Accused Of Hitting A Parked Car

[Sharonchristine]

I have been accused of hitting a parked car. I have been and given a stement to the police under caution. The other party was parked over two parking spots and nearly half a car over the lines, I remember the day clearly as I had to try and get past her car but couldn't so had to manuvour differently to get past, this was in a private parking area that she should have not been parked in. They have a witness from a shop opposite who I know knows the 3rd party but I can't prove it. The witness has stated that I got out the car with my daughter and her children and walked down the street shopping something that never happen which makes me believe she is lying but I can't prove it.

I have no damage at all to my car and have an insurance engineers report but the police won't use it and they have not looked at my car.

The 3rd party stated she saw my daughter get out of my car rub the side of my wing and shout that I had smashed all the side of my wing in, she then stated she took my reg number in case I had hit her car but why did she not look at her car before I drove off.

I am totally confused as what will happen, has anyone else had this happen, any advise would be very much appreciated.

[Zacs-Master]

It's not clear whether you did or did not make contact with the other car. Could you clarify?

[bhg481]

The police have to prove that you did it. If there is none of her paint on your car and none of your paint on her car that is going to be very difficult. If they have refused to look at your car I think they will be laughed out of court, in the unlikely event that it gets that far.

[EDDIE51]

It will go to the insurance companys , you must to tell your insurance company that there is a claim against you but that you do not accept it, and say it never happened. The insurance engineer's report will go to the insurance companies ,the police have nothing to do with it , it is all down to the two insurers to sort out.
Don't bother with the police as I said they will have nothing to do with it. These things are sorted out by the insurance companies. Even if the other party's claim is fraudulent it does not involve the police, the insurance will deal with that as well!

[Hymie]

If I were to ring the police and advise that someone had hit my car (with theirs) and that I knew whom the owner of the other car was – I would expect them to tell me to contact my insurance company to sort it out.

The fact that the police have got involved suggests to me that the person has connections with the police and has used those connections to have the police act – albeit half-heartedly.

Given that the police have not even bothered to inspect your car – I suspect they will take the matter no further.

[EDDIE51]

I think we are not getting the full story. The police DO NOT get involved with simple accidents where the drivers are insured they do not have time, it is the insurance companies that sort it.
So sharonchristine are you being accused of a driving offence or is it just an insurance claim? I can't see why you were interviewed under caution unless there is more to it than just an accident claim.

[Tuvok]

Any CCTV covering the area?

[EDDIE51]

^ Yes and that it was a private parking area makes no difference either!
Just let the insurance sort it out that is what you pay them for!

[bhg481]

It sounds like there is the possibility of classing it as a hit-and-run, so the police would have to be involved.

[tamborine]

Let the insurance companies sort it. It might be a 'knock for knock' case where each pay for their own repairs.....the other person whose car is damaged will claim her costs from her insurance company & as your car has no damage you pay nothing.

On no account give the other driver any money!

[EDDIE51]

^ yes, that's possible failure to report an accident.
I had a similar claim years ago. I got an accident claim form through the post, But I had not asked for it. I called the insurance company and asked them why they had sent me a claim form. They said I had an accident on a specific date and place. I knew the situation, I did hit another car but it was just a cracked light unit, I sorted it out on the spot by paying the guy (who I knew) the cost of the new part he did not report it.
However two other people, man and wife had an argument in the same car park the same day. The man then drove his car into his wife's car intentionally and caused several £100s damage. They then had the bright idea of taking my no and reporting that I had hit them . They then somehow found my insurance company and asked them to send me the claim form. I did hear one of them was in the police so they may have used the police data base. Anyway I told my insurance that there had not been an accident and I would not be claiming. I heard no more about it.

[tamborine]

Police only get involved if someone is hurt.

[Sharonchristine]

I have no damage to my car not even a scratch no paint transfer and certainly no new repairs or patch up paint job. Engineer said so in his report but the police would not take it off me said they can't use it. They have not asked to look at my car which I find strange. They have said it is a hit and run and not stopping at a scene of an accident. I did not hit the car at any point if I had I would have told someone no point in hitting a car and running I have all my no claims protected so wouldn't loose out on much really by letting claim go through. Police said today it has to be reviewed by someone else but it will more than likely go to court. All this haste for something I didn't do. I mean who would say they heard my daughter shouting I had smashed my car wing in take my reg number in case I hit her car but not check your own car I know I certainly would.

[Sharonchristine]

Only cctv in the area is in main road but this would prove I didn't walk down street with my daughter and kiddies so would show her witness is lying.

[EDDIE51]

OK so it is a 'failure to report' rather than an insurance claim .
Your friend can only stand firm and refuse to admit to hitting the other car.
The insurance engineer's report will be vital make sure she keeps it. But it is not the police duty to investigate it. It will form part of her defence evidence if the case does go to court so she needs it NOT the police.

[Sharonchristine]

Thank you

[bednobs]

does anyone actually read the questions in their haste to give a "correct" answer?
Eddie, it's not sharon's friend, it's her!

[EDDIE51]

Ok same advice applies , keep hold of the engineers report it will be vital to prove her case if the case does go to court ( unlikely in my opinion)

[ummmm]

The police do get involved. It's leaving the scene of an accident.

[Arrods]

Just to be clear Sharonchristine, has the 'incident' been reported to your insurer? If not, it's vital you do, as others have said. You say you have an engineer's report - is this from your own insurer - in which case all well and good? If you are innocent, it'd take some balls from the witnesses to swear on oath what they saw.

Couple of other points, it's only a hit-and-run/failure to report if you did it. But they've still got to prove it.

And, as an aside, the police don't have to get involved in personal injury cases if the incident has been reported to someone having reasonable grounds for wanting the details.