Car hit by an uninsured driver

mustbemad

Hi, as the title says, I was unfortunately hit by an uninsured driver this week and my car was extensively damaged.

The police were not called at the time as we swapped insurance details at the time but unfortunately, they were a complete lie 😡 When I found out the insurance details I had been given were false I called my insurance company to update them and they said I would need to report that to the police.  I phoned the police who refused to make a report saying that it’s the insurance company that need to report the uninsured driver?  I called the insurance company back and they are adamant that the fact the other party was uninsured is nothing to do with them as it’s a criminal matter and they do not get involved in criminal matters.  

I’m so confused as to where to turn next, it seems absolutely ridiculous to me that no one is interested that there is someone out there driving around wrecking peoples lives and property with no comeback?

Does anyone know if the police should be taking the report from me?

Car_54

First, you should be making a claim which your insurance company will sort out.

Second, there is no obligation to give insurance details unless someone was injured. But if the other party refused to give his name and address the police should act.

diystarter7

Car_54 said:

First, you should be making a claim which your insurance company will sort out.

Second, there is no obligation to give insurance details unless someone was injured. But if the other party refused to give his name and address the police should act.

Hi
Sadly, the 2nd point many are not aware of this, but why hold it back?

Thanks

Aretnap

mustbemad said:

I’m so confused as to where to turn next, it seems absolutely ridiculous to me that no one is interested that there is someone out there driving around wrecking peoples lives and property with no comeback?

Unfortunately that's the way of the world. Police won't generally invest resources investigating uninsured driving unless (a) they actually catch the perp in the act themselves or (b) there's an accident which causes more harm than bent metal. (They barely have the resources to investigate burglaries, after all). Sounds like they're fobbing you off a bit by paying the buck to your insurance company, but ultimately you can't force them to to take my action. Telling you "I'll put a note on the computer, but that's all I'll do" would arguably be more honest than telling you to call your insurance company first, but would lead to more people yelling down the phone at them so I can see why they don't do it.

Your insurance company will deal with your repairs. You can report to the police again if you like, but don't expect them to do very much. Your insurer might attempt to pursue the other driver for the costs of the repairs, but realistically if he's the sort of person who drives uninsured and gives false details they're not going to get much money out of him. You'll have to leave it to karma to deal with him.

mustbemad

It all seems so incredibly unfair though, the innocent victim gets all the hassle and expense and the scumbag uninsured driver gets to carry on and maybe kill someone next time 😡

DullGreyGuy

mustbemad said:

It all seems so incredibly unfair though, the innocent victim gets all the hassle and expense and the scumbag uninsured driver gets to carry on and maybe kill someone next time 😡

The hassle is exactly the same as any non-fault accident... arguably slightly less on the basis of their being no realistic prospect of recoveries being made (those that choose to drive uninsured tend not to be the type with large amounts of liquid assets. 

How did you find out the insurance details you gave were false? Presumably your insurers have done a MID check on the vehicle? Did they say the outcome of the check?

There are different levels of uninsured drivers out there and not all have the same outcome.

[Deleted User]

Try 101. They are often more helpful and should give you a crime number or whatever they call it now.

They won't investigate, but your insurance company will be satisfied.

SpudGunPaul

Car_54 said:

First, you should be making a claim which your insurance company will sort out.

Second, there is no obligation to give insurance details unless someone was injured. But if the other party refused to give his name and address the police should act.

Section 154 Road Traffic Act doesn't mention injury. 

SpudGunPaul

[Deleted User] said:

Try 101. They are often more helpful and should give you a crime number or whatever they call it now.

They won't investigate, but your insurance company will be satisfied.

No, they shouldn't and never have. There's no offence here subject of crime recording. 

[Deleted User]

It's both driving without insurance and giving false details to commit fraud. The name and address given were also likely to be false, which is another offense.

SpudGunPaul

[Deleted User] said:

It's both driving without insurance and giving false details to commit fraud. The name and address given were also likely to be false, which is another offense.

Not something that requires a crime report so no crime number. 

Where do you get the false name and address from? The OP reads like there's no insurance are you over thinking it?