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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To call the police?

62 replies

happystarfish · 01/08/2018 10:36

First post on here! (Its going to be a long one)

A bit of back story...
A few months ago, I was in a car accident outside my house, down my cul-de-sac, on my way home.

The gent that hit me was reversing off of his driveway, to park on the opposite side of the road. He was going reasonably fast, not looking, fag in hand, music blaring and went straight into my drivers side door (where i was obviously sat).
He got out of the car screaming that he was reversing and that it was all my fault, Quite shaken up i didn't really know what to say, But advised that i would park my car in my drive and come back over to exchange details.
When I went back over to his home, his mother came out (Not sure whether he lives with her fully or not), and she admitted that he was in the wrong. He was reversing onto the road that i was already on, therefore my right of way (and obviously because he didn't check his bloody mirrors!!!!). He accepted that he was at fault and mutually decided that we would look into having the work done privately. We exchanged details, Telephone number, Number plates, Address etc (although not insurance companies which i regret!!) and got on with the rest of our days.

A week later i took the damages to quoted and was told a price of £1300, I passed this information over to the gent and he was not happy. He told me he would be able to get a much better price from a garage that hes been to before. So following his advice i took it to this garage, only to be quoted a price of £1200. I told him the price and sent the quote document to him, and this is when things went down hill.

I was coming to the end of my tether and phoned him explaining i was due to go on holiday and that if he hadn't sorted the situation out or made a decision about what to do, that after my holiday i would be contacting his insurance company and going through them.
This is when he disclosed to me that he didn't know if he had renewed his insurance!!! This obviously made me furious and i had to go on holiday with the thought in my mind that i had been massively screwed over.
When i came back from holiday i still hadn't heard a word from him and i decided to contact his insurance. I called the company that i believed he was with (from comments that he had made). I called them and got everything rolling, they confirmed there was a policy and that they would give me a few months to get in contact and they would be able to sort it for me.

So.. Now these few months have passed and i called them a couple of days ago, They advised they had spoken to the policy holder and that they have not been in any accidents.
I was so confused and explained that he admitted liability when the accident happened. The insurance explained that i could send in any photos or proof to try and help. I then questioned the name of the policy holder as i hadnt actually done that yet... and it turns out ITS NOT THE GUY THAT HIT ME!
I explain this to the insurance and they advise they will see if there are any named drivers on the policy and they will contact me soon.

The reg is correct, the make and model of the car is correct...
I dont know what to do, should i call the police? Should i go to his house?
I currently have over £1000s worth of damage to my car and i cant fix it...

OP posts:

PurpleFlower1983 · 01/08/2018 15:18

This is what insurance is for, put a claim in and report the other driver to the police.

Ifeelshit · 01/08/2018 15:19

Nicknacky it is unclear where the issue with the insurer is, and whether or not they are saying that the car is not insured with them or whether the person is not. If the car is insured they have a duty under the road traffic act to fix the OPs car, even if the person driving wasn't a named driver. The OP has not clarified this yet.

HaveSomeGrace · 01/08/2018 15:23

Op you need to go to the police and you need to tell them that you were hit by a car, potentially uninsured by the person driving, on a public highway and get them to deal with it. I had to do this as a guy drive in to me in a different county. Notified the olive in my home town and they contacted the police in the town where it happened m. Turned out the guy was wanted anyway for driving without insurance and obviously fir leaving the scene of the bump he’d caused.

Insurance wise, you need to question whether you’re going to get your money back without involving your insurance company.

HaveSomeGrace · 01/08/2018 15:25

Notified the POLICE, not an OLIVE!

LuluJakey1 · 01/08/2018 20:23

Honestly, the police are not interested in car insurance these days. You are right, it will affect your insurance but that is what it's for.

Maelstrop · 01/08/2018 20:48

Please don’t contact the police (I’m sat next to one). This is dealt with through insurance, as people who actually work in the industry have repeatedly said on the thread.

Nanny0gg · 01/08/2018 20:56

Maelstrop

Isn't driving whilst uninsured a police matter? Especially if he's still on the road?

Nicknacky · 01/08/2018 20:59

maelstrop Why would a Police Officer discourage a person reporting a suspected uninsured driver to the police? The police will not get involved in the dispute over repairs clearly, and it’s not difficult to ascertain if he was insured at the time of the accident.

Maelstrop · 01/08/2018 23:33

Who says the guy is uninsured? She just hasn’t got the right insurer who may have insured the guy previously, hence they know the index.

The OP should contact her insurer. In the first incidence, were the police to be involved, at the max, they would give him a warning. They would tell the OP to contact her insurers. At the max, of the driver at fault is uninsured, the OP will still be able to receive money for repairs from the Motor Insurance Bureau. Regardless and very unfairly, the injured party’s insurance will still go up and she will have to declare the accident for the next 5 years.

At the max, the police may give the driver at fault a producer ie make him report to a police station with proof of insurance etc within 72 hours. If he doesn’t turn up, they will eventually impound the vehicle. Eventually.

Maelstrop · 01/08/2018 23:36

As a postscript, the ANPR camera may well ping him and if any officer is nearby, they will pursue because, yes, of course it’s illegal, but by the time anyone reaches the location of the ANPR, he could have gone anywhere. If they have anyone available, they might send someone to his address, but looking at the 4 officers covering a population of 110 000 tonight, it’s unlikely.

Maelstrop · 01/08/2018 23:38

PPS. You can report vehicles online: you can see if they’re untaxed etc.

Mummyof5dc · 02/08/2018 00:06

I'm also an insurance consultant.
As he said he may not have insurance, you should contact the police to report the incident, this is because if your insurance company have an uninsured driver promise (some do, some don't) you will need a crime reference number as proof. Also as the insurance details you have been given are incorrect, you will have to claim through your insurance, you will only need his car registration number. They can find out who he is insured by if he is insured at all, as this will be on the national insurance database. I know it will effect your insurance initially but once the claim is closed as a non fault claim, it should all get back dated. If I were you I would weigh up the options, is a claim going to cost you more than 1300 or less.I hope you manage to get a good outcome.

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