Police car, hit and run!

[seanamarts]

Im not sure if this is in the correct section as it covers a few areas. 

 

Its long winded, so I shall apologise now, but I need some legal advice on this.

 

In the early hours of the morning, in May this year, my car was hit, not too much damage, but enough to cause concern and I have to get it fixed.

 

Its a Motability car and due back in October, so I cant just leave it.

 

I do have CCTV, but only saw my car being shunted forward, unfortunately my CCTV only points one way. My car is usually facing the other way and in full view, but due to circumstances I just parked it where is was and sods law, it was hit.

 

No one else has CCTV down my road.

Whoever hit my car, left the broken lens of the  back light behind and white paint had been transferred onto my back left side and my bumper had sustained some damage, which will need to be resprayed at some point. It was all photographed and documented. 

 

I live at the end of a road, its one way in and out. not many people come down here, so I decided to put up another camera, pointing the other way, in the hope I would catch this person so to claim on their insurance.

It was a long shot I know, but usually only recurring visitors come down here.

 

I checked the camera daily for a number of weeks, but soon gave up and started to look around so to get it fixed, I didnt want to report this to motability, I know it states I should, but I would lose my no claims and I had built up many years and living where I do, the premiums are really high and its doubtful whether I could afford it.  The reason why Im not taking out another motability car, is because, I simply cant afford it at the moment. I cant justify having it as I rarely go out and use it. 

 

A few days ago, two officers came to my door inquiring about my car being hit. they took a statement and stated that they are investigating it, they couldnt tell me why. 

 

I looked up the department they stated they were from and It was basically internal investigation's. It wasnt hard putting two and two together. it turns out that it was a police car that hit me.

 

They officer who hit my car, claims they didnt realise they hit my car!  well they obviously did as hitting a car and moving it almost a foot, would of made one hell of a bang, not to mention breaking a light.

 

I want to now press charges. 

 

If that was me, who hit a police car, then drove off without reporting it, I would be arrested for hit and run, not reporting an accident, careless driving and criminal damage.  Can I do this? I dont seem to be getting any straight answers from the police, plus the investigating officer is now on holiday.

 

So thats one instance, the other is that their insurance has admitted liability and are happy to fix the car, they will pick it up , leave me with a hire car and my no claims wont be affected. However they need permission from motability because they own the car. Motability are fine with the arrangement, but their insurance company RSA are not. They want to go through their procedures, Its doubtful I will get a hire car and will no doubt have to travel to their appointed garage which could be over 20 miles away, not only that I have to pay the first £100 and claim it back from the police insurance and I also lose my no claims. 

Im trying to argue this with RSA but I just feel Im bound by their contract and Im seriously going to lose out here.

 

Any suggestions where I can move forward with this. Being financially strapped right now I doubt I can even afford the £100.

 

apologies again for it being so long and thank you for reading 

 

[stu007]

Hi

 

I am also a Motability customer and have been like yourself for years.

 

I can understand your concern about not contacting Motability when this happened but you really should have notified then of this irrespective because not doing so and Motability find out later they can put a stop to you being able to apply for a Motability vehicle.

 

As for the Police Officer in that Police Car not knowing they hit another car and drove away what a load of rubbish they would have been fully aware of this and was that Police Office wearing a Body Worn Camera and was the Police Vehicle fitted with a Dash Camera I would be asking that Police Force involved these questions and asking for copies of the Footage on the incident.

 

As for you thinking you will be left without a courtesy car when the Motability Car is in for repair you need to speak to RSA and insist that the Police Insurer provide you as a Motability Customer with a Courtesy Car that meets your requirements when you Motability Car is in for repair and that the Police Insurers are aware they are paying for this and that your want clarification from RSA there will be no excess for you to pay and that this will not increase your premiums as this accident was the fault of the Police Service who hit your car and drove off.

 

RSA are really good with Motability Customers so please do not be afraid to ask them anything they are there to help and if you fell they are not then you contact the person dealing with this case at Motability and let them know your concerns.

 

 

 

 

[seanamarts]

Thank you for responding,

 

I had a lengthy chat with RSA and they finally agreed to let the police insurance company deal with the claim. Ive had to agree on some conditions, but im ok with that.

This way I wont lose any no claims and im not having to pay out the £100. 00.

 

Ive now been informed by the investigating officer, that  they are going forward with a Gross Misconduct hearing and it is likely he will lose his job. 

Its likely they will try and drop it to a lesser stage. 

 

Ive still not been told why he chose not to report it, but Im sure I will be informed in due course. 

[honeybee13]

Fingers crossed for a good outcome, seanamarts.

 

HB

[seanamarts]

1 minute ago, honeybee13 said:

Fingers crossed for a good outcome, seanamarts.

 

HB

Thank you HB

[stu007]

Hi

 

Before I continue just let me clarify for you when it comes to a Motability Vehicle with Insurance via RSA their is no such thing as a 'No Claims Bonus' with the Motability Scheme. What there is in place is after so many accidents the Motability Scheme can decide to revoke your right  to go via the Motability Scheme to get a Motability Vehicle but it would have to be some amount of accidents for that to happen.

 

This what a lot of people fail to grasp with the Motability Scheme as it is not the same as you having your own personal car that you have paid your own insurance company to insure and get a 'No Claims'. With the Motability Scheme there is no such this as a No Claims Bonus' that right goes.

 

As for your post#3

 

Its good news that this is now finally getting sorted for you and that the Police Officer involved is getting Disciplined for this sadly you may not get to know the outcome of that as it is an internal matter for the Police but they need to be careful how they deal with this as you could take it further as this Office done a Hit and Run and failed to report the matter.

 

Independent Office for Police Conduct

WWW.POLICECONDUCT.GOV.UK

 

What I don't see any mention of in your post is are the Police Force that this is involved with compensating you for the distress and hassle there Officer has caused due to there failure to report an accident that is classed as an Hit and Run as you have had to do all the chasing to get this resolved due to this Officer employed by that Police Force.

 

What conditions have you agreed to with RSA for them to let the Police Insurers deal with this?

(IMO there should be No Conditions at all as the Police were completely at fault so the Police Insurers should be paying for everything including a courtesy car that meets your needs and no mark on you RSA Insurance)

 

a Police Office doing a Hit and Run in a Marked Police Vehicle is serious but even worse is that Police Office failing to report the matter on there return to the place they were operating out of a big NO NO.

 

Just out of interest did you mention to the Police that you want copies of the Officers Body Worn Camera Footage and that of the Police Vehicle Dash Camera Footage of the Incident