Car crashed into my car

[thegoodnameshadgone]

Someone crashed into me at half eleven this morning.

No one was hurt thankfully but both cars are completely written off.

I called 999 straight away as I have always been told that you should do if your in an accident.

The police didn’t attend. As it’s the morning after one of what’s traditionally one of the biggest nights for people going out drinking, should they not have attended?

Police Just said get the cars off the road and towed and swap details. Is that usual?
Been sat here for three hours and I must have seen about 10 police cars go past us and not one has stopped.

Both cars look obviously totalled and we both have our four ways on waiting for the recovery trucks.

I’m not criticising the police just wondering if it’s usual for them not to attend an accident.

Yes, it’s totally normal for the police not to attend. It shouldn’t be a 999 call unless someone is injured or the cars are in a dangerous position for other road users.

Sorry this happened to you. Hope you get it sorted quickly through the insurance.

yes, unless someone is injured or the cars so damaged that they can't be moved or you are on a motor vehicles only road, police will not attend. haven't for many years. when did you last read the highway code.

Last read the Highway Code when I passed my test.

hope everything gets sorted swiftly and that the insurance wheels work smoothly.

Thanks for your comments I just wondered that’s all. Obv need to refresh my Highway Code. Was on my own so panicked a bit and at that point I wasn’t sure if the other people where ok.

Use your phone to Google your responsibilities in the event of an accident.There are legal requirements, including exchanging information, what to do if someone other than yourself is injured etc.Also when to inform police.Do look at the exact information.It will tell you all you need.
Sorry this has happened to you.

Not entirely sure why you called 999 unless you were on the motorway and blocking lanes/ immediate danger to life? What do you think any them to do for you?

As it’s the morning after one of what’s traditionally one of the biggest nights for people going out drinking, should they not have attended

Do you think the other driver is under the influence of alcohol? Because if you've said that, they should attend, as a crime has been committed. If not, it is an accident and not a police matter. Hope you're recovered soon

Seems a bit odd to me that police wouldn't attend and breathalyse the drivers involved for evidence in case that was a factor :/ but I suppose they wouldn't have the resources to attend every bump and scrape in case a crime has been committed.

Not think- want

"FrostyThirties0"

OP said she wasn't sure if other people were okay so I guess with it being such a big crash she was calling for an ambulance pre emptively? Sometimes when a crash seems bad it can be difficult to believe nobody might be hurt!

I can also understand the urge while in shock to want to get someone with authority on the scene to sort it out if you're clueless as to what to do, maybe fear in case someone is hurt or reacts aggressively. It's hArd to know how you'll respond unless it happens to you. I can understand someone mindlessly dialling 999 if it's the only number they can remember for emergencies as it probably does feel like an emergency.

Sounds like she requested police to attend, not ambulance. And it is a massive waste of resources to call an ambulance without even checking one is needed.

I’m sure you were really shook up but the police can’t attend every accident. That’s unrealistic.

Yeah, requesting police seems fair if you think there's been illegal dangerous driving. And they said no. Better to ring for police and be told it's not something they deal with then to not ring when you really should. It's a request for help not a summons.

if one or both of you had been blocking a main road then i am sure they would have come to direct traffic. there was a small crash outside sainsburys at a big set of traffic lights last friday. car was right blocking so many cars and because it was so busy the police were there directing everyone.

my dp's recovery truck got hit by a lorry at a roundabout and ended up blocking lanes. obviosuly could not push the truck out of the way. he called 999 to tell them and to report a crime as the lorry driver fucked off!

anyway, hope youre recovered soon. you mst be freezing!

I wouldn't expect them to attend unless someone was injured or the other driver appeared drunk or was aggressive.

I am surprised that no squad car stopped, presumably they had on no sirens so no emergency.

I’m sorry that you have been involved in an accident and glad you are not hurt, but you were wrong to ring 999. In what way did you think your situation was a life threatening emergency?

As others have said, swap details, take a lot of photos, obtain details of any witnesses and leave it to your insurance company.

Hope it gets sorted out quickly.

The police came when I hit another car on New Years Day and also called an ambulance. They were more interested in the other driver though as he was an illegal immigrant driving with no insurance and I wasn’t even breathalyser (I hadn’t been drinking so it wouldn’t have made a difference).

One thing I’m not sure about, is it ok to refuse to give your address to the other party? I was told I had to but wasn’t comfortable doing. I’d have been much happier just giving him my insurance details.

I hope you’re ok OP, it’s scary when something like that happens.

One thing I’m not sure about, is it ok to refuse to give your address to the other party?

No, you have to give it to them.

www.essex.police.uk/contact-us/road-collision-records/frequently-asked-questions/

That’s pretty poor to be honest. In my case the other driver was arrested but his friend wasn’t and was left with me while I waited for the discovery truck. The driver was later deported and I felt uneasy knowing that they knew all my details. Surely giving insurance details should be enough. I think in future I would refuse to give my address and worry about the consequences later.

(Sorry to derail your thread OP)

If no-one is hurt then the police won't attend, otherwise they would spend their whole time dealing with traffic accidents

PinkSparklyPussyCat I've had a couple of minor things I've reported to insurance/police, and both of them have told me I must give

Name
Phone number
Car reg
Insurance company (if known)

And that's it. They've both told me I haven't needed to give my home address as it's on the system for them (I was verbally attacked by one in the 24 hours post crash and worried for my safety, they assured me they wouldn't ever give the other party my address)

I always thought if you were in an accident you were supposed to ring the police. In hindsight I should of just rang the non emergency number. It’s in my company’s handbook to inform the police if in an rta.

At the time, my car was spun 180, the other car was about 20foot away with the alarm going off and it looked led like it was leaking fuel in the road. At this point no one had stopped and I didn’t know what to do so I called the police. I didn’t ask for an ambulance I just advised them what had happened.

While I was explaining to the lady on the other end of the phone, a few people stopped and moved the other car out of the road and the person who had gone into me
Came over so it was explained to the police no one had been hurt. Fair enough police
Didn’t need to attend. Last time someone went into me a few years ago, we were all breathalyzed, no one was hurt then or was dangerous driving.