Witnessed an accident where driver didn't stop - what should I do?

Norman_Castle

luckyduck83 wrote: »

My worry is that the driver doesn't want their insurers to know. They might not appreciate the increased premiums.

Once I tell their insurers, that's it.

I was wondering if there was a way of finding out their info.

Contact the police and offer whatever information you have. You're over thinking it by second guessing what a driver might want. Years ago a motorist contacted the police after witnessing an accident I was in. There was very little involvement from him other than to state what had happened and importantly my speed. As you have footage just offer that if you're not willing to give a statement. Let the police, insurers and drivers deal with it however they choose.
Its highly likely the injured party will be extremely grateful to have an independent witness.

luckyduck83

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

OP has two options, They witnessed an offence of failure to stop, They either 1. Put the evidence to the police Force area this happened in so police may investigate and make a statement. 2.do nothing.

I don't know for sure that they failed to stop - it's not totally impossible they went back, but it didn't appear that way. Seems like a waste of time for the police (I always hear that they never investigate stuff anyway). I was hoping to get in touch with the third party to offer to act as a witness/pass them the footage if they wanted it.

As that's not possible, I'll do option 2.

luckyduck83

On the Met's "Report a Crime" website I got this far:

"If you were involved in a collision as a driver or rider you must personally report the incident to police as soon as reasonably possible and, in any case, within 24 hours of the collision. No one else can do this for you."

So seems I can't report it for them. And if they do report it, the police will never know there's evidence to support the third party who couldn't possible know the reg of the car.

Interesting how things really are stacked against good people, but support bad.

Deanston

luckyduck83 wrote: »

On the Met's "Report a Crime" website I got this far:

"If you were involved in a collision as a driver or rider you must personally report the incident to police as soon as reasonably possible and, in any case, within 24 hours of the collision. No one else can do this for you."

So seems I can't report it for them. And if they do report it, the police will never know there's evidence to support the third party who couldn't possible know the reg of the car.

Interesting how things really are stacked against good people, but support bad.

No, that the online reporting system. There's nothing stopping you emailing. Phoning or doing it in person.

LadyDee

Put yourself in the place of the victim of the hit-and-run. Would you be relieved that somebody had the decency to come forward and give their details to the Police?

How can you possibly even think of not giving your details and the dashcam footage to them?

Mercdriver

[quote=[Deleted User];75147587]AskMID quote section 170 of the DPA 2018, unlawful obtaining of personal data.



The only applicable defence to that appears to be that it "was necessary for the purposes of preventing or detecting crime".



I would suggest that this does not apply. There is no necessity for the OP to detect crime: that is the police's job.[/QUOTE]

The last time I heard failure to stop at the scene of an accident was a criminal offence.

Norman_Castle

luckyduck83 wrote: »

I don't know for sure that they failed to stop - it's not totally impossible they went back, Wishful thinking giving you an excuse to do nothing. but it didn't appear that way. Seems like a waste of time for the police (I always hear that they never investigate stuff anyway). I was hoping to get in touch with the third party to offer to act as a witness/pass them the footage if they wanted it.

As that's not possible, I'll do option 2.

The accident I was in the other party stopped and the police attended. The police were still very grateful for the independent witness. Let them decide if its a waste of time. Phone 101 and ask what to do with the information you have.


If you were involved in an accident would you want witnesses to chose option 2, look the other way, pretend they didn't see anything.

Norman_Castle

luckyduck83 wrote: »

So seems I can't report it for them. And if they do report it, the police will never know there's evidence to support the third party who couldn't possible know the reg of the car.

Interesting how things really are stacked against good people, but support bad.

This isn't about you reporting an accident, its about you offering evidence as a witness.

Car_54

Mercdriver wrote: »

The last time I heard failure to stop at the scene of an accident was a criminal offence.

And it still is, but it is not necessary for the OP to go around detecting crime.

Herzlos

[quote=[Deleted User];75149836]And it still is, but it is not necessary for the OP to go around detecting crime.[/QUOTE]


He's not. He's helping the police deal with the crime that the damaged party will likely have reported and may not be able to identify otherwise.