protecting my no claims after a hit & run

alooof

i was involved in a hit and run accident the other day, and have just spoken to my insurance company.

i reported the incident straight away to the police and got the cars reg plate. a quick check online at the RAC website showed that i was correct with the details (it showed car make/model and colour)
the insurers said that they will attempt to claim against the other party's insurance, but if they deny the incident then i am liable to pay the excess of £250 and it goes down as my own fault. the claim can be investigated but it their reaction doesnt leave me too confident

where do i stand? if i am out of pocket then i am more than willing to file criminal action against the other driver but this still does not bode well for my future no claims bonus.
i heard i can trace the other drivers details via their number plate - any info on where this can be done?

Bossyboots

You can apply to the DVLA for the details but you have to qualify as a person entitled to the information. I don't think you will in these circumstances because this is something your insurance company can and should do anyway. I suspect the next thing you hear will be from your insurance company telling you that the other driver denies being involved.

MarkyMarkD

It's good that you got the right details, and told the police. But when we were involved in a hit and run, the police didn't do anything at all - and we had the correct vehicle details too.

Our case was also settled by our insurance (company car, fortunately) and would have counted as a claim against me had it been my own policy.

You can't instigate criminal action against the other driver - that is up to the police/CPS who probably won't bother - d'oh! I suspect that unless there are (severe?) injuries they can't be a*sed. You could take civil action against them but that's really down to your insurers and/or your uninsured loss insurers.

alooof

cheers fellas

it seems the best course of action after hitting someone would be to just drive off!!

its ridiculous how you can get fined £100 for parking in the wrong place for a minute or 3 points for slightly exceeding a speeding limit but a hit & run driver can get off scot-free
my insurance company said if the other party denied the incident, that they would inspect the other vehicle. hopefully they will find damage or evidence of fresh repairs

i would have thought by getting the other cars details i would be fully protected - how wrong i was and how worrying it is to find that no1 cares!

MarkyMarkD

It's tragic, really, isn't it.

When I was a student, I was involved in an accident where a third party hit my car and pushed me into a parked car.

Obviously, I wrote down my details and left them on the windscreen of the parked car who later contacted me to sort out the insurance claim.

But the way things are going, you have to suspect that a lot of people in the same circumstances would now just b*gger off leaving the innocent party in the lurch.

Pagan98

Bossyboots wrote:

You can apply to the DVLA for the details but you have to qualify as a person entitled to the information. I don't think you will in these circumstances because this is something your insurance company can and should do anyway. I suspect the next thing you hear will be from your insurance company telling you that the other driver denies being involved.

Actually I just had occasion to apply to the DVLA for owner details of a car that hit mine - not a hit and run but I neglected to get the owner's address and wanted to pursue a civil action as my insurer was being uncooperative. The DVLA provided the keeper details with no trouble; my understanding is that the police report number and statement that you wish to issue legal proceedings are sufficient justification.

You need form V888 here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/AdviceOnKeepingYourVehicle/DG_4022067 and it costs £2.50.

Your own insurer is unlikely to release the details due to data protection fears and liability if you try to resolve the issue with a baseball bat!

Astaroth

Your insurers will do a DVLA check and MID etc etc

Of cause you can buy the details yourself again but then isnt this what you pay your insurance premiums for?