Neighbour v Neighbour Car Collision
Discussion
I was witness to a coming together. Saw the whole thing and now that the guilty party is denying any involvement, it's making me wonder what can happen in this situation.
On my return from walking the dog, I saw someone from across the road to my house come off their drive and scrape the corner of a parked car which belonged to someone a few doors away from them. The driver looked at me stood watching her during the badly executed exit from her drive. I felt awkward trying to think of what to say when she got out but here's the thing, she didn't stop and shot off. I had to tell the other neighbour what I saw.
Parked car owner went and knocked on the door and was greeted by the husband. He called his wife back (telling her why) but she didn't come back for a good 20-25 minutes (which was a bit strange as all of this happened in about five minutes so she couldn't have got very far). Meanwhile, husband says she doesn't know anything about damage to the parked car and kept telling the owners of it that his wife, "would never lie" to him. The damage to the parked car is paint (will need a respray) and lots of tyre black. It looks like most of the damage was done by the wheel as it tried to climb up the corner of the car.
Interestingly, they have a Ring doorbell but it only shows recording from what would have been after the car had left its view. Bizarre that there is no recording of her loading the car with anyone/anything or even herself. It recorded from when she was well gone. Suspicion here is that while matey was waiting he could have deleted the relevant bit as he was on the phone until his wife returned.
When she returned the car was mint, like super super clean however some marks of a scrape were visible.
She denies hitting the car (but did let on that her sensors were beeping telling her she was close which then made her AVOID hitting the parked car). I was called over to let her know I witnessed the whole thing and she bare face lied when I did. Husband started to get protective as if three local residents had plotted to scam his wife. I suggested they call the police as in the eyes of the law, not stopping at the scene of a collision is regarded as an offence.
Police wanted everything submitted online and it seems they're not that interested. My details were given as an eye witness.
Looking at this unfold, as in, how someone I watched do it is now blatantly denying it and has made me wonder what would - or could - happen here. I'm obviously involved as a witness to it all but I'm curious because that could have been my car or van or someone visiting me.
On my return from walking the dog, I saw someone from across the road to my house come off their drive and scrape the corner of a parked car which belonged to someone a few doors away from them. The driver looked at me stood watching her during the badly executed exit from her drive. I felt awkward trying to think of what to say when she got out but here's the thing, she didn't stop and shot off. I had to tell the other neighbour what I saw.
Parked car owner went and knocked on the door and was greeted by the husband. He called his wife back (telling her why) but she didn't come back for a good 20-25 minutes (which was a bit strange as all of this happened in about five minutes so she couldn't have got very far). Meanwhile, husband says she doesn't know anything about damage to the parked car and kept telling the owners of it that his wife, "would never lie" to him. The damage to the parked car is paint (will need a respray) and lots of tyre black. It looks like most of the damage was done by the wheel as it tried to climb up the corner of the car.
Interestingly, they have a Ring doorbell but it only shows recording from what would have been after the car had left its view. Bizarre that there is no recording of her loading the car with anyone/anything or even herself. It recorded from when she was well gone. Suspicion here is that while matey was waiting he could have deleted the relevant bit as he was on the phone until his wife returned.
When she returned the car was mint, like super super clean however some marks of a scrape were visible.
She denies hitting the car (but did let on that her sensors were beeping telling her she was close which then made her AVOID hitting the parked car). I was called over to let her know I witnessed the whole thing and she bare face lied when I did. Husband started to get protective as if three local residents had plotted to scam his wife. I suggested they call the police as in the eyes of the law, not stopping at the scene of a collision is regarded as an offence.
Police wanted everything submitted online and it seems they're not that interested. My details were given as an eye witness.
Looking at this unfold, as in, how someone I watched do it is now blatantly denying it and has made me wonder what would - or could - happen here. I'm obviously involved as a witness to it all but I'm curious because that could have been my car or van or someone visiting me.
Glassman said:
Terminator X said:
Police won't care, civil matter Sir.
TX.
The collision was on the road. Driver didn't stop. TX.
Go through insurance with you as the independent witness.
TX.
Glassman said:
The collision was on the road. Driver didn't stop.
Even so, with no one injured and just damage to property being the issue, my money would be on the police saying it is a civil matter and washing their hands of it. Good for you for being prepared to speak up. Were i in your shoes I’d offer to the owner of the damaged parked car to provide a statement for their insurers. Let the parties’ insurers fight it out. The absence of footage from the ring doorbell will raise some difficult problems for the damage-inflicter.
KungFuPanda said:
Let the innocent neighbour’s insurer fight it out. Make yourself available to provide a witness statement. That’s all you can do.
Make some notes of what you saw in the meantime to ensure you don’t forget any detail.
This, but well done for getting involved, a lot of people these days don’t bother. We should all take responsibility for our actions.Make some notes of what you saw in the meantime to ensure you don’t forget any detail.
Glassman said:
Terminator X said:
Police won't care, civil matter Sir.
TX.
The collision was on the road. Driver didn't stop. TX.
Hard to argue with a write off on its roof, but possible with a light scrape with the radio on. (I know, I know, but it's got to be beyond reasonable doubt).
As far as accountability for the collision as a civil matter, she's out on a limb.
Damage to both vehicles consistent, independent witness etc.
Here’s another example of the uselessness of our police. Not the fault of the rank & file plod who don’t have enough time or resources but useless all the same.
