Yesterday afternoon my car was driven into yesterday afternoon and scraped by another vehicle driven by a c.50 yr old woman whilst trying to park next to mine. See picture for the damage, but it has gone through lacquer and paint and into the plastic in places (just below rub strip and further down). It also extends about 2 foot along / around the rear bumper.

I was shopping in Tesco at the time, but it was witnessed by another driver who left a note with his number on my car. He also witnessed her very poor driving on the way onto the car park (mounting kerb and driving over mud verge, apparently). He also had the foresight to take picture of the woman's car, the damage to that and the registration number.

The woman in question apparently also got out of her car and spoke the man collecting trolleys at the time who may well have witnessed the incident or aftermath as well (Tesco are checking with him for me at the moment).

After this, she moved her car to the other side of the car park and went into the store not leaving any note... Typical.

My question is, what to do about it and how to go about doing anything?

I have at least one witness if not two. I have photographic evidence (on its way to me) of her car damaged in a way that supports the incident and her registration number.

Do I approach my insurance company for the sake of a rear bumper respray?

Do I go to the police and track her down through them?

Can I track her down via the registration number?

I've never had a car worth worrying about before but, as I am going to be selling this on in 12-18 months, I'd like to keep it as good as possible. However c.£150 to get it resprayed seems a lot of my money and not enough to make an insurance claim worthwhile.

Any advice on what to do would be much appreciated.

If you have independent witnesses who saw the incident and are willing to stand and be counted, report it to the Police. You don't need to claim off your own insurance policy but you should notify your insurer for 'information only' when the claim against HER policy begins.

/\ As above. When talking to the Police initially, use words like "Leaving the scene of an accident" and "Failure to provide details to persons having reasonable cause to require them" and expect people to get very interested.

Insurance can track here down etc and do their thing. With a true legend of a witness like you were fortunate to have, I would even if it may be in vain contact the police. She left the scene and most likely didn't report it to the police within 24 hours etc. I highly doubt they could be bothered doing anything though sadly, but I would still contact them. Any mention of CCTV from Tesco as well? Sad thing is that no matter what happens as a result of her actions it will cost you money somewhere. 

I've not heard back from Tesco yet (I only phoned them about an hour ago). I'll ask about CCTV when/if they do call back.

And I don't have the photo yet (I only spoke to him an hour ago as well).

Does the fact that I left the car park (unaware of any damage) without reporting it make any difference?

I didn't notice the card that had been left with the witness phone number until I was half way home and it started flapping in the wind next to my right ear.

I think I'll speak to my insurance company and let them know but also seek their advice on the best course of action.

...I think I'll speak to my insurance company and let them know but also seek their advice on the best course of action.

 Make sure you tell them you're not initiating a claim just letting them know of an incident for information only.

Will do. Thanks.

I now have picture with registration, but the damage to her vehicle looks too high and too severe to have been caused by this incident though.

It's on a Peugeot 207 & just below the NS headlight. It's quite a dent so fairly sure that's from something else.

 

I've just spoken to my insurance company (Aviva) and I have to say they have been very good about it and offered decent advise without any pressure to claim.

 

It seems that with one or two witnesses (assuming they are happy to complete witness statement forms) then the insurers think there is a good case for a non-fault claim in which they will recover full costs and I will not lose out financially through loss of no claims discount (years) or through loss of excess (I have legal cover as part of my policy).

 

If Tesco come back with something useful, I'll probably pursue it. If not, it hinges on one persons statement and might no be convincing enough for me to not lose out.

 

Or have I misinterpreted the insurance situation?

Is there anything I can do without going through the insurance?

 

Presume going to the police is the only option?

Definately go to police.... This driver May be uninsured... There may be another person the car is registered to..any number of things could crop up. She may do this sort of thing all the time... And maybe should not be driving.

She failed to fulfil her obligations after the accident... So may well lie...cheat and bring in excuses that the insurance don't pursue fully.

Get the bobbies looking into her.

