Hello,
A few weeks ago whilst at work somebody drove into my car and did not leave a note . I put an email onto our electronic notice board at work asking for the person to come forward. Surprise surprise  - they didn't. However a couple of witnesses did come forward with the make, colour and the fact that it had green "P" plates. I thought - this can't be too common so a thoughrough search of the car parks and I found one with the correct make, colour, P plates and damage which matched my car. Now I don't know how to proceed.
If I did approach this person and accuse them of it have I got enough proof?? I had thought about going back onto the noticeboard and stating that I have their registration and if they don't come forward then the police will be involved for failing to stop following an accident.
1) Is it worth involoving the police?
2) Do I need to involve my insurance?
The other thing is that once I had been told the description of the car I remembered that a car of exactly the same colour and make had been parked next to me at the end of the day - because it was so badly parked (I could not get into my car). So either it was pure coincidence that the same type and colour of car parke badly next to me or the driver that did damage my car (who is a new driver) did not realise at the time and probably thought that somebody damaged their car!! I should note: I did not realise that my car was damaged until I got home (as I could not get to my drivers side of the car where the damage was)
Any advice??
GG

Did the witnesses actually see the incident when your car was damaged and did they see the driver?  also would they be prepared to come forward formally?

How much is the damage ?? If you are going to have difficulty proving that they hit you and the amount is not huge, you might be better off just paying out to have it fixed and saving your no-claims bonus :(

Daisy

Really depends on whether the witnesses are prepared to say they saw the incident. My husband had the same thing happen to him, but someone had left a message on his screen saying that he had seen it and left his phone number. My husband rang his insurance and they took it over from then on. They contacted the gentlemans insurance (must be on a database) and he admitted it.

I agree - it just comes down to whether the OP can get these people to come forward and identifiy the culprit. If they won't/can't, then there is no chance :(

Daisy

Even if you can prove the other driver was at fault, and even when they admit it themselves and have never even denied it, don't hold your breath for any money.

I'm still chasing for a payout after a driver hit the back of my stationary car last November! We both had fully comprehensive insurance too. The insurance companies blame each other ... :rolleyes:

I'm seriously considering contacting Watchdog.

That's rotten, JG :( I've only ever had two accidents and each time it involved being hit from behind. I didn't lose my no claims in either case, although the first (30 years ago :D ) did take nearly a year to resolve ( I was also shoved into the car in front) :(

Daisy

Quote:  I was also shoved into the car in front

Daisy, does that mean you have to pay up for damage to the vehicle in front of you or is it covered by the person who instigated the shunt's insurance?

Often worried about that since having had a car hit me from behind when I was stuck on a sharp bend behind two lorries who couldn't pass because the road was so narrow......a truly terrifying ordeal knowing you're going to be hit and not being able to do a thing about it.  I wanted to get out of my vehicle and run but then I'd probably have been mashed on the road

No - in the end I retained my no claims discount and was not at fault :) I was stationary at traffic lights at the time :)

Daisy

Sorry for the delay - I had to go to ASDA

The witness told me that her and her boyfriend saw the car having difficulties parking and that it damaged my car in the process. I don't know whether they will formally help me or not. They did not see the driver an cannot give a description
I am thinking that I should go onto the electronic noticeboard and put something like "I have witnesses and the exact make and reg of your car and if need be I will put your reg onto here so please come forward" or is that too threatening? I don't really want my insurance or police involved I just think that the person should come forward and pay for a new paint job which I am hoping would be under £100??? (Although I don't hve a clue)
GG

I don't think that you can put the details on a 'public' website without any firm proof - and if you have firm proof you should just approach the person directly and tell them. I'm uneasy about trying to 'shame' them into coming forward as you may have to put enough detail to identify them not just to themselves, but other colleagues - would your company look favourably on you using their web-site in this manner ?? :( If this person reckons that you haven't got any firm proof, they may just ignore it. I'd go back to the witnesses and ask them if they can definitely identify the car - that should be sufficient without seeing the driver.

Daisy

Firstly I would photograph the damage to your car using photos that include the date.  Put a ruler against the car as well to show the height of the damage.  Then do the same to the other car so you can prove the other car was damaged as well.  The ruler can help show that the damage matches.  If the paint is scraped off then you might well have some paint from your car on the other vehicle or vice versa.
If the car park is privately owned and not accessible to the public then your insurance company might not pay out on it.  You would have to seek damages from the other driver.
Inform the police because it's criminal damage and give the police the details of the witnesses.
Don't know how much damage was done but it might be that they haven't realised they have hit your car.

If you really don't want to involve the police then you may have to put it down to experience!  Email the culprit directly and ask them to pay for the damage and see if that works.

A few years ago I saw a car using my neighbours drive to reverse into in order to turn round. The driver hit their car and drove off without stopping. I took the registration number and gave it to my neighbours. The police traced the driver and went round to see her - she told them that she didn't think anyone had seen her so just drove off Her insurance company paid for the damage.

report the incident to your local police and get a log number - give them the details of the witnesses and other vehicle details.
then inform your insurance company with the police log number and vehicle details - they can check the registration number of the offending car and contact the insured.
The police may commence an accident booklet if the witnesses can confirm details and are willing to provide statements, though the accident should have been reported within 24 hours, the offending car has committed an offence by leaving the scene without leaving contact details.
Depending where the accident happened, it may be worth checking for local CCTV
I wish I could say you will get it sorted.....good luck!!

It may well be worth approaching the driver of this car and letting them know politely that witnesses have claimed to see her/him damage your car. If this is a novice driver (P plates) then they may well just own up! She may well prefer to own up than get the police involved. Another suggestion is to speak to your emplyer as it happened on their car park, and was one of their employees.

Unfortunately if the accident happened in a private car park then the police will not want to know, they only get involved if the accident happens on a public highway.
You need to get eye witness statements together with all the relevant information ie car involved- number plate-amount of damage date approx time position of your car and so forth. Then  you will have to take out a private prosecution via a solicitor who can check who the other car  belongs to.

After all this you may just may be able to get compensation for the  damage, but should the court judgement go against you not only will you incur court costs but your and the other persons solicitors cost together with a possible  libel action against yourself.

Don't forget the other car owner may think its worth making a claim against you the way people think nowadays ,and claim he/she was stationary and you caused the damage.

My advice is that you should inform your insurers who will then ask for an estimate from an approved repairer and then get the car repaired that way instead.

I know its a bummer but as long as you have a protected policy then in the long run its best just to cut your losses and get your car repaired as suggested.

Ssomone ran into our car in Sainsbury's car park and our car reg came over the tannoy   we went to help desk and were told that someone had bumped our car and driven away.  Luckily for us the witness took the number plate - we phoned the police and they did investigate and we were able to claim from their insurance - so although it happened in a car park the police did help!

Last Saturday evening I was working and when I got home (didn't look at passenger side of car whilst in car park) I noticed someone had dented/marked the passenger side & door of my car.  No note was left but I've asked for the CCTV to be checked so I hope that the incident is on film and registration of car is visible.

I wish people were honest / admitted to accidents.

Pam