car park bump

shane1104

silly me reversed into a parked car

next to no damage on my car, few scuffs.. the car i hit: the same, however the car i hit has already been involved in an accident by the looks of it..
ive taken photos of both cars.. and can clearly see the paint difference between my bump.. and the more serious bump he's had elsewhere (my car is grey, there is green paintwork all over his/hers)

unfortunately, i was unable to locate the driver.. so i left a note within the Mcdonalds that the car park was for..

i've contacted both the police, and my own insurance to make them aware of it (and sent photos)

what now?

is it just wait to see if he claims against me and take it from there?

arcon5

Yep. Pretty much a wait and see game now.

neilmcl

You'd been better off leaving a note on the car itself.

Crabman

Nothing to add to the above responses, except to say well done for leaving your details. :cool:

Sadly there are many out there who would have had no qualms about simply driving off.

FormulaDriven

I wonder if OP has been a little underhand in leaving the details with McD's rather than a note under the windscreen.

It might depend on context, but if I came back to my car and it was scraped, it wouldn't necessarily occur to me to ask a nearby business if the other driver had left details. The OP has a clear conscience but actually made it less likely that the other driver will find out who was responsible.

Quentin

FormulaDriven wrote: »

I wonder if OP has been a little underhand in leaving the details with McD's rather than a note under the windscreen.

It might depend on context, but if I came back to my car and it was scraped, it wouldn't necessarily occur to me to ask a nearby business if the other driver had left details. The OP has a clear conscience but actually made it less likely that the other driver will find out who was responsible.

The OP reported the incident to the police which wasthe correct thing to do.


He also leaving his details at the restaurant (which he was not required to do!)


He has also reported this to his insurer meaning the incident is now on his record and has to be disclosed to all insurers he is covered with over the next 3/5 years and you suggest he is being "underhand"???

FormulaDriven

Well, I was only wondering.

My car was damaged quite badly in a car park and no-one admitted it, so maybe my perspective is a bit bitter. As the culprit didn't leave a note (which I think should be a basic courtesy), it didn't occur to me that they might have told the police, so I just assumed I would never find out.

My point is that by not leaving a note on the car, you increase the chances that you'll "get away with it." If the OP wasn't thinking in those terms, then I am sure they can come back here and speak for themself.

Quentin

FormulaDriven wrote: »

.....My point is that by not leaving a note on the car, you increase the chances that you'll "get away with it." ......

The OP reported this both to the police and his insurer!

What was he then trying to get away with?

All he came here for was advice

Too many pulpit thumpers keen to pass on sermons!

FormulaDriven

OK - I'll try to explain it one last time. Just need to climb back into the pulpit first, could you budge over a bit...

Telling insurers and police is absolutely no use to the other driver if they see the lack of note and leave thinking they will never find out who did it and take it no further action.

Of course, a clued-up or persistent driver might go and ask a nearby business, or contact the police, or ring every insurer he can think of, but I still say that the lack of a visible note makes it much more likely that they not pursue this, which means less cost for the OP - in that sense, intentionally or not, he gets away with it (to be clear, he gets away with not having to pay for the repair of the other car - surely you can see this is a possible outcome?)

I'd much rather that the OP came and defended himself, as I presume you know no more than I about whether this was their motivation.

Quentin

FormulaDriven wrote: »

OK - I'll try to explain it one last time. Just need to climb back into the pulpit first, could you budge over a bit...

Telling insurers and police is absolutely no use to the other driver if they see the lack of note and leave thinking they will never find out who did it and take it no further action.

Of course, a clued-up or persistent driver might go and ask a nearby business, or contact the police, or ring every insurer he can think of, but I still say that the lack of a visible note makes it much more likely that they not pursue this, which means less cost for the OP - in that sense, intentionally or not, he gets away with it (to be clear, he gets away with not having to pay for the repair of the other car - surely you can see this is a possible outcome?)

I'd much rather that the OP came and defended himself, as I presume you know no more than I about whether this was their motivation.

Why is it less cost for the OP? He wouldn't be paying anyway. He informed his insurer! (So in fact he can expect extra cost to himself now anyway due to loaded premiums in future.)


And why do you think the OP needs to "defend" himself?


He's done everything correctly, (which is more than many would have done - check the stats for damage caused by unidentified third parties which have to be paid for either by the innocent party or their insurer), come here for advice and been given it!


(And how is it wise to leave your personal details on a stranger's car for anyone to read?)

FormulaDriven

Quentin wrote: »

Why is it less cost for the OP? He wouldn't be paying anyway. He informed his insurer! (So in fact he can expect extra cost to himself now anyway due to loaded premiums in future.)

Because if other party doesn't make a claim, he doesn't lose NCB.

Quentin wrote: »

And why do you think the OP needs to "defend" himself?

Same reason you seem to think the OP needs defending.

Quentin wrote: »

(And how is it wise to leave your personal details on a stranger's car for anyone to read?)

You don't have to. You could leave a note saying "I left my details in the nearby McD's" or even "I've contacted the police if you need my details". As I say, a simple courtesy that makes it easier for the other person.