Car hit from behind - Driver has no Insurance

nam · 5 Dec 2011 at 19:46

Hi All,
My Clean Mazda 3 Sport 56 plate, Got hit yesterday from the rear by a Van driver who was not paying attention. It was a very deep scratch and slight dent to the rear bumper. I asked the driver what he was doing and he said he did not understand how it happened. Anyway i asked for his insurance details but he refused to give them to me. I asked why and he said i may put a false claim on him. I decided to push this further but he refused. I decided i would call the police, they were useless and said just exchange details as no-one is injured. Eventually a crowd of lazy youths come along and crowd me asking why don't i let the man go??? i told them to move on, as it it not there concern. This continued for 15 minutes and eventually i just told the man. It is obvious you don't have insurance, van had no road tax on screen either, just give me £200 and i will be off. Intimidation again by the youth around this man and eventually i took £100 gave a receipt and walked away.

Was i right to walk away?? what would you do when encountered by a driver who obviously has no insurance and cannot be trusted to give real details ??

It ****ed me right off as it is because of this the premiums are through the roof now, What punishment will this man get? I believe nothing ??? :eek:

mjt · 5 Dec 2011 at 19:47

You should have pushed for more money.

sigma · 5 Dec 2011 at 19:50

Will it cover the costs of repair?

Should still report him for no insurance and tax.

ash_scotland88 · 5 Dec 2011 at 19:50

Phone back to the police and tell him he admitted to no insurance, and there was no road tax present on his vehicle.

nam · 5 Dec 2011 at 19:55

Police said he has 7 Days to produce insurance :eek:

more likely he will disapear in 7 days

I just think that it makes no sense. If the police are not interested then why bother with the insurance. The man knew the risk but also knew that the chance of getting caught is very slight.

ash_scotland88 said:
Phone back to the police and tell him he admitted to no insurance, and there was no road tax present on his vehicle.

nam · 5 Dec 2011 at 19:59

doubt it will cover the cost of repair in today's market prices have gone up if you want a decent repair done..
I have the number plate of the Van but police are not interested as no one is injured. The fact is i was better of saying he was a terrorist or has a gun would maybe have got them off there arses and helped me, but i would not hold my breath. I just hope the man gets his Karma soon

QUOTE=sigma;20727413]Will it cover the costs of repair?

Should still report him for no insurance and tax.[/QUOTE]

Lashout_UK · 5 Dec 2011 at 20:03

Tell the police there's been a fatality, that'll get them there in a jiffy.

(jokes)

ins0mn1ac · 5 Dec 2011 at 20:05

A mate of mine had a bump a while back and the other driver was being strangely defensive, wouldn't give any personal details etc, he phoned the police and said the road was blocked and there were bits of car everywhere, they arrived 5mins later to assist.

mufc802 · 5 Dec 2011 at 20:24

Wtf. The police should have come right away if he had no insurance. I would make sure the police came or at least give them his reg plate.

Brookert · 5 Dec 2011 at 20:31

Should have got the police down there, he was not insured and a loitering mob, could have got ugly.

I was told by a copper, if you suspect they are uninsured, ring the police

nam · 5 Dec 2011 at 20:40

They were not interested got a Crime Incident number and told to report it to the insurance company. More than likely i will end up chasing a ghost and have to fight this in small claims court. This is the justice a honest hard working person gets, maybe the man got it right, Have no insurance and who will be any wiser :eek:

Brookert said:
Should have got the police down there, he was not insured and a loitering mob, could have got ugly.

I was told by a copper, if you suspect they are uninsured, ring the police

Gaygle · 5 Dec 2011 at 20:45

Might have been worth letting them know that you were hit by an uninsured, untaxed driver and that there was a large crowd of youths forming who were threatening you.

agw_01 · 5 Dec 2011 at 21:23

Did you make a note of his registration?

Locky · 5 Dec 2011 at 21:56

should have phoned the police when mof turned up and told them you fear for your life and needed assistance.

hurfdurf · 5 Dec 2011 at 23:17

Locky said:
should have phoned the police when mof turned up and told them you fear for your life and needed assistance.

Indeed, you should have done more to get the Police to attend, told them he was refusing to give you details as well.

Need4Dee · 6 Dec 2011 at 01:23

something simalar happened to me.

i think you did good to get 100 pounds and walk away.

Police cant be bothered with this sort of thing, unless someone is insured.

some lady hit me and drove off, i followed her and foned the police. police said, as none is injured, just get details and go, i explained she is driving off and i am in chase. they replied, not enough man power to repond. blah blah, i said if i kill the **** you would come then, they replied by saying, this conversation is being recorded. she pulled up at the petrol station and i pulled up behind her, she gave it the large one. a crowd gathered and and she just drove off. i didnt report this incident to my insurance.

another incident, when an uninsured driver went into the back of me on the A13. he had a newish car. gave me hes details. turns out they were fake. i made a claim via my insurance and discovered our premiums have a small percentage for such claims. i got the full value of the car back without losing my no claims. took nearly 2 years and lots of form filling. plus interview with bureau.

Lum · 6 Dec 2011 at 01:26

Lots of things he should have done, but it's a bit late now. Hindsight is wonderful as is discussing things that have happened to someone else. It's a bit different when it happens to you for the first time!

OP: Basically your options are:

1) Report it to your own insurance, let them pay for the repair, suffer increased premiums for the next five years due to having a "fault" accident on your record.
2) Put that £100 toward fixing it yourself, don't report it to your insurance, don't suffer increased premiums for the next five years.
3) Don't fix the damage, don't report it to the insurance.

Since you have no details and the police are being uncooperative you wont be getting this paid for by the van driver or his insurance company.

Even if the police were interested, you probably still wouldn't be getting anything paid for by the van driver or his insurance.

Mickie · 6 Dec 2011 at 01:31

are you gutted because you couldnt have got a whiplash claim in? or that you think it'll cost more to fix a scratch?

Lum · 6 Dec 2011 at 01:35

Scratch and dent on a modern car will cost somewhat more than £100 to fix properly.

Good on you if you'd be happy to accept someone filling in the scratch with a paintbrush, but the OP is at the very minimum going to need that dent pulling out or filling and then the bumper respraying. Assuming nothing else is damaged.

^TANK^ · 6 Dec 2011 at 05:30

nam said:
Was i right to walk away?? what would you do when encountered by a driver who obviously has no insurance and cannot be trusted to give real details ??

I would have been straight out of the car with my phone taking pictures of the damage and the other vehicles number plate. After that I would have calmly proceeded to the drivers side door to ask for his/hers details.

If he/she refused I would call the police to get it all on record and write down the crime reference number, then go home and have the unpleasant phone call with my insurance provider with all if any details I had.