AIBU?
First car accident and he fled the scene
carsaretheworst · 23/03/2021 10:08
Hi all, hoping you can help as we are confused and shaken up!
Last night, DH was getting his work belongings from the passenger side of the car. Our street doesn't have off-street parking so has cars both sides parked as is common where we live. The road is wide so cars can pass still and pull in for traffic to go past etc.
As he was getting his things, other cars went past him with no issue.
All his lights were on and the road is lit by street lights, it was 6pm. A car sped down the road (recently a school girl got killed by a driver doing this round this area and we are by a school, so whilst speed limit is 30 people go around 20 and he was going 35-40). He caught DH's door as he went past and knocked DH.
The car stopped, shouted, DH went up to him and he smelled of alcohol. I was watching the whole thing from our window as I normally sit at the bay window in our bedroom in the evenings. I ran down and filmed the whole thing. The driver refused to give details and drove off.
DH's been told his car will be written off. We use it all the time and he needs it to get to school. Does anyone have any advice? We've filed with the police etc and because of him fleeing and the alcohol, the police checked ANPR last night to see if he was still driving but we heard nothing back.
Do we just now buy another car and claim the money back later? I am so confused. His car was a 2007 Mercedes with a year's MOT so probably only worth £1500? I'm not good at cars!
TheLoveOfMoney · 23/03/2021 10:12
You need to ring your insurance company, they can guide you through the process and they will want the video footage to prove it wasnt your fault. The insurance firm will be good at giving you the proper legal advise. Sorry to hear about your accident,always scary when this happens
AngelicInnocent · 23/03/2021 10:13
Definitely contact insurance company before doing anything else. They will need the licence of the car involved if you got it and an incident number that the police should have given you.
Depending on your insurance cover, you should be given a hire car until it's resolved.
HotToddyColdSauvignon · 23/03/2021 10:21
Well if it only happened last night, and you’ve contacted them, and it’s only 11am now, you’ll just have to wait 
Depending on your level of cover you may be able to claim travel expenses like taxis or buses if your DH needs to use them for work, check your policy
BluebellsGreenbells · 23/03/2021 10:22
Your insurance company will make you an offer.
If you can afford another car, then look into buying one whilst waiting for payment - assuming you have the write off in writing.
Do you have protected no claims discount?
The insurance company will pay out and then try to claim back off the third party insurers if he has any.
carsaretheworst · 23/03/2021 10:26
@BluebellsGreenbells
If you can afford another car, then look into buying one whilst waiting for payment - assuming you have the write off in writing.
Do you have protected no claims discount?
The insurance company will pay out and then try to claim back off the third party insurers if he has any.
Yes they've sent a letter saying no claims is unaffected (unless a third party contacts them to the contrary)
Sh05 · 23/03/2021 11:00
Check your policy if the insurance company will give you a courtesy car for the time being.
DH was involved in a collision where the lady behind pressed the gas instead of break at a traffic light. His car needed major repairs, the insurance company arranged a courtesy car whilst the claim was sorted.
islockdownoveryet · 23/03/2021 11:09
You’ve done all you can do , hopefully the police will find him but don’t hold much hope .
Like others say insurance will make you a offer , can you get a courtesy car off your insurance? And just make sure you give all the details to insurance see if any cctv and any other witnesses pass that onto insurance and leave it with them.
YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 23/03/2021 11:14
@Sh05
DH was involved in a collision where the lady behind pressed the gas instead of break at a traffic light. His car needed major repairs, the insurance company arranged a courtesy car whilst the claim was sorted.
Generally they won't give a courtesy car for a write off, only if it is being repaired. The insurance company will send you an offer of what they think the car is worth. You can either accept it or haggle to try and get a bit more. After you accept the offer, the insurance company will collect the car as it now belongs to them, and you use the money to buy a new car
activitythree · 23/03/2021 11:20
He caught the door. Until the damage is assess you have no idea that it will be written off. Even if it is you could always buy it back and repair. And when you take out insurance go for a policy that offers a courtesy car when you have a write off because they time between accident and payment you have no transport.
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