Someone's just driven onto Meg's Ka

[pammy]

.....and driven off.

She's parked on a road in the car when she gets hit from behind. 2 girls in a Punto - she has the reg no. They drove off apparently with the passenger telling the driver to drive off fast - according to the hand gestures and facial actions etc.

Not clear if any damage has been done. Nothing that significant in any case - but there is a scratch. She'll bring it home and I'll have a look. But she wants to find them and have a go! I don't want her to - but if there is any damage then it's a diff story.

So my question if there is any damage do we have to put it through the insurance for thm to trace the car or what?

 

[BenzComander]

Sorry to hear that Pammy, not sure what you can do if they drove off.

Police probably wont want to be involved, unless Meg is injured.

Do I sense a little whiplash injury coming on. Police may then take a view, and if there is paint from the other car on the Ka, they may be able to take this as evidence Then look for the Punto and match it.

 

[robert.saunders]

Seeing as "Failing to stop after an accident" and "Failing to give particulars or to report an accident within 24 hours" are both specific motoring offences, I would say ring Police and log it, as they might be interested (the insurance might want their incident number anyway).

Sorry to hear about it, luckily no major damage by sounds of it...

 

[GrahamC230K]

It sucks, but I'd steer clear of the insurance company with it being a young driver. You don't want anything putting up her premium next year, for the cost of any light damage to the Ka, it's simply not worth it, even as a complete no fault incident.

 

[portzy]

What a bu**er , hope she's ok apart from the anger . If it were me, I'd just check on the damage when she gets home. If you reckon its superficial and will repair with something like ''ChipsAway'' then I'd do that. If you suspect structural?, thats a bit different so you would want it looking at properly but from what she has said its looking like cosmetic.

I can understand her anger, I'd be the same. Chances are they are either un or underinsured in some way and all that would happen is that the police and/or your insurers would trace her and she would pick up a £50 fine, if that, and you would have a claim against you.

I'd keep quiet and pay for it myself if its superficial.

Portzy.

 

[stats007]

I'd report it - who's to say they didn't take her number and will claim the opposite? The police will do little - probably write to the registered keeper for details - if none given just log something against the registration.

 

[grober]

Police Matter

FIRST they have committed an offence since they have collided with another car and driven off without exchanging insurance details which you are required to do by law. They could have driven off because they panicked OR maybe driving under the influence of drink/drugs - car wasn't insured/MOTd/ licenced.

Report them to the police with the reg no. They will use the DVLC database to trace the vehicle. Let the professionals deal with it. Remember tho that once the incident is in the public domain you will have to inform your your insurance company and this may result in a premium increase next year even if it wasn't her fault.
Examine the bumper closely and remember the impact absorbing materials/ bumper brackets under the bumper outer skin may have sustained damage which isn't visible although it will depend on the force of impact.

 

[pammy]

Thanks for the input guys. I've now had a look and been able to ascertain that it was a nudge that hasn't caused any obvious damage. If it's caused any hidden then Megs has underplayed what happened.

Two young women were in the car - prob round Megs age. Seems the Punto was reversing out of a drive and they they went into the back of Megs. There doesn't seem to have been any impact that is worth all the trouble that reporting it to the police and then insurance would cause. Bearing in mind we're already in for a hit following Meg's bump last October, another one being reported even though no fault etc etc just isn't worth the financial hit. So We've agreed to leave it.

But it is still so annoying that people are so flaming rude and ignorant . There is no way if I hit a car and people were in it that I would drive off - that is rather asking for it!

 

[splang]

is no way if I hit a car and people were in it that I would drive off - that is rather asking for it!

I am sure that if you hit a car and no people were in it you wouldn't drive off too?

 

[andy_k]

depending on how annoyed I was I may just pay someone to check the cars ownership for me (wouldn't an HPI check show this?) then go around to their house and make sure the Punto was damaged

 

[pammy]

I am sure that if you hit a car and no people were in it you wouldn't drive off too?

I'd like to think I wouldn't. I'd check if there waa any obvious damage and take it form there.

 

[Howard]

depending on how annoyed I was I may just pay someone to check the cars ownership for me (wouldn't an HPI check show this?) then go around to their house and make sure the Punto was damaged

Don't think its that easy to find out where they live

Almost certain that an HPI wouldn't give an address .... although i could be wrong ...

I'd do the same as you though Andy if i could find the address

 

[pammy]

depending on how annoyed I was I may just pay someone to check the cars ownership for me (wouldn't an HPI check show this?) then go around to their house and make sure the Punto was damaged

Don't think its that easy to find out where they live

Almost certain that an HPI wouldn't give an address .... although i could be wrong ...

I'd do the same as you though Andy if i could find the address

From what they're tellingme they poss know where they live as this car came from out of a drive. But I'm not one for causing trouble especially where things can then get out of hand etc. If the bump had been more then I would have no qualms but as it is it's not worth it.

 

[Howard]

Ah , but you know where they live and they don't know where you live ...

Go round and chuck a gallon of black gloss over it .... you'll feel miles better

 

[pammy]

Ah , but you know where they live and they don't know where you live ...

Go round and chuck a gallon of black gloss over it .... you'll feel miles better

lol - yeah - but the way my luck goes devine retribution would kick in and I'd get sommat even worse happen to me

 

[fuzzer]

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Sod that. Report it. The Police do take failing to stop for an accident seriously.

Teach the stupid driver that driving off after a collision is a very serious matter.

You don't need to involve your insurance company, although your contract will likely stipulate that such things must be reported. The Police won't care to inform them.

 

[shadowninja]

With the reg number, they can find out who it's insured with.

 

[Alps]

same thing happened to my sisters car a few weeks back, she was parked at my cousins and someone hit the wheel and wing mirror, cousin put out a few flyers locally (as its a closed off street with CCTV) and the guy owned up!

Police station you have to go and collect a form to fill in, worth doing as you have the Reg number! Phone the insurance company and ask them what they can do.

sisters car was written off by the way!

 

[merc180k]

FIRST they have committed an offence since they have collided with another car and driven off without exchanging insurance details which you are required to do by law. They could have driven off because they panicked OR maybe driving under the influence of drink/drugs - car wasn't insured/MOTd/ licenced.

Report them to the police with the reg no. They will use the DVLC database to trace the vehicle. Let the professionals deal with it. Remember tho that once the incident is in the public domain you will have to inform your your insurance company and this may result in a premium increase next year even if it wasn't her fault.
Examine the bumper closely and remember the impact absorbing materials/ bumper brackets under the bumper outer skin may have sustained damage which isn't visible although it will depend on the force of impact.

I must admit I agree that it should be reported to the police as an incident and that they drove off afterwards. Anyway whose to say you can't report it to the police as a witness?? "Oh, I saw this punto (reg XXXX) come out a drive and hit another car, .....etc." That way the offence is logged against the offending young ladies and has absolutely no bearing on the Ka or its insurance as it doesn't even get a mention!

At the very least the punto owner will get a visit from the boys in blue and a slap on the wrist as well as a kick up the **** from mummy and daddy!!!

That's what I would do and my brother in law who is a policeman agrees. You are under no obligation to leave your details when you report it.