention this when repoting the matter officially.