car accident - advice please

omega3dave

If it was an uncontrolled crossroads he may well be complaining to the police now he has had time to think of it about the driver who shot out in front of him and caused the crash.

there were witnesses , I dont have their details, as I was whisked into ambulance very quickly,

surely the police have taken their details

colino

Don't get too stressed by this, it's only a bump. However eyewitnesses aren't what they are cracked up to be because we are easily swayed and our brains try to make sense of anything when we are asked. For example, the PC asking your witnesses will go through a process of questions that seek to get the truth. Unfortunately the opposite is often true and people add to their "recollections" to make sense of what they have been in the presence of. The witnesses probably were alerted to the collision by the noise. They will then bolster that image by convincing themselves by either their past histories, or what others have said of the incident. That can translate into someone who heard a bang turning that into, "he came flying out of the junction" - well he must have, there was a crash - "he didn't even look" - well he couldn't have, there was a crash.
There is a reason in jury trials these witnesses are called TurnBULLs. The Judge actually has to weigh the eye witness evidence presented and steer the jury on how believable their recollections actually are.
As I said though, don't sweat it but clarify in your own mind what really happened and don't present ambiguous statements; you'll be fine.

Tilt

If you are involved in an accident which was a result of a traffic offence, you can formally report the 'offending' driver and ask to make a statement against him/her. It dosn't necessarily follow however, that it will lead to a prosecution.

Strider590

colino wrote: »

Some insurers want the complete V5C, others will do the (incorrect) scrapping process. You will be following their lead.

Mine wanted the full V5...... 6 months later the DVLA issued me an £80 fine. I explained everything to them, they changed what the fine was for and still wanted their £80. Bunch of money grabbing thieves.

DO NOT send the full V5 to your insurance company, no matter what they say!! AND make sure you send it to the DVLA by recorded and signed for post.

Rover_Driver

Strider590 wrote: »

DO NOT send the full V5 to your insurance company, no matter what they say!!

Exactly, completed yellow V5C/3 part of the V5C to DVLA with proof of posting, the rest to the insurance company.

omega3dave

you guys have been great, thanks for all info,

I will have long hard think about whether to go to police to make formal statement,

I will send off the correct portion of V5 to DVLA this coming week,


forgot what a minefield all of this is, this time round at 40 something, I dont want to get caught short,

I travel 30 miles each way to work, and this pillock, smashed into me 500 yds from me getting home Tuesday eve,

may consider going by train now,