Minor accident query

[Gray]

Right, last week i was on a driving lesson [Last Tuesday] anyway, i was with my driving instructor and we was wrapping up the lesson and heading back home.

I was waiting at traffic lights waiting to turn right [It had a dedicated right hand lane for doing this]. Next minute, an Isuzu [sp] Lorry come flying past and took off my passenger side mirror as he was coming up the inside lane.

He at the time never stopped, but he got stuck in some traffic lights. My driving instructor [The movie star that he is] got out of the car and weaved in all the traffic and told him to pull over.

At the time we thought he was gonna do a bunk for it, but he did actually stop the vehicle in a safe place to which my instructor got details from him. The guy who did this was working for a company and he was a driver, he inspected the damage to my wing mirror.

He did point out there was a few other marks on the side of the car - But we pointed out that he did NOT cause those scratches as they was already there when i purchased the car. He was fine with that but i must remark that all of the time he was saying "youre not gonna report this to insurance are you for Whiplash or anything?".

Me and my instructor wasnt hurt though, it was only [luckily] damage to the vehicle and the mirror, that was it. Anyway, we exchanged details, we got the company name, phone number and the drivers name etc and then we just left it there.

When we got back home, the instructor firstly spoke to the company whom this was regarding, we got through to the boss who said they would pay for any damages that were caused from the accident, to which we went down to Polar Fords and for an estimate for a replacement mirror set.

The amount come in at £160 approx, we spoke to the boss again who said this was fine and to fax it over to him - He recieved it. He then said he would keep in contact in regards to this so we exchanged numbers again.

For the past week, i have been trying to call him. I have left a few messages over the course of a few days but each time i didnt get any response or acknowledgement from him, just the answer machine. Today after i finished my driving lesson i was told if he doesnt call me back, to request insurance details or to report it to the police [and Traffic Commisioner].

So i go home with this planned out - I call him, and he answers [Bollocks!] but anyway, i ask him what is happening. He said he has been on holiday the past week so was unable to call me back.

He has said the driver of the lorry which hit my car is denying ANY involvement with this i assured him it was him, otherwise how would we exchange details? Plus i had a witness in my driving instructor so he isnt wriggling out of it.

He said the driver is back in at 4 later, just texted my instructor with this new found dilemma, but what to do? If he starts getting shitty with me im probably gonna ask for insurance details, if he refuses then i'll report it to the police.

I dont want to though, because at the end of the day this shit is going to bump up MY insurance for making a claim. Its only £160 but its the principle behind it, if he gets away with it what else is he going to get away with?

 

[Tom]

You have a witness. A driving instructor no less.

I'd send a recorded delivery letter to the driver informing him of the cost of the repair, and that he has 7 days from receipt to respond. If he doesn't, you will go ahead with the repair and you will invoice him for the cost. If he does not pay promptly, you will take it to the small claims court, and he can enjoy a CCJ on his credit record.

Take pictures of the damage, write everything down about the accident (so you don't forget), get a written statement from your witness, and if it goes to court you'll have everything you need.

If you can, find the van and take pictures of the mirror. You might have to be sneaky about that.

Hes just trying it on. Fire back at him with both barrels and see how long he lasts.

 

[Tom]

Oh and go back to the junction to see if there is any CCTV on it.

 

[Gray]

The company was based up in Lancashire somewhere, this happened down in St Helens, but the day of the incident i did take a picture of the mirror anyway.

Does sound like the driver is trying it on, but hes gonna end up in some deep shit later if he still denies this i think

 

[Wazzerphuk]

You have a witness. A driving instructor no less.

Irrelevant: the driving instructor was in the car WITH him, and therefore is not a witness: a witness must be an impartial observer, and that discounts anyone in your car, regardless of who they are.

 

[Guest]

how can your insurance go up if you make a claim as your insurance company will claim against his insurance company and get their money back.

it wasnt your fault..

 

[Scouse]

how can your insurance go up if you make a claim as your insurance company will claim against his insurance company and get their money back.

it wasnt your fault..

Because, Brooky old bean, car insurance is a scam. It's the equivalent of a protection racket for motorists: Buy insurance or you'll go to prison.

Because it's a captive market they can do anything they like, more or less.


As for this bloke, do as Tom says. This sort of shit sucks balls but if you look on the bright side - at least you know what to do next time it happens

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Brooky once again failing to understand the world.

