Hit and run damaged my parked car: foreign lorry and total loss: PLEASE HELP ME

Afrapp88

brianposter wrote: »

Another possibility is that you identify the lorry and find their insurer, and then claim from them.
For example, if it were a Spanish insurer they could be made to compensate for the damage in cash and, in reality, you could end up with a fairly satisfactory result.
Where was the lorry registered ?

I have no idea, the only things I have are two witnesses and a registration plates, probably Hungarian but definitely from oversea EU. The lorry must have come from a warehouse nearby as that's the only one in the otherwise merely residential street, probably a delivery or a pick up for export, who knows. Shouldn't this be the job of police?? I can't go knocking on doors asking for such infos.

lisyloo

Afrapp88 wrote: »

Shouldn't this be the job of police?? I can't go knocking on doors asking for such infos.

No. The police deal with criminal matters (which I agree they should), but what brianposter was referring to was compensation for civil damages which are not a police matter.

The suggestion is claiming from the 3rd party insurer which is more complicated as it’s not UK.
As regards knocking on doors, why can’t you make phone calls and use the internet?
I would expect the format of the number plate to reveal the country by doing some amateur research on the internet.

If you are not very good at doing research or time constrained then I’d recommend a stand alone legal insurance for the future. I say standalone as an attached one might only be used in connection with a claim. This won’t help you for this incident but would be a good idea for the future. I use this company
https://memonline.co.uk/
I’ve never made a claim but my research says they are legit (FCA registered etc.)

Afrapp88

lisyloo wrote: »

No. The police deal with criminal matters (which I agree they should), but what brianposter was referring to was compensation for civil damages which are not a police matter.

The suggestion is claiming from the 3rd party insurer which is more complicated as it’s not UK.
As regards knocking on doors, why can’t you make phone calls and use the internet?
I would expect the format of the number plate to reveal the country by doing some amateur research on the internet.

If you are not very good at doing research or time constrained then I’d recommend a stand alone legal insurance for the future. I say standalone as an attached one might only be used in connection with a claim. This won’t help you for this incident but would be a good idea for the future. I use this company
https://memonline.co.uk/
I’ve never made a claim but my research says they are legit (FCA registered etc.)

I'm sorry, but failure to stop and report an accident and provide your name and details is an offence under Section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 in the UK, even if you do not harm anyone: "A person who fails to comply with subsection (2) or (3) [provide contact details and/or report the incident, ed.] above is guilty of an offence." So yes, it is a criminal act and it was my legit right to report it to the police. Now, if the police cannot be bothered to look into this, it's a whole other story which I can partially understand.

How can I claim on the 3rd party insurance if I have no idea who that was? I provided the registration plate to my insurance, they'll try to deal with it but told me it can be very hard. This is the part the totally frustrates me: it was a EU registration plate! I find it absurd that it's so complicated to get the insurance details of another EU registered vehicle, it's insane that there is no regulation on this. Imagine after Brexit: if you're a non-UK driver with a non-UK registration plate, scratch and smash all the cars you want, you'll get away with it like it was nothing, EVEN IF YOUR REGISTRATION PLATE has been taken and witnesses have witnessed.

"As regards knocking on doors, why can’t you make phone calls and use the internet?": I'm not sure companies give away details of clients or employees to random civilians calling on the phone or emailing. Or do they? I don't think so.

"I would expect the format of the number plate to reveal the country by doing some amateur research on the internet." Done: its Hungarian. Now what exactly? How does that help me?

I am sorry if I sound a bit angry, I know you are trying to help me, but you are telling me either things that are wrong or that I have already tried. Thanks for the tip about the legal cover. I'll look into it.

lisyloo

Afrapp88 wrote: »

I'm sorry, but failure to stop and report an accident and provide your name and details is an offence under Section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 in the UK

Absolutely I totally agree.
However the criminal actions of the other party are seperate from your losses which are absolutely NOT a police matter.
If the driver was successfully convicted it might help with tracing the driver and the insurance but the police would NOT assist with getting your money back.

Have you complained formally to the police?
What are the quotes for both the full repair and the mirror only?
Does the full repair look like it might be a write-off?