Driving without Due Care and Attention

[Toddeh]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if you could help me out with something.

I received a letter from the police about an accident i had around a week ago. Ill set the scene:

I'm driving home from work and up ahead on a residential estate there are some youths walking/jumping around in the road, so i slow down to around 20mph, i then hear something hit my car (assuming it was a stone one of the youths threw). At this moment there was a car parked on the curb/road to my left. Distracted by the stone hitting my car i look over my left hand shoulder (as the kids were now on the path to my left) and as i look forwards again i see the parked car in front of me and immediately move to the right to try and dodge the car. Unfortunately i clip the car. So i pull over and get out (by this time my wing mirror is hanging off) and go to make sure the parked car is OK. I don't see any dents/marks (while checking the car i wasn't too happy so judging by the letter Ive received something must have been damaged) So then began the drive home.

Just wondering if you guys would know if this would lead to a court summons or a license revocation. I've been driving around 7 months now and, well lets say it'd be a major inconvenience if i got disqualified. Oh and this is my first offence.

As of yet I've not taken any action in terms of solicitor or consulting my insurance company. So any help would be great.

Thanks!
Todd.

[ummmm]

Did you leave your details?

I think it's classed as leaving the scene of an accident.

[boxtops]

You need to report it to your insurance company now, if you have had a letter. How did the police know it was you hit this other car? if you didn't leave your details, who told them? However if you think that the other driver is going to try to claim from you, report it to your insurance company now - some companies say you must report any possible claims a.s.a.p., not leave it a fortnight.

[ummmm]

The kids might have reported it....

[Toddeh]

I'm assuming someone saw and took down my number plate.

As for the other driver claiming, I'm not sure. Is there any possible way to find out?

Thanks for the speedy replies guys.

[ummmm]

It really doesn't matter...you need to inform your insurance company.

[boxtops]

You will know if he claims off you because you'll get a letter from him - but I guess to do that he'll have to ask the police to release your details to him, and I'm not sure if they are allowed to that. They will have got your address because they have direct access to the DVLA database to trace vehicle owners.

[Toddeh]

Alight, so ill inform my insurance company and take it from there.

I'll let you know how i get on.

Thanks for your help so far.

[Toureman]

More important than the details of the accident is letting us know the details of the letter.

The police will always send a letter to the car driver who did not report the accident, usually just to get the drivers details.

Not really anything to do with the insurance companies.

[Hymie]

Advise the police of what happened and that you inspected the other car and could see no damage – and so drove off.

If the owner of the car is claiming damage to their car, ask for evidence – but if what you say is true – what else could you be expected to do?

[Cockney_si]

It sounds like someone may be trying to stitch you up.
If you checked and there was no damage, the youths could well have taken down your number and then damaged the parked car after you'd driven away, then they knock on a few houses and give your number to the owner.
A nice little scam too....

[SpikeyBush]

Just turn up at your local nick, say you saw car registration XX00 XXX damage your property and they will give you the details. That's what Cheshire Constabulary in Knutsford did for me when a blind man in a Land Rover took the bumper off the front of my Astra by changing lanes without looking and buggering off without a buy your leave.

[joko]

you must have hit it somewhat hard if it took your mirror off, rather than just closed it over...

perhaps there was damage...?

[Delboy67]

Why slow down for yobs in the road, give them what they deserve and put your foot down, make the b*****s jump. No, only joking. Why didn't you leave a note under the windscreen?