Someone skidded on ice hit the front of my house & drove off. I had CCTV, a witness, registration number and a few bits of his car still at the scene. Plod not interested.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Someone skidded on ice hit the front of my house & drove off. I had CCTV, a witness, registration number and a few bits of his car still at the scene. Plod not interested.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by bad company on Sunday 22 September 11:20
Terminator X said:
Glassman said:
Terminator X said:
Police won't care, civil matter Sir.
TX.
The collision was on the road. Driver didn't stop. TX.
Go through insurance with you as the independent witness.
TX.
martinbiz said:
They may or may not do anything about it, but that doesn't make it a civil matter
It *is* a civil matter. It may also be a criminal matter, and if so the police may or may not act.
But the fact that something is or may be a criminal matter does not preclude it also being a civil matter; in truth most criminal complaints will usually give rise to a civil claim as well.
Glassman said:
She denies hitting the car (but did let on that her sensors were beeping telling her she was close which then made her AVOID hitting the parked car). I was called over to let her know I witnessed the whole thing and she bare face lied when I did. Husband started to get protective as if three local residents had plotted to scam his wife. I suggested they call the police as in the eyes of the law, not stopping at the scene of a collision is regarded as an offence.
Obvious question. Any damage on the lying *****'s car?Unfortunately, without any significant injuries or major damage, the police may not prioritise this case. Even though leaving the scene of an accident is an offence, many people report that minor collisions with property damage often get classified as civil matters, and the police might not take action unless there's compelling evidence.
The most practical next step would be for the owner of the damaged car to report the incident to their insurer, providing your details as an independent witness. Insurers will often pursue claims based on witness statements and any visible damage that aligns with the story.
It is unfortunate that some individuals deny responsibility, but as long as the damaged car's owner has evidence (like your witness statement and photos of the vehicles), the insurers should be able to piece together the truth.
The most practical next step would be for the owner of the damaged car to report the incident to their insurer, providing your details as an independent witness. Insurers will often pursue claims based on witness statements and any visible damage that aligns with the story.
It is unfortunate that some individuals deny responsibility, but as long as the damaged car's owner has evidence (like your witness statement and photos of the vehicles), the insurers should be able to piece together the truth.
As said just be prepared to go to court as a witness. I did this as a witness to a crash where a woman pulled out in front of a lorry on a roundabout then stopped when she realised she’d f
ked up. The lorry took the car out with ease but there wasn’t anything the driver could do. I stopped and left details because I knew she was going to say it wasn’t her fault.
The woman was all apologetic at the scene but later tried to blame the lorry driver. It went to court and the judge found in the lorry drivers favour based on the fact I turned up as a witness not knowing the man and with nothing to gain for myself.
What got me the most was the woman sobbing in court as if she’d been wronged. The driver was thankful as he may have lost his job if it went against him.
ked up. The lorry took the car out with ease but there wasn’t anything the driver could do. I stopped and left details because I knew she was going to say it wasn’t her fault.The woman was all apologetic at the scene but later tried to blame the lorry driver. It went to court and the judge found in the lorry drivers favour based on the fact I turned up as a witness not knowing the man and with nothing to gain for myself.
What got me the most was the woman sobbing in court as if she’d been wronged. The driver was thankful as he may have lost his job if it went against him.
This won't go to court, the fact that a witness is a neighbour shouldn't make any difference.
If the damaged car owner is bothered to go to his insurance, they just have to fill out the details, name the OP as a witness and the insurers will almost certainly pay out as a no fault claim in favour of the person whose car is damaged.
I don't know why people get themselves into this matters - we all make mistakes, just own up to them.
The woman and husband probably panicked and now feel they can't change their story.
If the damaged car owner is bothered to go to his insurance, they just have to fill out the details, name the OP as a witness and the insurers will almost certainly pay out as a no fault claim in favour of the person whose car is damaged.
I don't know why people get themselves into this matters - we all make mistakes, just own up to them.
The woman and husband probably panicked and now feel they can't change their story.
SAS Tom said:
As said just be prepared to go to court as a witness. I did this as a witness to a crash where a woman pulled out in front of a lorry on a roundabout then stopped when she realised she’d fked up. The lorry took the car out with ease but there wasn’t anything the driver could do. I stopped and left details because I knew she was going to say it wasn’t her fault.
The woman was all apologetic at the scene but later tried to blame the lorry driver. It went to court and the judge found in the lorry drivers favour based on the fact I turned up as a witness not knowing the man and with nothing to gain for myself.
What got me the most was the woman sobbing in court as if she’d been wronged. The driver was thankful as he may have lost his job if it went against him.
Years back I witnessed a collision at a roundabout and having read on here so many times about the innocent party getting screwed over I stopped and gave them my contact details. A few days later their insurance company got in contact asking for my version of events so I sent them a map of the roundabout with the paths taken by each vehicle drawn on it and details of who I thought was to blame.ked up. The lorry took the car out with ease but there wasn’t anything the driver could do. I stopped and left details because I knew she was going to say it wasn’t her fault.The woman was all apologetic at the scene but later tried to blame the lorry driver. It went to court and the judge found in the lorry drivers favour based on the fact I turned up as a witness not knowing the man and with nothing to gain for myself.
What got me the most was the woman sobbing in court as if she’d been wronged. The driver was thankful as he may have lost his job if it went against him.
I can only assume the idiot driver at faults insurance company coughed up as I never heard back from anybody.
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