Hit & Run

[peter49]

I'm sitting in my car in row 1 of an underground car park waiting for my wife who was shopping upstairs.
Directly across the front of my vehicle was a service road and across that was row 2 of parking slots and across that service road 3.
Slightly to my right, I could clearly see an SLK parked in row 2 with a Transit type van parked next to it on the right hand side.
Van driver returns to his van and starts to drive off, turning left onto the service road. He turned too sharply and dragged his vehicle along the front off-side of the SLK with enough force for me to hear the scraping noise and to see the SLK body lift.
The van driver continued on without hesitation.
As he left the carpark he passed behind my vehicle and I was able to make a note of his registration.
I walked over to the SLK and could see some considerable damage. IMO, a new wing would be required. As my wife had now returned, I decided to leave a note for the SLK driver. I gave the van registration and a brief comment of what I had seen. I also left my 'phone number if required.
So I hear nothing at all for 3 or 4 weeks and I am disappointed that the SLK driver didn't even call to say thanks when I recieve a phone call from the police.
They want me to complete a Witness Statement because the van driver denies all knowledge of the incident.
Ultimately, I may be called to court as the one and only witness.
What would you do?

 

[camerafodder]

I'd complete the form

 

[brucemillar]

Well you could tell the Police that you are not happy that the SLK owner did not take the time to acknowledge your honesty and time in making them aware who the culprit was.

At this point you have a morale judgement.

Say you would be a hostile witness given the complainants lack of courtesy to you.

or

Fill in the forms as honestly as you can.

Van driver obviously was not aware that you had seen him so thinks he is OK.

 

[Beno]

Do the right thing go to court if necessary. You would want someone to do the same for you is karma

 

[stevieb15]

I'm amazed the police are involved in a purely civil matter, unless they're pursuing him for criminal damage.
Irrespective give the statement as you saw it, the fact the SLK driver does seems more than a little ill mannered doesn't change what happened or what you saw.

 

[p3tchy]

Stevieb15, Failing to stop and leave details at the scene of RTC is an offence its own right.

As Beno said, if it was you, you want them to do the same. The owner of the SLK may not have contacted you thinking it was best to leave it to the police and insurance company to sort out.

I know I'd fill it out and go to court if it was me and I'd hope someone else would do the same. Heck I'd even offer to cover their loss of earnings for the day if it meant a conviction.

 

[davidjpowell]

I'm amazed the police are involved in a purely civil matter, unless they're pursuing him for criminal damage.
Irrespective give the statement as you saw it, the fact the SLK driver does seems more than a little ill mannered doesn't change what happened or what you saw.

It's a requirement to exchange details, or report the accident to the Police within 24 hours. Police are doing their job pursuing it.

OP, fill in the form. The Police may have told this person that they are dealing with it etc...

 

[baxlin]

Is an underground carpark treated as the Highway for this purpose?

 

[Stratman]

He may have been told not to contact a potential witness and just let the police deal with it.............

 

[artyman]

He may have been told not to contact a potential witness and just let the police deal with it.............

The most likely scenario, certainly continue, we all need protecting from the irresponsible.

 

[peter49]

Is an underground carpark treated as the Highway for this purpose?

This was one of my questions to the policeman that contacted me.
If the carpark has road markings, it is considered highway and comes under road traffic regs.

 

[neilrr]

Why bother to write the H&R details down & leave them on the damaged car if you had / have any doubts about what course of action to take?

Surely the ship has already sailed & you have already embarked on that journey.

 

[peter49]

Why bother to write the H&R details down & leave them on the damaged car if you had / have any doubts about what course of action to take?

Surely the ship has already sailed & you have already embarked on that journey.

The SLK owner has not had the courtesy to contact me with a quick phone call of appreciation or update. If I had not left details of the H&R, he/she would be faced with a potential repair bill well in excess of £1,000 or a loss of insurance NCB.
I still have a choice to make but it is now based on a poor perception of both Parties.

 

[brucemillar]

It's a requirement to exchange details, or report the accident to the Police within 24 hours. Police are doing their job pursuing it.

OP, fill in the form. The Police may have told this person that they are dealing with it etc...

Not correct. Only if somebody is injured. Otherwise it is a civil matter. Trust me I have spent the last four months fighting this.

 

[andy aitch]

reply

I'm sitting in my car in row 1 of an underground car park waiting for my wife who was shopping upstairs.
Directly across the front of my vehicle was a service road and across that was row 2 of parking slots and across that service road 3.
Slightly to my right, I could clearly see an SLK parked in row 2 with a Transit type van parked next to it on the right hand side.
Van driver returns to his van and starts to drive off, turning left onto the service road. He turned too sharply and dragged his vehicle along the front off-side of the SLK with enough force for me to hear the scraping noise and to see the SLK body lift.
The van driver continued on without hesitation.
As he left the carpark he passed behind my vehicle and I was able to make a note of his registration.
I walked over to the SLK and could see some considerable damage. IMO, a new wing would be required. As my wife had now returned, I decided to leave a note for the SLK driver. I gave the van registration and a brief comment of what I had seen. I also left my 'phone number if required.
So I hear nothing at all for 3 or 4 weeks and I am disappointed that the SLK driver didn't even call to say thanks when I recieve a phone call from the police.
They want me to complete a Witness Statement because the van driver denies all knowledge of the incident.
Ultimately, I may be called to court as the one and only witness.
What would you do?

if it was my car id hope the witness would stand up for me, too many hit and runs

 

[neilrr]

The SLK owner has not had the courtesy to contact me with a quick phone call of appreciation or update. If I had not left details of the H&R, he/she would be faced with a potential repair bill well in excess of £1,000 or a loss of insurance NCB.
I still have a choice to make but it is now based on a poor perception of both Parties.

Well in that case perhaps you should testify in defence of the van driver. At least he wasn't discourteous.

 

[peter49]

Well in that case perhaps you should testify in defence of the van driver. At least he wasn't discourteous.

You weren't the van driver by any chance?

 

[flango]

Not correct. Only if somebody is injured. Otherwise it is a civil matter. Trust me I have spent the last four months fighting this.

DavidPowell is correct you must stop and report or exchange details of an accident within 24 hours if.

Anyone else other than yourself is injured
Another vehicle or someone else's property is damaged
An animal in another vehicle or on the road is injured
Any street furniture is damaged

If you leave the scene without doing this you could be charged with

Fail to stop after an accident
Fail to render assistance
Fail to exchange names and addresses
Fail to report an accident to police if no other person present

 

[John]

It's poor form for the SLK owner not to contact you at all but maybe the cops did advise them not to.

I would pursue it now on the basis the van driver is clearly a male chicken.

You never know - you might get some thanks or similar afterwards from the SLK owner...

 

[brucemillar]

DavidPowell is correct you must stop and report or exchange details of an accident within 24 hours if.

Anyone else other than yourself is injured
Another vehicle or someone else's property is damaged
An animal in another vehicle or on the road is injured
Any street furniture is damaged

If you leave the scene without doing this you could be charged with

Fail to stop after an accident
Fail to render assistance
Fail to exchange names and addresses
Fail to report an accident to police if no other person present

Ahem. Is that not what I said.

You are not required to inform the police if nobody is injured.