Someone hit my car today and drove off!

tillycat123

School pick up today and a stupid 6th former pulled out of a parallel space along the road into me as I was slowly driving in a line of cars. It was pouring with rain and it was chaos with kids and cars everywhere.

I mouthed and pointed I was pulling over, to a space virtually opposite her. She watched me park then drove off :mad:

I tried to drive off after her but got stuck in traffic.

I'm hoping shes is in school tomorrow, I'm going to park up early and wait for her.

Now if all goes to plan I will find her to speak to before she goes into school. I can show her what she did and get her insurance details.

If not I've got to go to the police I understand within 24 hours.

If I do get her details, I've tried googling it, what is is called when you contact their insurance directly to sort it out and not yours?

I've also called the Smart garage to find out what it will cost for a new wing as that's what she has scraped and the labour and it's just under £200.

Shes only going to be 17 or 18 so as long as I can get her details i will be happy. Hopefully parents will want to settle directly.

I just wanted to know what to do if I go through her insurance.

Thanks

penrhyn

You don't go through her insurance, your insurance company pays for your repairs and claims the money back off the third party.
You may have to pay your excess up front if you don't go to the insurance approved repairer.
Have you got any witness statements, take photos of the damage and a diagram of what happened before you forget.

Quentin

tillycat123 wrote: »

........Now if all goes to plan I will find her to speak to before she goes into school. I can show her what she did and get her insurance details.

If not I've got to go to the police I understand within 24 hours......

Because the other driver damaged your car and drove off there is no "if" about reporting this to the police.

You are required to report RTAs like this. This must be done "as soon as is practicable", rather than at your leisure during the next 24 hours!

forgotmyname

Good news is you report her to the police for failing to stop, She will be prosecuted, And shes bound to have been driving less than 2 years so will get banned when they get 6 points for failing to stop,

And insurance will add an extra zero onto the already silly quotes.

Make sure you report it now though within 24 hours. That will make it easier for your insurance later.

And make her think twice next time. Catching the bus whilst shes learning to drive again.

McKneff

You can claim directly from her insurance company, it's faster that way, but you do have to let your ins. company know and tell them its for Information Only.

Keep a good eye out in the morning, she'll probably be dropping off a good way away to avoid you.

Quentin

tillycat123 wrote: »

.....I just wanted to know what to do if I go through her insurance....

Ignore this poor advice:

penrhyn wrote: »

You don't go through her insurance, your insurance company pays for your repairs and claims the money back off the third party.......

Ring the third party insurer and see if they have a "innocent third party" claims dept. If so they will assist you from the outset.

If not then you will need to write to them stating you hold their insured responsible for the damage caused in the "hit and run", enclose an estimate for the repairs and ask that they will pay all your costs associated with the collision, and take things from their response.

tillycat123

Super, thank you Quentin and Mcneff for the info. Hopefully I can spot her in the morning and do as you say from there. if not I will have to go the police route.

Quentin

The "police route" isn't an option! You must report this now! (RTA 1988, s170)

(And it isn't an alternative way of progressing your claim)

Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires drivers to report to a police officer or police station that they have been involved in an accident involving in any of the following;

any personal injury

damage only, where the other driver did not stop

damage only, where names and addresses were not exchanged with the other

driver and any other owner of property damaged (even if the other driver
stopped)

tillycat123

When I phoned the police when I got home the chap I spoke to was the one who suggested I hang around and look for her in the morning before going to the local station, he was the one that told me if I had no joy finding her to then go to the station as long as I did it within 24 hours of the incident.

Quentin

That would be someone trying to reduce their paperwork (by passing you on to someone else in the morning!)

As you will see, there is no "discretion", this has to be reported as the driver caused damage but did not stop!

thegirlintheattic

You MUST report this. She was involved in an accident that caused damage but didn't stop.

I also wouldn't approach her directly, could place you in a bad light. After reporting to the police, go and speak to the head/deputy. There will not be that many sixth formers, let alone many with cars so you will probably be able to find out who it is very quickly.

Did you get the reg number?