The only way to trace the owner would be to go to the police or use insurance. You also have to be 99% sure that this car is the one involved and not for example the person who sent you the details. They could have photographed a car at random with some pre existing damage.

Wow mannyo that's really intense ! You need to contact police as they did leave the scene and didn't let you know , if they are driving as badly as mentioned they could have been pizzed, if the shoe was on the other foot they would screw you !

The damage on the car in the picture doesn't match the damage to my car so that is now largely unrelated.

The person who left the details was a taxi driver, so it's not his Peugeot.

Agreed he cod have photographed any car. But why?

My car was parked, so this can't be anything other than a 'non-fault' claim and the other vehicle's owner couldn't claim anything. Could they?

I only have one witness now as Tesco employee ( via his manager ) says he didn't see any car hit my car, he just saw my damaged car.

Which contradicts what the taxi driver saw!

I suspect the trolley boy was told to say he saw nothing for an easy life...

There may be CCTV footage as I was parked near the cash machines, but I won't hold out any hope.

With only one witness I think it's a much slimmer chance of gaining a 'non-fault' claim.

I might try out local police office tomorrow to see what they say.

Thanks for your thoughts and advice so far.

Hey Karl, is this at the belmont tesco ? Hopefully the CCTV shows up something im sure it will! I would deffo try and get it sorted off their insurance. 

 

I had a similar incident at work car park, but luckily the person who hit my old civic left a note. (He is very high up in the Cargill ladder so probably didnt want to do a runner and get caught lol). His insurance accepted liability as he admitted it and all i had to do was take my car to a body repair place and they gave me a car to use whilst it was being repaired.

 

Hope you get it sorted!

 

Dan

It was the Belmont one.

Are you going to tell me you know who owns the Peugeot?

Rarely go there and never park that close to the entrance (it was raining quite a bit and had the kids with me).

Will have a think on what to do.

The photos you put up in first post looks as if it was either a silver looking vehicle as its not left a colour on yours , so theoretically it's going to be similar to yours ?

Hi KB

If it does go through the other persons insurance and money is no object I can thoroughly recommend "Fix" at Hereford, they used to be "Cavanagh's" 

Had similar experience in "Morrisons at Ross and "Fix" did a good job.

The photos you put up in first post looks as if it was either a silver looking vehicle as its not left a colour on yours , so theoretically it's going to be similar to yours ?

The alledged vehicle is a Peugeot pictures further down the thread. Similar colour.

I can thoroughly recommend "Fix" at Hereford, they used to be "Cavanagh's"

Thanks for the tip. I have another job pending so will contact them for a quote about that.

The alledged vehicle is a Peugeot pictures further down the thread. Similar colour.

Yes that's the reason I would defo say its the pug the taxi driver hasn't got it wrong IMO

I can't see any reason for the taxi driver to make it up as I can't see what he could gain from it.

I can't see any reason for the taxi driver to make it up as I can't see what he could gain from it.

Nothing so get the nypd on the case

You won't believe how strong the bumper is for that sort of scrape, that damage to her car is probably from hitting your car. My rear corner has been hit twice now causing more damage to the other car, leaving me with a few deep scratches on the bumper

Fair enough. I know the bumper springs back quite well on the corners, but the damage on her car looks to be too high to match the scrapes on my car.

Am I really unlucky?

Some f**kwit has driven into the other corner whilst trying to parallel park behind me.

We were only there for 15-20 mins (30 min parking zone) and there was easily enough space for two cars behind me.

What to do now?

I don't spot the damage today until I got home. No messages left on vehicle (no surprise) so no witnesses or evidence to this one.

This one is much worse than the other one: much deeper scratching, crease in the plastic above exhaust pipe, etc.

I wonder what state their car is in?

I'm now thinking about carrying traffic cones or crash barriers and fencing my car in when I park it anywhere even remotely near other cars...

PS: Don't panic about the missing sensor, that's in my living room awaiting a repair.