We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Reversed into a car and didn't know

Options
2456713

Comments

  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 8,833 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    With regard to the third count, witness statements say that they saw me "reversing slowly"; this would seem to indicate that I was actually driving with some due care and attention?
    Did the witnesses say whether you were actually looking back? Your previous posts would suggest you weren't.



    That meets the definition of driving without due care and attention, i.e."below what would be expected of a careful and competent driver", .
  • jammiejimmy
    jammiejimmy Posts: 35 Forumite
    DoaM wrote: »
    Which of the 3 is the most serious offence?

    I'd like to know that.
    Car_54 wrote: »
    Did the witnesses say whether you were actually looking back? Your previous posts would suggest you weren't. That meets the definition of driving without due care and attention, i.e."below what would be expected of a careful and competent driver", .

    The witness doesn't mention that. I do remember that I had several black rubbish bags in the back as I was going to the local "recycling" place, so I would only have been able to see out the top of the back window. The car I hit was apparently a Mazda MX5- one of those little convertible things so I'm thinking I didn't see it. Not an excuse, I'm just saying that's what happened. I've already said I'm going guilty to that anyway.
    Mercdriver wrote: »
    ~Did you not get interviewed by the police at all? Sounds unusual.

    No I didn't. I've wondered about this too. If they had visited my home I would have been happy to have been interviewed although I'm never pleading guilty to the first two charges. This could have been settled quickly. I'm insured up the a**e!
  • jk0
    jk0 Posts: 3,479 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Reversing out? Were you in a carpark then?


    Others may confirm, but I'd have thought there were no charges able to be brought on private land?
  • Kentish_Dave
    Kentish_Dave Posts: 842 Forumite
    No, as a matter of law I don't believe it does. My research of precedent informs me that if you're not aware of something happening then you can't be expected to report it. And I didn't stop because I wasn't aware of an incident. I have three cases I can cite for precedent, and I'm definitely pleading not guilty to the first two counts on the basis that I had no idea of any contact being made between my car and another.

    With regard to the third count, witness statements say that they saw me "reversing slowly"; this would seem to indicate that I was actually driving with some due care and attention?

    I appreciate your comments as they're helping me to clarify events and arguments, which is what I need to do after being in a state of low grade panic for the last two days.

    I think that the point is that managing to damage another car but not notice is pretty good evidence that you were not paying attention or taking enough care.

    If you were doing both you would not have reversed into another car.
  • jammiejimmy
    jammiejimmy Posts: 35 Forumite
    edited 23 May 2019 at 5:50PM
    jk0 wrote: »
    Reversing out? Were you in a carpark then?
    Others may confirm, but I'd have thought there were no charges able to be brought on private land?

    Yes- it was a council car park so not private land.
    I think that the point is that managing to damage another car but not notice is pretty good evidence that you were not paying attention or taking enough care.
    If you were doing both you would not have reversed into another car.

    Yes, I've conceded that.

    Had I noticed that I had bumped another car I would have left details but I didn't notice. I can't really defend that charge (3) but I didn't notice so I'm pleading "not guilty" to the other two charges as I can't be expected to report something I don't know about! There's also precedent for similar cases to mine which I will refer to in court. I'll post the precedents for future ref. when I get round to it... probably after the hearing which is in a couple of weeks.
  • a.turner
    a.turner Posts: 655 Forumite
    500 Posts
    jk0 wrote: »
    Reversing out? Were you in a carpark then?


    Others may confirm, but I'd have thought there were no charges able to be brought on private land?

    Is a car park not a public place?
  • Mercdriver
    Mercdriver Posts: 3,898 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    jk0 wrote: »
    Reversing out? Were you in a carpark then?


    Others may confirm, but I'd have thought there were no charges able to be brought on private land?

    If it is publicly accessible then it doesn't matter who owns it.
  • lee1972
    lee1972 Posts: 50 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Isn’t leaving the scene of an accident a potentially imprisonable offence and so charges 1 & 2 would lead to a criminal record for the OP if he was found guilty? In these circumstances, where there were no injuries, the penalty would be a fine but it’s still a potentially indictable offence.

    Careless driving is not an indictable offence and would not therefore lead to a criminal record.
  • lee1972
    lee1972 Posts: 50 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    DoaM wrote: »
    Which of the 3 is the most serious offence?

    I believe 1 & 2 in equal measure.
  • a.turner
    a.turner Posts: 655 Forumite
    500 Posts
    lee1972 wrote: »
    Isn’t leaving the scene of an accident a potentially imprisonable offence and so charges 1 & 2 would lead to a criminal record for the OP if he was found guilty? In these circumstances, where there were no injuries, the penalty would be a fine but it’s still a potentially indictable offence.

    Careless driving is not an indictable offence and would not therefore lead to a criminal record.

    Nor is failing to stop and report.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 257.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.