My car was hit whilst parked

od017

Hi,

I'm just posting to see if anyone can give me any advice with this, or whether it's happened to anyone else before.

My car was hit by a van whilst it was parked in a resident's parking bay on a public road; the bumper and inner wing are damaged, and the front wing has a huge dent in it.

Fortunately, a couple saw it and left me a note. They also have photos and a video of the van - which they are emailing to me. It is currently unclear to me whether this footage is of the crash happening, or just after the it. Either way, there are photos of the van w/reg number, and two witnesses of the crash.

I have informed the police and my insurance company. My insurance company have confirmed that the other vehicle is insured. Both have indicated that this will hopefully be resolved, but how much resolution should I expect?

Could the owner just say they weren't driving, or they didn't know they did it? Could they be FORCED to pay? Or just a slap on the wrist for them and then I've got to pay up to get it fixed?

Many thanks in advance.

Rolandtheroadie

I reported the same recently, it took a while to sort out due to finding out who was driving the van as it was a hire vehicle hired to a company.

When found, the driver confessed and everything was sorted.

My picture was just of the van reg number (wasnt asked for it as the guy put his hands up).

As the other vehicles insured and you have witnesses (independent witnesses?) I cant see a problem.

In my case, I might not even have reported it had the wifes car not been hit whilst parked a couple of weeks previous.

od017

Thanks for your reply. Yeah the witnesses were independent - just thoroughly decent people!

Glad your scenario was sorted out - did you report to police AND insurance company?

Thanks

Rolandtheroadie

It was me that witnessed the hit and run in a Morrisons car park.

Van reversed into the car, pulled forward a wee bit, went shopping then came out and drove off without a care in the world.

The wifes car went unsolved unfortunately, although it has a bus bumper shaped gouge out the rear door. I suspect the driver didnt know he's done it.

fivetide

I had the same, a lorry from Thresher's hit my parked car but was witnessed. The witness didn't get a reg plate but I chased them up they admited having a wagon with the corresponding damage and coughed up fairly quick.

Their insurance company was a bit of a laugh though. They called me as "they hadn't determined liability". I explained that whilst my car wasn't a sentinent being and therefore didn't know the green cross code it was unlikely to have stepped out from it's parkign space in front of their van.

Chap shut up and claim agreed later that day.

Hope you get a similar result OP.

5t.

od017

Thanks for the responses.

I'm sorry to hear others have been through similar issues, and hope that my situation is resolved as others have been.

As an aside, I've been sent photographs by the independent witnesses, and they've managed to capture the exact moment the guy realises he's being filmed! It's therefore even more irritating that he didn't report it himself afterwards.

scotsbob

od017 wrote: »

It's therefore even more irritating that he didn't report it himself afterwards.

Failure to stop and failure to report within 24 hours are offences, notify the police.

http://www.motoring.marymonson.co.uk/Failure-to-Stop.php

od017

I spoke again with the police today and I have been informed that the other motorist hadn't reported it, so they've missed the deadline of 24 hours in which to report it.

I'm not sure what I should expect the police to do, but is it worth pursuing it with my insurance company?

The insurance company already know about it, but I have told them I don't want to claim unless the third party pays for it (the car is still drivable and I'm very poor, so can't afford increased premium/garage costs if paying myself). Can my/their insurance company insist they the other driver is liable?

Also, I'm unsure whether my insurance company will put too much effort into getting the third party to pay as they won't be saving any money themselves in doing so. If I was going to claim regardless of who pays then it's in my insurer's interest to ensure the other company pays, but as that's not the case I don't see what's in it for them.

Since yesterday I've also read horror stories of increased premiums even when not technically having made a claim... this could all go horribly wrong for me I think!

Quentin

If you don't claim off your own policy, then your insurer won't pursue this.

You could pursue the third party yourself. Find out the insurer (via askmid) and contact them about repairing your car .

Now that you have informed your insurer, then this will be on your record, and you must disclose it to any future insurer you approach for cover (they usually want your history over 3/5 years)

od017

So really the only way I stand a chance of the other guy's insurance company paying for it would be to initially try to claim from my own insurance company? And in doing so take the risk that if liability can't be proven it will be paid for by my insurance company, consequently increasing my premium?

Thanks for the advice.

Quentin

od017 wrote: »

So really the only way I stand a chance of the other guy's insurance company paying for it would be to initially try to claim from my own insurance company? And in doing so take the risk that if liability can't be proven it will be paid for by my insurance company, consequently increasing my premium?

Thanks for the advice.

Read post# 9! There is a way you can "stand a chance....."