Driver refused to swap details

[Flatforsale]

Careless driver drove into the back of me when I stopped at traffic lights. He admitted as much and I took a photo of his number plate and he took a photo of mine, but when I asked him for his name address number etc he refused, saying number plates are enough. He refused to swap details basically. I called 101 and asked for advice and they said they would investigate and to report to insurance. After the call the guy was still refusing to swap details and as I had been there for a while I left. Later I reported it to insurance and I've now filled an online traffic incident form with the Met. Anything else I could have done? He admitted it wasn't his car so I suspect he doesn't have ansurancev(although the car is insured according to my insurer). Worried the other party could now claim I did a hit and run? Should I have asked for police to arrive? 101 didn't mention anything about sending anybody so I assumed there was nothing else I could have done?

[Robert Poste's Child]

Did you manage to take a photo of the driver as well as the number plate? From what you say I wonder if the driver had borrowed or stolen the car, though surely the police would have told you if so.

[Flatforsale]

I didn't take a photo as I felt a bit vulnerable (quiet street, I'm a woman he was a guy bigger than me) and I didn't want to provoke as he was clearly a bit dodge. I gave a description of person in met statement.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Poor you, sounds like an intimidating situation to find yourself in. You were very brave and more assertive than many of us would have managed in those kind of circumstances.

[jaywalker]

In these circumstances collect all information available and do not trust anyone.

I am still receiving cold calls about my 'accident' in a county I have never visited because the person whose car was damaged mistakenly recorded my number plate, not that of the car doing the damage. It was ultimately just OK, I could, by chance, prove that I was at home on that day, that my car was not damaged, and that the victim was in error. But this in the mean time involved the cancellation of my no claims bonus (at which point I cancelled my policy with that company) and endless follow-up calls by other (litigation) companies (which two years later i'm still receiving) hoping I would appoint them to handle the 'claim against me'. Now I wonder how they got to know that there was such a claim? I certainly did not tell them.

[intexasatthe moment]

I hate incidents like this ,but honestly sounds like you did all the right things .

I think it's unlikely he could claim you did a hit and run if the damage is all to the rear of your car .

[apbremer]

A van crashed into the back of our car whilst we were stationery at a zebra crossing in Norbury. No one hurt. Exchanged details, they accepted blame and paid for repairs, very courteously. No police or insurance company involved. However we were then plagued by letters from "claims advisers" desperate to get us to sue for whiplash and other spurious "injuries". We sent them packing, but how did they know??

[malumbu]

In an accident you have to exchange details. First you have to stop of course. Report to the Old Bill, and make sure that they follow up. You can also search details of the car through the DVLA database - this will at least tell you it is taxed and MOT'd - if not..... https://cartaxcheck.co.uk/ This one is a commercial one, slightly quicker than SVLA (which is good), you need to have the reg and the make. I usually do it for smoky exhausts because I am a zealot.

PS all - you should know all of this when you take your driving test. And remember it.

Insurance companies sell on your details. At least we don't live in America where ambulance chasing is many times greater.

[uncleglen]

the garage must have passed on your details maybe, apbremer?

[singalto]

You don't have to call the police if there are no injuries.

[rendelharris]

singalto Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You don't have to call the police if there are no

> injuries.

Indeed so, but if you refuse to give your full details (there may be reasons for this, for example feeling the other driver is so aggressive that you don't want them to know your home address, though I'm sure that's not the case with the OP) then you must report the incident to the police within twenty-four hours (even if it's just a broken mirror or similar) or you can be charged with failure to stop and/or failure to report an accident; "stop" doesn't just mean physically stopping but providing the requisite details as well.

ETA And sometimes it might be worth involving the police...I worked as a motorcycle courier for a year a long while back, after being side-swiped by a careless driver a passing patrol car stopped to check I was OK and to ask if I wanted them to be involved. As I wasn't too badly hurt and the driver was hugely apologetic I said no, we could sort it...when I tried to claim the ?1500 damage to my bike only to find that the driver was not only uninsured but had left the country I rather wished I'd said yes!

[malumbu]

My understanding is that you did need to provide your details in an accident.

Highway Codes states: If you have an accident causing damage or injury you must give the following to anyone with ?reasonable grounds for requiring them,? for example an insurance company:

your name and address

the vehicle registration number

​

You must report the accident to the police within 24 hours if you don?t give your details at the time of the accident.

I assume that the other party involved, where they are not at fault, has reasonable grounds. I got knocked off my bike years ago, the driver stopped, told me I was OK and then drove on. The Old Bill got quite excited when I told them and were upset that it wasn't a hit and run.

[malumbu]

To digress 20 years ago I was knocked down whilst cycling on Red Post Hill at some speed (separate to the box van on Kirkdale above). I was fortunate not to be killed let alone seriously injured. The Motor Insurance Bureau got involved and I received compensation for a hit and run.

The owner of the parked car that I was knocked into kindly told me not to worry about the dent in his bumper and drove me and the bike home. Another driver was a witness. The police called and were friendly.

Whilst I was being helped up another driver turned up in a flash Merc, asked if I was alright and said he'd seen the whole thing. And then drove off. I'm convinced that he was the person who hit me. But no proof. Imagine my surprise when I see an old Merc in the area nowadays matching the one that turned up at the time. Obviously I have no proof or took the registration at the time - the person who hit me sped of PDQ and I didn't take details of the person who turned up whether they were or weren't the perpetrator.

Anyway could all be a coincidence and nothing I could do about it in any case. No BBC documentary with Ross Kemp for me.