Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

Original poster

Accused of leaving scene of crash!!

93 replies

Anon189 · 30/01/2020 18:36

I recently had a car crash with another driver who has refused to accept fault therefore insurance are now investigating. The problem is I’m now being called in for interview under caution for leaving the scene of the crash which I did not!

So I was driving home late from my parents with a passenger and on the way have been hit by another car which he is claiming was my fault. We both stopped and we were all fine luckily so we exchanged details. Whilst we were there he called two of his friends to the scene one of which was a very rude woman. We had exchanged details and I was in shock so myself and my friend walked back down to my parents but, i have now been called in for an interview because he has waited till we had left and then called he police saying I had not give him my details!! I now wish I had not agreed to not call the police cause I feel this was just a plot for him to make me look at fault for the crash! I’m so annoyed. As his two friends were there police are saying he has two witnesses but of course his friends are going to say whatever he wants them to say!!

OP posts:
followingonfromthat · 30/01/2020 19:00

Just go in there and tell them exactly what you have said on here. he might have witnesses, but they weren't there when the crash actually happened, your witness was in the car with you. Try not to worry.

Original poster
Anon189 · 30/01/2020 19:08

@followingonfromthat thanks. ITs not the insurance claim that’s worrying me it’s the fact he’s told the police I have left the scene without giving him my details when that was not the case at all.

OP posts:
LonginesPrime · 30/01/2020 19:08

Surely the fact you have his insurance details is proof that you didn't leave without exchanging details?

Plus you have your own witness.

They should be the ones worrying - they could be charged with wasting police time or filing a false report (assuming the telly is correct!).

Scapegoatforlife · 30/01/2020 19:27

But you have his details ?? Is that not proof you were willing at the scene to get this resolved

ShyTown · 30/01/2020 19:32

Surely the fact that you have each other’s insurance details is proof that you didn’t leave the scene?! I’m not sure that I follow.
But just tell the police exactly what happened and you‘ll be fine. You did stop. You did exchange insurance details. You haven’t done anything wrong.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/01/2020 19:38

But you have his details ?? Is that not proof you were willing at the scene to get this resolved

I wouldn’t bet on it. Someone hit me once and I gave her my details but she refused to give me hers and drove off. I had her reg so insurance sorted it out but she refused to provide details and left so guess I could have gone to the police.

OP, you have a witness as well. The police will hear your side and realise it’s a he said/she said situation with no way of telling who is telling the truth. I would be amazed if you were prosecuted as there’s no evidence.

Did you tell your insurance company about the accident in good time and did you give the reg/details of the other car?.

Original poster
Anon189 · 30/01/2020 19:58

Thanks for the replies everyone. I passed all his details on to the insurance but he text me them again the next day as I didn’t have a pen and paper or anything to write his down and he had a name that I couldn’t even pronounce. It wasn’t even him who actually called the police it was his female friend but he had two people I only had one with me. I do really believe he is just trying to make it out as though I ran off so the insurance think I’m at fault bearing in mind that he came from a side road to turn up a road I was going straight down and came into my lane. This whole situation is just really stressing me out to the point it’s making me feel ill. I am kicking myself for not calling the police myself

OP posts:
Original poster
Anon189 · 30/01/2020 20:00

And also I did report the crash to insurance well within the 24 hours, he had even reported it before me. I just don’t have faith in this police officer because the way she spoke to me on the phone was as though she had already decided I was guilty. Even worse is that they had my car towed which I had to pay £310 to get out of the recovery centre but had left his because apparently I left the scene without giving my details!

OP posts:
Reallybadidea · 30/01/2020 20:00

Are you taking a solicitor with you to the police interview? What have they advised?

Monetmoney · 30/01/2020 20:03

Please take a solicitor to the interview with you, it is free for anyone regardless of your income!

BabbleBee · 30/01/2020 20:04

If he could text you details, surely that shows you gave him your information?

superram · 30/01/2020 20:07

You shouldn’t call the police if you have an accident unless necessary (road blocked/severe injury). The police don’t have time. It will be fine.

Dontunderestimateme · 30/01/2020 20:13

I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Do you still have the text he sent you the next day? If so take your phone, and show them. I would like to see him explain how he had your number when you left without giving him your details!

VirtualHamster · 30/01/2020 20:14

Was your car left at the scene of the accident? I'm confused about where it was towed from.

Ginger1982 · 30/01/2020 20:16

You must have given him details if he has your number. Show the police the text.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/01/2020 20:18

Yes if he texted you he obviously had your details. Tell the police to do him for wasting police time.

Original poster
Anon189 · 30/01/2020 21:08

My car was on a main road but some passers by pushed it onto a side road so it wasn’t obstructing traffic. There was no way it could have been driven afterwards I’ll attach a picture of the car. It wasn’t blocking the road in anyway afterwards but his car had been left at the scene. I also have contacted a solicitor today but I am waiting to hear back from them so hopefully that will be tomorrow. And the police woman said I just left my phone number and left the scene so therefore that’s not adequate even though I did pass him my name and address along with insurance details even though I was apprehensive about passing this man my address! And of course he had my registration plate. I mean if someone has the intention of fleeing the scene of an accident I don’t think they would stop and pass even a telephone number and hang around for 45 minutes then decide to flee

Accused of leaving scene of crash!!
Accused of leaving scene of crash!!
OP posts:
Ginger1982 · 30/01/2020 21:14

How did the accident happen? Was it a head on collision?

Shopgirl1 · 30/01/2020 21:19

Can’t believe you didn’t call the police in a crash as serious to cause that level of damage. Was no one injured?

VirtualHamster · 30/01/2020 21:23

I think calling/waiting for the police would be typical where the level of damage was such that the cars couldn't be driven away.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/01/2020 21:33

Worst case scenario your mobile phone pings will prove you stayed for 45 mins. Tell the police they’re welcome to access those.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/01/2020 21:34

I’ve rung the police before for a bad car accident where a car was written off and they said they only come out if someone is injured or the road is blocked.

Original poster
Anon189 · 30/01/2020 21:38

I think my car was more damaged due to the fact that it had been in an accident before I bought it which I wasn’t aware of until a guy at the the garage pointed out the shoddy repair work. The man in the other car had pulled out from a side road fast on a fairly tight turn and come into my lane as he was doing so

OP posts:
Mummyshark2018 · 30/01/2020 21:41

Did you not call a tow truck to come and get it? There's some serious damage to your car.

TooTrueToBeGood · 30/01/2020 21:44

Make sure you tell the police that he phoned the two friends that came to support him. There will be a record of that call on his phone and that proofs they were not at the scene at the time of the accident they are claiming to have witnessed.

Just as an aside, never admit liability or ask/expect the other driver to do so either in the event of a crash. It's a standard requirement of every policy I've ever seen not to admit liability and worst case scenario your insurers could deem you to have invalidated your policy of you do.