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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we shouldn’t still be waiting for the police?

278 replies

Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 18:53

4.45am this morning a car crashed through my front fence, hitting both our cars (parked on the road) in the process. The driver got out and ran away. We called the Police who said they would be out to us in an hour.

While waiting for them to arrive, at 6.30am, the driver/friend of the driver came back to try and get their car - we go outside and they run away again, locking their car as they do so. (Relevant as probably means it’s not stolen)

Police arrive around 10, have a look at the scene but are then called out to a more urgent job so leave. They were here a total of around 3 minutes, didn’t take any details and told us to go to the police station to complete a statement form, which we have done.

That’s it. Nothing else since.

The car is still in our front garden, smashed fence and car debris is all over the pavement and our car insurance won’t start the ball rolling until they know details of the other driver / if it is a stolen vehicle etc.

AIBU to think the car should have been recovered by now? We are worried they are going to try and come back to get their car in the night - and the only way they would succeed is by causing more damage to our fence and the cars (as they are blocking it in)

What are we suppose to do?

OP posts:
eveshopper · 30/12/2019 00:09

Op needs other drivers details for insurance.

No she doesn't

OP gives the information she has - make/model/colour of car and registration number to her insurance company. They do the rest. That's what they are for

safariboot · 30/12/2019 00:10

Wait, so the crashed energetically parked car is on your land? I'd be very inclined to block it in if I could! And not let it go until you have a name and address and insurance details.

The law requires the driver to give their name and address to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask for them at the time of this, or if the driver fails to do so, to instead report the incident to the police within 24 hours. My money's on this driver doing neither voluntarily.

TreacherousPissFlap · 30/12/2019 00:10

Also, the police are absolutely not at liberty to tell the OP any of the drivers details due to GDPR.
The insurance company will have procedures for gaining the police reports, these will be done as a slow time investigation.
What do you think would happen if the driver was seriously injured (or killed) and didn't give the OP their name and address?

WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 30/12/2019 00:11

No she doesn't

OP gives the information she has - make/model/colour of car and registration number to her insurance company. They do the rest. That's what they are for

So she’s either misunderstood or they’ve told her misinformation?

eveshopper · 30/12/2019 00:12

I'd be very inclined to block it in if I could! And not let it go until you have a name and address and insurance details.

Why? Why though?

There is no benefit in doing this. Absolutely none.

eveshopper · 30/12/2019 00:13

So she’s either misunderstood or they’ve told her misinformation?

Yes. Exactly this. OP also says they won't act without a crime number, which is also 'misinformation'

WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 30/12/2019 00:13

What do you think would happen if the driver was seriously injured (or killed) and didn't give the OP their name and address?

Hmm They’d send the information from beyond the grave. Obviously.

TreacherousPissFlap · 30/12/2019 00:15

They'd send the information from beyond the grave. Obviously

Or more plausibly, the insurance company would find the details using their tried and tested investigation methods.

WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 30/12/2019 00:18

Or more plausibly the police would have been far quicker to attend and would have gained the driver’s ID.

TreacherousPissFlap · 30/12/2019 00:19

You're a hoot wirebrush Grin

WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 30/12/2019 00:22

Well, I’m not sure what part of the world you live in but where I’m from- the police attend when someone says there’s a dead body in their front garden. Hilarious- I know.

wombat1a · 30/12/2019 00:29

I think if I was you I would allow the brother to recover the car as it's one less thing to have to worry about.

WRT to getting the drivers/owners name you may not be able to get this via the police anyway. A farmer friend had a wall knocked down on one of his fields, police attended, car was towed etc etc. When he contacted the police to get the car owners details to make a claim he was told the police are unable to supply it due to privacy laws. He ended up paying for the wall to be repaired himself as it was cheaper in the long run than claiming off his insurance.

safariboot · 30/12/2019 00:30

It's easy to find the registered keeper of the car given its number plate, but that may not be sufficient. The driver's insurer is definitely liable in a case like this - if the registered keeper wasn't driving, their insurance might avoid paying out, and if the driver is unidentified you don't know who (if any) their insurer is either.

In that case you're left with either claiming on your own insurance, meaning it goes down as an at-fault claim resulting it future increased premiums, or going through the MIB's untraced driver schemes which can be time-consuming.

All round, if someone crashes into your car, you're a lot better off if you know who did it.

Rachelfromfriends1 · 30/12/2019 00:36

The MIB provide a roadside insurance checker where you can gain a 3rd party’s insurance details after an accident. You just need their license plate number. I posted the link earlier. So worst case scenario, Op should be able to get their details if they are insured. However their insurance company should really be chasing this up instead of OP.

selmabear · 30/12/2019 00:49

They're severely understaffed OP. And they have to prioritise. It took the police 5 days to find the time to caution my best friends ex. He'd been relentlessly harassing and damaging her property up until the day then went to his house

Walkingtheplank · 30/12/2019 00:51

Dear OP, sorry you're going through this. What a total pain. I hope it's sorted soon.

As for those blaming the Tories:
I dont recall blaming Labour when the Police were not interested in my burglaries in 2002 and 2004. I missed a trick there.
But the OP is in London. If Mayor Khan cut his PR budget he could employ more Police Officers - alas he chooses not to Hmm

eveshopper · 30/12/2019 01:01

if the registered keeper wasn't driving, their insurance might avoid paying out, and if the driver is unidentified you don't know who (if any) their insurer is either.*

If it wasn't the registered keeper or a named driver it makes no difference to OP as the third party element comes into play.

In that case you're left with either claiming on your own insurance, meaning it goes down as an at-fault claim resulting it future increased premiums, or going through the MIB's untraced driver schemes which can be time-consuming.

The car has insurance. OP will be fine.

katewhinesalot · 30/12/2019 01:11

They'll probably come back to get it themselves when you are asleep. That way they won't have to give their details to you.

But the insurance people will know anyway from the number plate.- As long as it's legit.

Original poster
Shoeshow · 30/12/2019 02:00

Just a quick update - police have just been and
given us the Insurance details. It’s insured to a Car Repairs company no less, so that solves where the tow truck was from.

Police said their insurance company should arrange recovery of the vehicle, so will call them
first thing in the morning, along with ours.

OP posts:
eveshopper · 30/12/2019 02:07

Sorry OP, maybe I have been making assumptions here re insurance. You are not in the uk are you?

Original poster
Shoeshow · 30/12/2019 02:15

@eveshopper yes I’m in the UK. I’m only repeating what I was told earlier by my insurance company.

OP posts:
Vafanculo · 30/12/2019 02:51

Are the police going to do anything about it? Is it a crime or just an insurance issue?
Really bad.

Vafanculo · 30/12/2019 02:53

Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime, I'd have thought dangerous driving, or driving without due care and attention would come into it, no tax, possibly drunk/drug driving. Strange that they're doing nada apart from giving you the insurance details.

eveshopper · 30/12/2019 05:04

yes I’m in the UK. I’m only repeating what I was told earlier by my insurance company.

It was more the police coming to tell you insurance details at gone 1am that made me think you were not UK.

Greyhound22 · 30/12/2019 05:15

I think it's a bjt much saying that OP is being unreasonable.

I agree with all the understaffing issues etc and not blaming police but OP has had all the frontage of her house smashed in - two vehicles damaged and there is debris all over the street and the likelihood of the perpetrator returning. What is she meant to do go out there with a dustpan and brush?

Sorry OP it must be really upsetting for you. I would just call for an update if you can.

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