Driving without due care and attention and failure to report an accident

[Clontarf]

I hit an SUV - or heavily bumped - in a supermarket carpark. I stopped. Checked both cars. There was no damage to mine and the SUV was so marked already it was hard to tell. I waited for about 10 minutes but nobody turned up. I had no pen and paper and didn't think it justified calling the police. I left. A month later I have received a form 963 with the above offences alleged. Presumably the incident was recorded on CCTV. What should i expect? Many thanks.

[Buenchico]

'Failing to give particulars or to report an accident within 24 hours' results in AC20 endorsement on your licence, with typically 5 to 10points. (I'd only expect 5 points based upon what you've written). A fine of, perhaps, �200 might also be likely.

'Driving without due care and attention' leads to a CD10 endorsement, with between 3 and 9 points. (Once again, I think that the lower end of the scale, i.e. 3 points, is the most likely outcome). It's likely that any fine imposed for this offence would be combined with the other fine, so my guess is a total of 8 penalty points and a �200 fine.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLic ensing/EndorsementsAndDisqualifications/DG_100 22425

Chris

[Clontarf]

Thanks Chris,

Ive only had 3 points in 20 years of driving. Doubt they take that into account though. Appreciate your input. C

[rosojoly]

points would'nt be added together the highest points would be the amount put on your licence i.e perhaps 5 points

[Clontarf]

Thank God. I've been adding options together and being convinced a disqualification was a given. Tx. C

[NORMANTHEDOG]

you sort of people should be banned for 3 yrs to teach you a lesson.

[Wonderous]

Got to agree with Norman. No pen and paper? What kind of excuse is that? You were standing outside a supermarket for gods sake! Didn't they sell paper and pens? Didn't they have a tannoy to try and alert the owner? Did you really think you can damage someone else's property and then walk away and pretend it never happened? By the sound of it there were no 'alleged' offences, you' ve admitted them here for a start. I've had my car smashed into at a supermarket and the idiot drove away so I know how the SUV driver feels. Hope you get made an example of at court.

[Clontarf]

I am not making excuses. I admit I bumped the the car. What I didn't do was damage it in any way. In fact the rear bumper of their car was a mess of scratches and dents of longterm duration. I waited as long as I could. If I left the cars and walked back to the supermarket they could have left. It was a retail park. Not the local Waitrose. If I had honestly thought I had caused any damage whatsoever I would have stayed there all day. It's happened to me too. I've been keyed, dented, bumpered - the lot. I know how it feels. But I think the other driver is pulling a fast one here. And yes. I did bump the car. So yes I was careless. And I didn't report it to the Police. A bumper shunt? To the Police? So guilty as charged. And nowhere in my original message did I try and plead justification for my actions. But hey. I asked for answers and I'm getting them.

[chazza]

In a situation like that you should always ring the police and report it to them, just to keep yourself right

[NORMANTHEDOG]

its a very strange thing this sort of accident,my son backed into a bmw once,got out with the bmw driver,looked very closely,no apparent damage,when she got home her husband rang up to say �350 of damage had occured,very strange,but thats the way it goes.

[Clontarf]

I just checked the Police letter. The incident took place in mid February? But I only got the letter last week? Presumably someone has gone to a lot of trouble over this. But there was no damage where I bumped it. Or none that I could see. This is a nightmare. Of my own making I guess. I think I'll just ride my bike from now on. Actually I may have little choice in the matter!

[cheryl82k]

I would be questioning the amount of time that it has taken to be brought to this point. Surely the damage that they are stating could have been done between then and now and they have decided to try their luck at placing the blame on you. They could have drove into something etc

You should look into this to see of you have grounds to appeal!

[Clontarf]

A nice thought. Does anyone agree? Their argument could be it took that length of time to get the CCTV from the retail park? If that is how my identity was confirmed? all supposition on my part. BTW I would like to thank everyone who has contributed so far. Whatever the comments. They are all valid and informative.

[EverClean]

If you'd left no damage then what steps has the SUV driver taken to report you and get the supermarket to check CCTV for the culprit?

If I walked back to my car and there was no damage to it then how could I possibly know that it had been hit and try to pull a fast one?

Your story doesn't add up.

[Clontarf]

I'm sorry? Maybe someone saw me hit the car? I will find out when it goes to the next stage I imagine.
Look at it this way. Someone witnesses the bump. See's the driver return to their car. It could be another customer, an employee, a car washer... anyone. Tells the SUV owner that another car bumped/ hit their car. The SUV owner then sees this as a perfect opportunity to get a truly knackered bumper fixed by blaming me for the previous damage. That is how their story adds up. Mine is a different addition. One plus one does not always equal two. But thanks for the cross examination. Of course there is a third answer. That maybe I did cause damage which I was unable to see and was only apparent when the SUV driver attempted to move off? But I doubt that would have taken nearly 3 months to action? If that is the case then again I will find out out in due course. And will be truly repentant and apologetic.

[auzzie]

We had something very similar. My husband apparently knocked someones wing mirror off in a very busy village shopping area which we crawled along due to very inappropriate parking areas and parking by people who just don't give a damn. It took about a month for the police notice of intended prosection to come. We denied that we did it and if they looked at the CCTV they would see that it was a very busy time with parked cars all over the place and IF we did do it it was an accident and it was not because we were driving "without due care and attention).
Haven't heard anything since!!

[Clontarf]

I thought already posted this but just to let people know... I received a letter from the Police 3 weeks ago stating they would not be taking this matter further,. Huge relief if a trifle confused and frustrated by the whole experience. Still. No points or fine so cannot in any way complain about the result.