Insurance companies consider you more likely to be involved in an accident if you have recently been in one. Therefore when someone drives into you, they think it is likely it will happen again soon. Fault doesn't come into it: I'm dreading my next insurance bill after some prick drove into the side of me on New Years - my no claims has gone now and I've been in an accident: none of which is my fault, but my premium is going to go up quite a lot as a result.

It's lame, yes.

 

[old.user4556]

After the shit I went through when I had my first accident, with an uninsured driver, I wouldn't waste my time and throw the book at anyone that hits (and has done) be in future.

Call the police, get their insurance details, as soon as it happens.

The 999 dude will ask if anyone is injured as they won't want to send police to something minor, but I just told them we were causing an obstruction on a busy road.

 

[old.user4556]

And for the record, i've had two "non fault" claims and my insurance wasn't impacted by it.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

After the shit I went through when I had my first accident, with an uninsured driver, I wouldn't waste my time and throw the book at anyone that hits (and has done) be in future.

Call the police, get their insurance details, as soon as it happens.

The 999 dude will ask if anyone is injured as they won't want to send police to something minor, but I just told them we were causing an obstruction on a busy road.

You're an official waste of space, money, and vital resources. Someone could have been involved in a life-threatening incident, and you wasted the resources on a minor RTA, which, in the grand scale of life, means f*** all.

Well done. Next time you want a taxi lift home when drunk call 999, yeah?

 

[Gray]

Yeah i called him back at about 4:30, the guy was like "the driver is coming to my office soon, once ive spoke to him i'll give you a callback". I had this incling that 1] I wasnt gonna get a callback and 2] They would close at 5pm.

Needless to say i was right on both counts, so i just left a message on his phone saying call me tomorrow or i'll just speak to the police ;o

Since ive only been on my own insurance for a few months, i was trying to build up the No Claims Bonus, but in the end i would probably check out a scrap yard or something and see if i can get the parts that way. It was only hard because Ford sell their casing without colour, and then Spray it later so id have to find one which is the same.

Guess i'll see. Never herd about that witness thing though and them been in the car. New one to me

 

[old.user4556]

Swift, post when you're out of nappies.

Causing an obstruction on a busy road could be very serious; who the fuck are you to decide what's life threatening or not? I pay my taxes, I want to see the police do something fucking worthwhile instead of hiding behind that row of hedges on the "non-pavement" 50 mph road near me, nicking people doing 60 mph.

A did you not hear about the "minor RTA" on the hard shoulder that ended up a whole family being wiped out because they sat in the car? Coulda phoned the police I suppose but .. gee .. what a waste of resources

 

[Wazzerphuk]

The 999 dude will ask if anyone is injured as they won't want to send police to something minor, but I just told them we were causing an obstruction on a busy road.

I suggest you read your own post again, where you admit to it being minor, and infer that there was no obstruction and that it was made up to get police attendance.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

A did you not hear about the "minor RTA" on the hard shoulder that ended up a whole family being wiped out because they sat in the car? Coulda phoned the police I suppose but .. gee .. what a waste of resources

TBH, it's their fault that they can't follow the highway code and police saftey advice. Everyone knows if you stay in your car on the hard shoulder you're very likely to be involved in an accident.

 

[Tom]

Irrelevant: the driving instructor was in the car WITH him, and therefore is not a witness: a witness must be an impartial observer, and that discounts anyone in your car, regardless of who they are.

Oh ta, didn't know that. Still, 2 vs 1 is better odds?

 

[Gray]

But still at the end of the day, witness confirmation or not, you cant just pull a name/company name/number out of a hat and say "he did it!". The one thing i regret not doing is taking a picture of his vehicle, but the area were we was wasnt the ideal spot [Since that was on a busy mainroad kinda]

Might see about going Scrapyard tomorrow or something, maybe over the next few days, see if i can luck myself into finding a replacement mirror/cover

 

[Pfy]

Pfft, who uses wing mirrors anyway!

 

[Kryten]

Regardless of what people think of insurance, or whether the person that hit you is denying it or not, insurance is there to be used - otherwise it's pointless paying for it. 160 odd quid is still a lot of money to everyone but the well off, and you shouldn't have to front it just because someone is denying they did it.

