Very many thanks for all your replies folks. Useful information for sure and much appreciated. I agree with Pete that my beloved should have got the ladies full name but she was shaken up and had banged her knees on the dashboard during the accident. I probably wouldn't have done much better as, in spite of driving everything from mopeds to artics over the last 40 odd years, I have never been in that position. We informed our own insurers of the incident, stressing that we did not intend to claim on our own policy and I have received a letter confirming that, but offering assistance if needed, from them. I also registered the incident with the police, though didn't pursue the personal injury aspect (the wifes bruised knees). Perhaps I should have. I'm tempted to leave one last telephone message to the 'perp' - as they clearly don't intend to answer the phone - to make the point that, even in the absence of their name we, or our representatives are in a position to trace them. May mention the failure to stop element bearing in mind that she didn't leave her full name and address - and maybe even the small claims court as an alternative the the insurance route. Ultimately though I suspect that we will do no more than that. The car is still usable and safe + our intention was always to run it into the ground so re-sale is unlikely to be on the cards in the future. One further unsavoury thought lingers, based on an experience my parents had many years ago. Someone had bumped into the back of their car on a petrol station forecourt. There was negligible damage to either car and it was agreed that each party would sort themselves out on a 'knock-for-knock' basis, as I think it was then called. Not long after that my folks received a letter informing them that their client was claiming for substantial damage to their car - caused by my parents reversing into them!! Can't remember the eventual outcome as I was no'but a lad at the time, but I think it cost my father his no-claims bonus. All the best, Andy
There's no mention of any witnesses. Did your wife manage to get anyone else's details? It may help should a stunt like the one you describe be attempted
I asked her that and she said that people just scattered. No-one came forward with an offer to act as witness and passers-by carried on their way. Cars behind the woman who hit our car just pulled round the stationery vehicles and cleared off. All very 2016, sadly Andy
The road traffic act Pete posted is all very well and good but it only works if the Police are prepared to investigate. I for one would not rely on that these days. At the end of the day if the other driver decides to deny any fault you could be left in a mess.
For sure the police will not be interested in investigating an incident where one car has bumped lightly into another. They may be rather more interested in a failure to provide details as required by RTA88 s170; but the longer you spend faffing about the less interested they will be. @Redblur does not seem to have indicated how much money he wants to claim. Anything below £500 is really not worth bothering, because it will cost more than £500 to argue about it. Once it get above £1000 it might be worth pursuing, if you can be arsed.
