Hit and Run! How to find a driver

Nosha123 | 15:35 Fri 16th Mar 2012 | Law

8 Answers

My cousin was parked outside a school (legally) whilst picking up her eldest. Two witnesses saw a blonde female driver leaving the scene of the accident (whereby she shunted my cousins car at speed and forced it 15ft further down road and onto pavement). The woman was very distressed and her car was badly damaged with water pouring from the front of radiator as she drove off.

I presume she cant have got far.. but no-one can find her.
Police dont hold out much hope and say they will inspect local CCTV footage. (If they actually bother).
No-one injured but cousins car is probably a write off.
Police also said unlikely they can prosecute as no-one actually witnessed the impact... only her driving off after. Despite the fact my cousin has pieces of the other car and there is paint transfer.
Anything we can do - or are we in the hands of the police actually looking at the CCTV and not just saying they did and couldnt find anything!

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factor-fiction

Without a reg number it will be difficult, but if it was a mum picking up her kids from school, or someone who lived near the school, then maybe your cousin will see her or the car again and can get the details.
But without the police support it will be difficult.
We had a similar issue when a driver threw open his door in a car park and dented our car door (cost £150) then drove off when we confronted him. We got his reg no and traced his insurer but he/his insurer just denied it and we gave up as there was no proof it was his car.

EDDIE51

Nothing to do but inform the police , as has been done, and the insurance.
Did none of the witnesses get the number ? Sorry but the police will not be very intrested if there were no injuries they will just say to leave it to the insurance to sort out. If it happened to me I would be going round the area trying to spot the other car it must be badley damaged.

tonywiltshire

It is of course an offence to damage another vehicle and not stop then fail to report the accident within 24 hours at a police station or to a constable.
The problem will be, as you have discovered and Eddie has said, that the police will not be very interested unless there was injury and you will have to be very persistent to get them to take action and try to identify the vehicle.

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kloofnek

My husband had a similiar incident ,he was waiting to exit a road,when a Silver Astra van overtook him on the LEFT,,broke left side of back bumper and scraped off paint.it was going at a speed,,fortunately,the car behind us got the number plate,
We reported it to the police and as the guy was speeding,should not have overtook on the left,going up the pavement to do so and failed to stop...the police are interested in getting him.
Oh they have,and we now have his insurance details...just waiting now.

Although no-one was hurt ,the police were very helpful ,

Nosha123

Question Author

a belated thank you all..!