As far as calling the police to minor RTA's - Sorry, but I can't agree with the others on that - depending on the circumstances, they should be contacted, regardless. Yeah, there's always something of a higher priority on - thats the way of life, but this is on the police's own advice and they give it for good reason - even the simplest of RTA's can have an impact down the line - people denying it, personal injury claims, you name it. End of the day, all you've gotta do is phone them, explain the circumstances and the severity(or not) and they will make the decision over the phone to show up or not. If they don't - there's still a record on their systems for the time & date of the incident, which could be called upon should things need to be taken further.

Don't give up on it, it's your money.

 

[Munkey]

I got broad-sided by a lorry when I was on a driving lesson, luckily it wasnt my own car. Regardless, the guy claimed it was my fault as i was too far left in my lane in the roundabout so it looked like i was going left (my indicators werent on, and the guy was in totally the wrong lane going onto the roundabout at the same entrance as me to go left).

Anyway, took a few months, but the guy never responded to the insurers, so they ended up taking him to court and he had to fork over the dosh.

Always nice to see the system work for a change

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Kryt: The problem is not in contacting the police - that in itself is fine. But using the 999 emergency service to get them to attend to a minor RTA is bang out of order. You will be seen too just as swiftly if you contact the local police switchboard, and that way you won't be putting other people lives at risk.

 

[Kryten]

I understand that - but in all honesty, how many people here know the number of their local force? And those of you who are inclined to find out - would you really pay through the nose for a 118 moron to tell you?

No, didn't think so.
Not entirely our fault - the police don't do anywhere NEAR enough to make non emergency calls easier to make. More sensible people won't have numbers saved in their phone just in case they make pocket phone calls whilst phones are unlocked (or have a samsung phone where the lock means jack shit)
It's a different problem entirely, but still worth looking at.

 

[Lazarus]

whats your excess gray - may be cheaper paying the cash than paying excess

 

[Wazzerphuk]

You do realise there is a national number you can call like 999, that is for non-emergencies, just like these? I think it's 101 or something like that... it used to only be Hampshire originally but afaik the scheme has been spread out nationwide for reasons exactly like this.

People need to stop their attitudes about the police. They are underfunded, understaffed, and overworked. I hope you never need an ambulance, fire, or police attendance for a dire emergency, only for them to be very late due to people clogging 999 up with small RTAs, drunk people, and people locking themselves out of their houses (and there are far more ridiculous reasons people have called).

I don't care if it costs me more: I'd rather pay a couple of quid than know I'm using a service I should not be using unless there is a REAL EMERGENCY.

Emergency >>>>>>>> you.

 

[Guest]

0845 606 06 06 for none emergency's, or for just after clowns slit his wrists, coz that wouldnt be an emergeny right.....?

 

[Calaen]

This was a semi normal thread till you posted your shite in it Brooky

I agree with Swift, I would rather the emergency services be there when I needed them rather than them attending a Rta because someone wanted to make a point.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

brooky close to ban it seems, that's this thread and another one he's insinuating he wants people to die irl...

 

[Calaen]

brooky close to ban it seems, that's this thread and another one he's insinuating he wants people to die irl...

Its a sad day for the world when people try and intentionally get banned from a forum.

 

[MYstIC G]

You're an official waste of space, money, and vital resources. Someone could have been involved in a life-threatening incident, and you wasted the resources on a minor RTA, which, in the grand scale of life, means f*** all.

Well done. Next time you want a taxi lift home when drunk call 999, yeah?

No offence Swift but I'm with G.

Was in Sydenham at a set of lights when someone deliberately drove into the back of my car (long story short, I didn't move through a green light because the junction was completely blocked).

When calling the police and by now blocking all of Sydenham high street, they refused to attend despite the fat **** in his van saying things like "get your fucking car out of my way or the next thing that I'll hit with my van will be you"

I had to then photograph the **** so I could spend hours filling in a form so that the police "might" get his details later.

In this case they (3 months later) wrote to me telling me that he was uninsured and that they weren't going to do fuck all about it.

As for 999, normal people use 999 because it gets answered (stupid people will do stupid things no matter what). You try calling a police station in and around Croydon son?

Anyway, this isn't a rant at you or what you said really, I'm just pissed that some **** can deliberately drive into other people and is still on the road, no points on his licence, no fine, no nothing.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Croydon is hardly the Bronx. There's MUCH worse areas around South London for policing.

Plus, it's good to see that you consider a minor RTA like that as requiring emergency assistance. At least we can now tell how selfish you are.