3 point turn accident

[ka2000]

My friend was doing a three point turn, he checked and only managed to move forward, his car was across the road ( car front facing kerb, there was no room for on or coming cars), ready to check again to reverse back, then all of a sudden a speeding car with young lads crash into the back of him. Now they argued that he reversed into them and it's his fault because he's doing a 3 point, the car wasn't even reversing. They wouldn't even exchange details, all they gave was their name but we got their number plate. They might not even be insured. So are you likely to get the blame if you are doing a 3 point turn in an accident? If I understand right the police would not come out unless somebody's injured or a big crash. Should the police be called at all on minor accidents?

[Grunty]

The police should have attended this accident if they had been called, and in fact they should have been called. Both drivers have a responsibility to stop, and give to each other their names, addresses, the registration marks of their vehicles and the names and addresses of the owners of their vehicles if different. If anyone is injured, they also have to produce their certificate of insurance. If you have not done any of these things, you must report the accident to the police as soon as practicable or in any case within 24 hours.

The police will now have lost the opportunity to collect much of the evidence (measurements, position of vehicles, road conditions, breath tests etc) but they can still follow up the offences of careless driving, and failing to give details. The fact that your friend was doing a 3-point turn does not mean he is at fault, If anything it should have made him even more visible to a careful driver, who would have stopped well clear of him.

[deadley]

Hello. I work as a claims investigator for motor accidents. The police will not attend an accident unless ijuries have been sustained, to be honest they would not have done much. The other driver legally has to give his insurance details and vehicle reg and name (NOT address). If you were in the position you said you were in you were in the right, and they should have waited for you to complete the move. I would advise your friend to try and obtain witnesses as this can be vital - but its possible that these lads have no insurance anyway - need any assistance let me know

[ka2000]

Thanks for your replies, especially deadley's.

I was told once about not wasting police resources on calling them out on minor road accidents and they would come out anyway, I just want to confirm the options.

I will definitely try to get my witnesses together.
The young lad's friends wanted to be his witnesses, saying it was my friend's fault, surely they can't be a reliable witness because they are just lying for their friends?

[Grunty]

Sorry deadley, you are wrong. Section 170(3) of the Road Traffic Act1988 says "If for any reason the driver of the mechanically propelled vehicle does not give his name and address to a person having reasonable grounds for so requiring, he must report the accident. " During the 30 years that I was doing the job, we would most certainly have attended an accident like this one. The question of whether there are injuries would have been irrelevant (except for ensuring that the injured were offered treatment).
I stand by every word of my answer. (I wonder how useful the name would be without the address).

[ka2000]

thanks Grunty for your confirmation.

The other party never got my friend's details either, they just left but my friend gave them his number, the lad said he'll contact him.
This inident had already been reported to his insurance. Others said unnecessary to contact the police but I think it would be a good idea if they have it on their books.
But similar thing happened to another friend the police wouldn't come out??

[ka2000]

My friend had just reported it and they sorted the details out for both parties.
But police did say that he would be likely to blame if he was doing a 3 point (very unfair) as he was on the wrong side of the road but his insurer said otherwise, better if he had witnesses.
Anyone else can enlighten us on this one?
The police would most likely not come out to this one and yes, they asked for the address but if it was me I don't think I would give it to the other party, only to the police.