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Original poster

Hit and run parked car

29 replies

keojam80 · 25/10/2023 17:31

In my work van I went into a petrol garage to use the loo. Got back in van and reversed into a parked car behind me (in a delivery drivers only spot) I bumped the car at snails pace, very light bump.
My colleague and I both got out and had a look, not a scratch on the car or the van. Couldn't see anyone coming so we both agreed it was ok to go because there was no damage what so ever.
Three months later, the police have been into my work place asking about the van and the driver. My work have passed on my home details to the police, so I'm expecting them.

What's going to happen? I didn't think I had done anything wrong but it seems I should have reported anyway?
There was 100% no damage or scratches. I think someone may have saw it happen and told the driver.
What's likely to happen?

OP posts:
SOBplus · 25/10/2023 17:35

Argument about what the damage was versus what the damage is now - i.e. they could have had another accident and are blaming you, or as happened to me, they other party reports ANY damage and their slimy solicitor says for £10,000 this goes away and your insurance pays as its more expedient than fighting it and the company insurance gets a rate rise. Seems fraudulent but you would have to admit to having hit it and they get their £10,000 settlement even if no real damage. America has exported extortion liability!

caerdydd12 · 25/10/2023 17:50

This is in legal so as I'm not a lawyer I'll caveat that this is just my opinion. I am, however, interested to hear from our resident Mumsnet lawyers because this sort of thing must happen all the time.

I'd expect the garage to have provided CCTV of the forecourt to the police, so at this point aside from any insurance claims I'd be expecting points on your licence for failing to stop/leaving the scene.

It wouldn't have taken much time at all to wait for the driver to come back, it sounds like they would have been in the shop paying for their fuel too.

Original poster
keojam80 · 25/10/2023 17:52

There is cctv footage of me and my work partner checking the car and driving off. What a nightmare!
It was such a non issue at the time but yes I think they have had another accident and now want to pin the blame on me.

OP posts:
Celticdawn5 · 25/10/2023 17:55

I am surprised police involved as garage on private land and tbh I don’t think your workplace should have passed on details without some sort of warrent or authorisation.

Original poster
keojam80 · 25/10/2023 17:58

It was a side parking bay for delivery vans, the car shouldn't have even been there. It was parked so close to my van I didn't even see it in my blind spot. Very minor bump, enough to know I had bumped something but not a big bang.
It's frustrating but in hind sight I should have waited on them coming back out and should have reported it. I was satisfied there was nothing there and didn't think they would ever know anyway. I'm not even sure how they knew, someone on the forecourt must have saw us getting out to look.

OP posts:
caerdydd12 · 25/10/2023 18:02

Celticdawn5 · 25/10/2023 17:55

I am surprised police involved as garage on private land and tbh I don’t think your workplace should have passed on details without some sort of warrent or authorisation.

If there has been an accident they will have had no choice but to provide details of the driver.

TheHappyCarrot · 25/10/2023 18:30

Always take a photo, always. Easy to say now, but in future situations. There is always cctv at petrol stations.

Kangarude · 25/10/2023 18:34

In the UK there is no requirement to report if there is no damage to anything other than your own vehicle, so I don’t think you did anything wrong. The CCTV will confirm that you got out and checked for damage. Just tell the truth.

Original poster
keojam80 · 25/10/2023 18:35

@Kangarude yes will do but I don't understand why the police are entertaining it if there was no damage unless the car owner is saying otherwise

OP posts:
Kangarude · 25/10/2023 18:37

The other person must now be claiming some damage. It will be word on word I suppose.
Also the garage forecourt is not private land. Whilst it is open and the public have access, it is considered a road.

Thisisnotmyname2022 · 25/10/2023 18:39

Surely if they have your details form CCTV, after you drive off they are able to see no damage to the other vehicle? Or at least that it doesn’t correspond to the damage they’re claiming now. (If that’s what they’re saying?)

FloofCloud · 25/10/2023 18:39

Not a lawyer but in all honesty you should have left a contact number with the garage or on the window. Although you can't see anything, you don't know if anything was broken such as sensors or lights etc

Did you take photographs by any chance?

Kangarude · 25/10/2023 18:40

3 months seems a long time. Could the police be enquiring about something different?

Eccentricthesnowman · 25/10/2023 18:40

Someone reversed into my boss’ car, looked like there was No damage but the radiator was actually punctured! Saying that, she knew as soon as she drove and the car started over heating!

Original poster
keojam80 · 25/10/2023 18:41

@Thisisnotmyname2022 yeah you would think so. Unless it's minor damage and you can't tell. I don't know if my colleague being a witness would make any difference, they are saying there was def no damage to the car. The car was white so pretty easy to see any scratches.

Will just have to wait on my visit from the police. The police are saying it happened in June, but it actually happened in august. I would say they have got me muddled up but I did hit a car and that is my van reg number.

OP posts:
Talapia · 25/10/2023 18:41

What do you mean 'another accident' They didn't have a first accident, you collided with their vehicle!

Also ,it doesn't matter that their vehicle was in a van spot, you didn't see it!

Mudflaps · 25/10/2023 18:47

You're were wrong to leave the scene, you don't know that there was no damage, you only know that there was no damage visible to you. I've had cars arrive with no apparent damage but hen you know what to look for it may be there. Bumper clips for example, they aren't easily visible, there can be unseen damage requiring repair.

Thisisnotmyname2022 · 25/10/2023 18:55

@keojam80

Ask when it was reported, if it was recently, why it took them so long. If they are insisting it happened in June, are you able to prove you were elsewhere?

Thisisnotmyname2022 · 25/10/2023 18:56

But yes, you really should have dealt with it there and then, but you and thousands others haven’t.

Neriah · 25/10/2023 19:03

If you are driving correctly, there is no such thing as a blind spot. You are supposed to visually check your "blind spot". You drove recklessly, reversing into another vehicle, and now you and several posters here who weren't there are basically accusing the other person of fraud.

If there was truly no damage, as you claim, then when they had this "other accident" how did they know to make a claim against someone who did no damage? They knew about the invisible damage you didn't cause how?

thermalvestwearer · 25/10/2023 19:03

You should've left your details at the time.

Original poster
keojam80 · 25/10/2023 19:06

Because they are claiming it happened in June and it is nearly November!

OP posts:
Original poster
keojam80 · 25/10/2023 19:07

And someone on the forecourt could have told them about what happened. I don't know, I don't have the answers myself. Just need to wait and see. There is no need to be so nasty, I was asking for advice. I know I should have left my details, hindsight is a wonderful thing...we all make mistakes

OP posts:
WideLegPant · 25/10/2023 19:08

If there was truly no damage, as you claim, then when they had this "other accident" how did they know to make a claim against someone who did no damage? They knew about the invisible damage you didn't cause how?

Yes this is what I don't understand.

RallyRallyAppreciateIt · 25/10/2023 19:11

keojam80 · 25/10/2023 18:35

@Kangarude yes will do but I don't understand why the police are entertaining it if there was no damage unless the car owner is saying otherwise

I once got a knock on the door from the police. I had been reported as hitting a car in a private carpark. I absolutely did not hit anyone’s car. The police inspected my vehicle and there wasn’t so much as a smudge in the dust, yet there was seemingly a witness to this impact.

I still reckon it was a scam and they were friends with the driver trying to get their car fixed for free. No CCTV. I got a caution and my insurance company paid out to fix their wing.

I’m still fuming and it was a decade ago!

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