Repair or write off? 2x hit and run!

[fredT]

yesterday was a bit eventful...

i had two people hit my car, and drive off, in the space of 10 hours!!

first one annoyed me a bit, second almost killed me and looks like ruined my car.

the first one they hit the left rear passenger door, just badly anought that it probably need to come off to be repaired, but it was till operating perfectly. a mere nuisance but very annoying that the **** didnt stop and leave details.

second hit was bad, and could've been nasty. we had just arrive home and i was parked outside our flat (quite a narrow street) and was in the process of putting my sons car seat in. i heard a car coming looked back but it seemed to have noticed me so i turned back. then BANG it ran into the open door where i was standing!
i stood up and waited for the car to stop. he didnt even slow down, but continued on his way at a quite leisurely pace. it didnt even seem like he noticed, recon the guy/girl was either off his face or very old.
it was surreal!

now obviously the rear door is completely ****ed, but also the drivers door dont open.
could that imact have moved the b-pillar?

at the very least i have 3 ruined doors, or possibly worse. would they attemt to repair this or is it likely to be written off?

its a 2006 c 320cdi estate, 66k miles (previously in very good nick)

obviously im very happy the **** didnt squash me beetween the cars, so to be honest i doesnt bother me other then its a pain dealing with police, insurance etc.
by the way the car was parked up just a couple off streets away, which also indicates that they didnt notice the impact, surely if you we're trying to escape you wouldnt park around the corner?
what a tool!

just curious to see what you guys think?

thanks

 

[renault12ts]

The B pillar probably did move. The car could be off square and will probably need pulling on a jig at the least. Bad/good luck.

Were the police called?
What happened next?

All questions everyone will want to know the answer to.

 

[BaldGuy]

I'd personally go and buy a wheel clamp from halfords and put it on their car unless you know who it is... and put your number on a note on the windscreen....

 

[Scott_F]

I'd move house.

 

[renault12ts]

I'd move house.

Do you know how heavy a house is?

 

[MercFanUk]

This might be a case of the insurance company deciding for you... Personally I'm not sure I'd want to be driving in a car that's been potentially twisted at the pillar - even if only a little.

If the insurance are happy to pay out, I'd be more tempted to replace it than repair. IMHO of course.

 

[fredT]

The B pillar probably did move. The car could be off square and will probably need pulling on a jig at the least. Bad/good luck.

Were the police called?
What happened next?

All questions everyone will want to know the answer to.

yeah i called the police, who obviously weren't very interested and told me to come in and file a report.

then i had a chinese take away.

after that i went to the police station.

later i went and took some pictures off the offending car. it looks stupid now but never in my wildest dreams did i think the guy would just pull over and park up, 2 blocks from my house. i fully believed id never see the car again (this is in london after all).
but on the off chance we just took a drive on the way back from the police station, and there it sat neatly parked. he didnt even turn the car around, the car was sat under a lamp post with the damaged side facing the road.

after that i had to go back to the police and update the paperwork...

 

[renault12ts]

Incredible...how can the police not be interested in a hit and run???

Were they more interested when you reported that you'd found the offending vehicle?

 

[fredT]

Incredible...how can the police not be interested in a hit and run???

Were they more interested when you reported that you'd found the offending vehicle?

not really, the officer i spoke to and saw at the station had very little interest.

i would've like them to come and inspect the car as it was obviusly the right car, but they had no interest. there were also flakes of paint on the ground where he hit my car, that was clearly from the offending car.

i should've kicked up more of a fuss, but it was late by now and i was tired. im sure that will cost me later on. at least i have some decent snaps to back up my story.

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

I would write an open letter to your local paper. I would also speak to a solicitor with a view to sending a letter to the Chief Constable asking why they were not interested in adding a solved case (you found the offending vehicle) to their books.
I would become such a pain in the preverbial that they would investigate if only to get rid of me.

 

[nick mercedes]

Incredible...how can the police not be interested in a hit and run???

There are numerous crimes that the police are now too busy/lazy to investigate...

 

[SilverSaloon]

maybe it was the coppers car

 

[grober]

In general unless someone has sustained a personal injury the police are not interested. Normally they leave such incidents to the insurance companies to sort out. However driving away after an accident without leaving your name and address and insurance details is a criminal offence. Collisions - your questions answered Discovering the car may not be the answer if its a "ghost car" the driver = unknown no licence no insurance no MOT and current ownership uncertain. Would explain its abandonment not far from the scene of the crime?? The police may have checked the reg no and come up with nothing rational which might explain their reluctance to proceed further down waht will turn out to be a a dead end.

 

[StevenN]

You can check online if the car is known on the insurance database.
Google askmid.
Did the car have a valid tax disc?

 

[horgantrevor]

if some one was hurt then they may have acted on the deed faster but now your file is in a pile with every thing else it will be several weeks before they do any thing i bet

 

[p1nny]

Police are undermanned and thus pretty useless. They only have time for speeding offences as it ticks quite a few government targets that way!