Car Damaged on CCTV - Police Won't Investigate

LookinForaBargain_2

Hi all, 

I'm after some advice regarding some damage that was inflicted on my vehicle at a hospital last week. 

My wife suffered a stroke so we had to rush her into the hospital. On the same day, somebody side-wiped my car as they reversed out of a space, causing £5k worth of damage, and then drove off without leaving a note. 

The hospital CCTV caught the incident on camera, as well as the vehicle license plate. 

I have reported this to Surrey police and they say that they will not investigate because it was not serious enough. 

While I appreciate the police force is stretched, I don't understand why they won't investigate when they have the registration and evidence culprit. This person caused the damage and then fled the scene, which I am sure is a crime. 

My excess is £600, so I don't understand why they should be allowed to get away with it, especially if I find out that they don't have insurance. 

Where is the deterrent, if they are allowed to get away with it?

Thoughts anyone? 

Matt

Baldytyke88

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-28658217

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has been fined £900 and given five penalty points for failing to stop after a car crash in West Yorkshire.

This was minor damage, but high profile.

born_again

LookinForaBargain_2 said:

Hi all, 

I'm after some advice regarding some damage that was inflicted on my vehicle at a hospital last week. 

My wife suffered a stroke so we had to rush her into the hospital. On the same day, somebody side-wiped my car as they reversed out of a space, causing £5k worth of damage, and then drove off without leaving a note. 

The hospital CCTV caught the incident on camera, as well as the vehicle license plate. 

I have reported this to Surrey police and they say that they will not investigate because it was not serious enough. 

While I appreciate the police force is stretched, I don't understand why they won't investigate when they have the registration and evidence culprit. This person caused the damage and then fled the scene, which I am sure is a crime. 

My excess is £600, so I don't understand why they should be allowed to get away with it, especially if I find out that they don't have insurance. 

Where is the deterrent, if they are allowed to get away with it?

Thoughts anyone? 

Matt

Your insurance will want to claim any payout from the 3rd party.

Ectophile

While I appreciate the police force is stretched, I don't understand why they won't investigate when they have the registration and evidence culprit. This person caused the damage and then fled the scene, which I am sure is a crime. 

There are too many criminals and not enough police to catch them.  So for cases like this when the police weren't there to catch them red handed, they won't do anything.

If you have good enough CCTV evidence, it's down to suing them for your loss.

Hoenir

Have you  reported this to your insurance company yet ? 

Grey_Critic

Ensure that the CCTV footage is not deleted

LookinForaBargain_2

Hoenir said:

Have you  reported this to your insurance company yet ? 

Yes, I have reported it to the insurance company (Admiral) but they say they don't get involved with the police. 

ontheroad1970

LookinForaBargain_2 said:

Hoenir said:

Have you  reported this to your insurance company yet ? 

Yes, I have reported it to the insurance company (Admiral) but they say they don't get involved with the police. 

They meant in regard in getting a claim made against the miscreants

photome

Your insurance will deal with it as long as you have the evidence, there should be no excess to pay assuming the other driver is insured

Okell

LookinForaBargain_2 said:

... I have reported this to Surrey police and they say that they will not investigate because it was not serious enough. 

While I appreciate the police force is stretched, I don't understand why they won't investigate when they have the registration and evidence culprit. This person caused the damage and then fled the scene, which I am sure is a crime...

... Where is the deterrent, if they are allowed to get away with it?

Thoughts anyone? ...

They will be too busy monitoring social media for "incidents" to investigate what might be a real crime.

Aretnap

photome said:

Your insurance will deal with it as long as you have the evidence, there should be no excess to pay assuming the other driver is insured

Your insurance will deal with it evidence or not, though obviously the quality of the evidence affects how likely they are to pursue the third party for their costs. 

If you claim from your own policy your excess is payable regardless of fault and regardless of whether the other driver was insured or not. You can attempt to recover your excess yourself from the third party's insurer if you have their details. 

Sometimes if the other driver is insured and clearly at fault your insurer will waive your excess and chase the third party for it themselves. However if they do this it's as a goodwill gesture and not as something they're obliged to do. Admiral are a bargain basement insurer so probably best not to count on them doing much more that their bare minimum obligations.