Police cannot find Failure to Stop driver?

Apexilon

My partner and myself were recently victims in an accident where the other driver (came up from behind, moved into our lane, hit the side of our car, bounced back into his lane, and carried on in excess of 100 mph) failed to stop (we were doing 50mph at 2.45 am). We have reported the matter to the police and the statement(s) sent to the traffic division of the police.

The only thing not on the statement is the vehicle registration of the other car as, having unexpectedly been hit by a vehicle which sped away. We however recovered debris fromour car (driver offside skirt and shatterd bits of wing mirror) as well as the other vehicle's whole passenger nearside wing mirror shell (complete with manufacturer part number linking to the VIN).

The traffic police have now said, despite there beign 2 cctv cameras and 2 speed cameras (both before and after the exact location of the accident) they are unable to investigate if we have failed to provide the other vehicle registration.

Considering how easily we could have been spun or flipped over (we were knocked from middle lane to inner lane, the other vehicle weaved from and returned to outer lane), can this be true? Is it up to the victim to ensure they obtainthe other vehicle reg (no matter what) otherwise do their own investigation?

InsideInsurance

Generally speaking police are interested in what did happen not what might of happened. At the moment it is a non-injury RTA and which one party failed to stop and whilst this is an offence it is not one very high on the polices priority list.

These circumstances are also the classic types that end up with both sides saying the other one encroached into their lane so again with no injuries the police dont want to get caught up in the civil mater of liability in an accident.

balmk

I would press the issue with them as failiure to stop is a criminal (not civil) offence, though take on board what InsideInsurance has said.

Preparing now to be flamed, but please tell me that you were overtaking at the time, and not cruising in the middle lane at 02:45; the middle lane is for overtaking and is not a "cruising" lane. Improper lane control is not only dangerous, but also at best antisocial, and at worst dangerous driving/driving without due care and attention which may affect any apportionment of blame by your insurers.

Dontknowanymore

100 miles an hour? really?!

BertTheRaccoon

Reasonable enquiries have been made by the police, no party traced. That's where it will end I'm afraid.

As it is an untraced third party and no "significant injury" was sustained by either you or your partner, the MIB won't pay for the damage to your vehicle so you'll have to swallow for the cost of your own repairs out of your own pocket or use your fully comp insurance and pay the excess.

Sonny_Bill

Best thing to do is report this matter to a decent firm of solicitors for them to pursue it. Police won't help you

It'll likely be something pursued via the MIB, but if everything you say is true you'll get something out of it, might be quite a few months down the line though

InsideInsurance

Sonny_Bill wrote: »

Best thing to do is report this matter to a decent firm of solicitors for them to pursue it. Police won't help you

Though as a small track case you will be funding those solicitors yourself

BertTheRaccoon

Sonny_Bill wrote: »

Best thing to do is report this matter to a decent firm of solicitors for them to pursue it. Police won't help you

It'll likely be something pursued via the MIB, but if everything you say is true you'll get something out of it, might be quite a few months down the line though

I'm a claimant RTA lawyer - trust me (tee hee), there's nobody to pursue here for vehicle damage. MIB won't touch the claim for vehicle damage. Only thing that can be claimed for is PI via the MIB under the Untraced Driver Agreement.

Apexilon

Thanks for the replies so far. To address some of the points raised:

1) We were on the A406 North Circular (not national motorway) maintainign the 50mph speed limit with more than enough distance betwen s and the next car ahead - no reason to sit on the inner lane till our exit, nor did it justify the outer lane where the car that hit us was travelling on.

2) Not true that we did not sustain injuries (so far no borken bones or internal bleeding detected, however there is expected soreness and insurance have booked our mdical assessment already).

3) Thank you for clarifying that Failure To Stop is a criminal offence.

4) 100mph, yes. My partner has over 20 years driving experience in various vehicles, lets just say the vehicle was too far gone in the 3 seconds after the impact.

What I don't understand is how the police are not willing to check the CCTV or speed cameras behind the location at the time (to see both vehicles come through) and ahead of the location (to see the speeding car, now less passenger wing mirror). It only takes 5 minutes.

Or why they can't take the part numbers provided from the car and make one call to the relevant manufacturer department - it only takes 2 minutes. Sadly we've tried but were told only the police can enquire the information.

Happychappy

Apexilon wrote: »

My partner and myself were recently victims in an accident where the other driver (came up from behind, moved into our lane, hit the side of our car, bounced back into his lane, and carried on in excess of 100 mph) failed to stop (we were doing 50mph at 2.45 am). We have reported the matter to the police and the statement(s) sent to the traffic division of the police.

The only thing not on the statement is the vehicle registration of the other car as, having unexpectedly been hit by a vehicle which sped away. We however recovered debris fromour car (driver offside skirt and shatterd bits of wing mirror) as well as the other vehicle's whole passenger nearside wing mirror shell (complete with manufacturer part number linking to the VIN).

The traffic police have now said, despite there beign 2 cctv cameras and 2 speed cameras (both before and after the exact location of the accident) they are unable to investigate if we have failed to provide the other vehicle registration.

Considering how easily we could have been spun or flipped over (we were knocked from middle lane to inner lane, the other vehicle weaved from and returned to outer lane), can this be true? Is it up to the victim to ensure they obtainthe other vehicle reg (no matter what) otherwise do their own investigation?

The manufacturer part you refer to is not linked to the VIN it is a manufacturer part number which could identify the make and model(s) of the car, year etc, but not linked to the particular car

You put great store of the CCTV system, many will give a pretty good image of cars, vans, lorries, but none I have viewed on the M1 motorway and other CCTV systems will show the reg number, unless the operator is viewing and panning in etc, especially at night, maybe as pointed out you should think of your decision to remain a member of the centre lane owners club which effectively reduces the road to a single lane to allow others to overtake, the knock on effect is this reduced your safety margin

Quentin

Apexilon wrote: »

4) 100mph, yes. My partner has over 20 years driving experience in various vehicles, lets just say the vehicle was too far gone in the 3 seconds after the impact.....

Pretty clever partner - can simultaneously measure the velocity of a car (when travelling at over 100 mph) AND accurately measure the passage of 3 seconds whilst getting over the shock of being hit by this ton up car!