Accident today..silly me didn't get a witness advice please...

ellas9602

Today I was at a junction intending to go staright on, lights turned green I edged forward, cars were stationary ahead of me so I couldn't get across the junction so I kept back and of the two cars waiting to turn right across me I let one car go. The cars ahead of me then moved so I moved forward and at just at the same time my daughter who was a passenger shouted 'mum she's not looking!' and the 2nd car which had been preparing to turn right ploughed into the side of me.

My daughter said she had been waving at a pedestrian. Said pedestrian rushed over and helped us exchange details as we were both quite shaken but then said he hadn't seen anything as his back was to us at the time. There were no other witnesses and I guess I should have called the police..but I didn't. Lady was crying and kept saying sorry and as stupid as it sounds I imagined the liabilty would be pretty cut and dried and left the scene.

I've spoken to lady tonight and she's saying she's not sure who was at fault and is leaving it with her insurers. I'm 3rd party only so now without a car. Should I involve the police now? The area appears to have pretty good cctv coverage? Anything else I should do? I've only ever had one accident before which was my fault and involved a parked car, I found and notified the owner and suppose I was just too trusting today.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Damage only so yet had no need to call the police.

James_Lahey

As above no need to call the police - as for fault the other drivers insurers will tell her not to accept liability as standard. But given she has driven into the side of your car it's pretty obvious who's at fault (unless your car can drive sideways?)

If you have legal cover with your insurance you should be eligible for a hire car while yours is repaired - if not try one of the "help hire" style firms who'll help you with a car (and do very well out of it themselves - another reason our premiums are so high!)

ellas9602

Thanks, I know I didn't have to call the police but family members keep telling me to do it anyway, say it may help me get CCTV or help in some other way if it becomes contentious. I can't see legal cover on my policy docs. I'd be too worried to hire a car in case it's found to be 50/50 or somthing then it'll be me they do well out of...... I'm worried she may say I run a red light or something - she didnt seem to get that her filter light can be green and my light green at the same time. She thinks mine must have been red but I was first in line for the green light and already mostly across the junction when she hit. The car will be a write-off, its valued at £2k and the damage is really bad, I'm quite lucky actually.

Sgt_Pepper_2

No point in ringing the police now.

Wig

no point in calling the police other than to enquire about how to go about getting copies of all the cctv cameras on the junction for the time of the accident. So in other words definately worth calling the police for that IMHO.

But on the face of it it sounds like clear cut the other persons fault.

maninthestreet

The other driver will find it difficult to deny liability, as they crashed into the side of your car whilst they were turning right.

dt3887

sorry, but i need to ask, for a 2k car, why only have TTFT?

TonyMMM

Your daughter is a witness

maninthestreet

TonyMMM wrote: »

Your daughter is a witness

A passenger in a vehile involved in an accident is not considered an 'independent witness'.

cyclonebri1

My 2pennorth,

Let the insurers sort it out, that's their official stance anyway, person in car is not an independant witness.

Always deny anything at the roadside, standard advice.

And inspite of what others have said do call the police, adds weight and conviction and at least you get a "crime number"