When at work I park my car on Private land, just off the road. Others do likewise and we pay for the privellege.
Walking to the car to come home tonight a colleague stops me and says "Check your wing/bumper, a van hit it, the driver got out, took a look & then drove off".
We checked the car & hey presto there's a nice big dent front passenger side.
He then gave me the registartion of the van which he'd taken down.
What do I do now?? Tell my insurer, phone the Old Bill? Confront the driver (He lives opposite from where I park)?
Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks.

the incident should be reported to the poilice, as a failing to report,
besct bet is go to the lock cop shop and speak to them, they`d b able to give the best advice!
Good Luck
Pete

Pete

Cheers for that - I was wondering though if because it was on Private land & not public highway, they'd just wash their hands of it?

thats why i said speak to them, they should be able to tell u precisly where you stand,

Or get a couple of BIG mates and go round his house!


Pete

The whole private thing is a bit questionable, is there free access from the public road or is it controlled by a gate or the such?

If its just open and there are no signs saying 'feck off, private' then its still covered by the highways act etc.. Similar thing to 'private' shop/McDs carparks used by kroozers, unless there is access control its still technically part of the public highway.

Either way phone plod, you have a witness.

It's just some "rough ground" although levelled and tarmaced, owned by the owner of the house on the opposite side of the road who rent sit out to us during the week. It's not fenced off or anything, not even a curb, but there is a sign on the fence at the back that says "Private Parking. Permit Holders only".
Decided I'm gonna see the W@nker tomorrow give himn the benefit of the doubt that as it was dark he didnt see the damage.
If he doesnt give insurance details then I'll go to the Old Bill.
Don't want to go to the OB without giving him the opportunity to put it right first incase he decides to run his keys along my pride and joy on a weekly basis as an act of revenge.

private land or not, could it not be considered criminal damage?

let me know if you dont get anywhere with this. there are other avenues you can pursue...

It is an offence to fail to report any RTC to the police within 24 hours where details of those involved have not been exchanged, Ring your local police asap and report it telling them what your friend has seen and the registration, they will probable require your mate to give a statement,

The only defence the driver of the van really has is that he made every available attempt to locate the owner of the vehicle AND has contacted the police to report it within 24 hours.

GET HIM DONE!

well, thats sort of what i was thinking, but you'd maybe get money back too

Well the law is an ASS!

Reported this to the police - they said as I was parked on Private Land they couldn't do anything & the bloke didn't need to report it.
So I said to the guy behind the desk " So if I wanted to drive on to your drive outside your house and smash into your car as hard as I could & then just drove off, there's nothig you would or could do?" and he just replied "Yes, that's right" - Unbelievable.
He then went on about it being a blessing really as if they could so something there would be masses of forms to fill out.
Half wondering if he was just fobbing me off as he couldn't be assed to do a load of writing.
Looks like the bastard's getting away with it. Any views views?

Re: Well the law is an ASS!

Have you actually spoken to the van driver?

Pete

Re: Well the law is an ASS!

i didn't read the private land bit sorry,
Who's land is it?
does the van driver have permission to be on it?
As you have a witness you could try small claims court,

if your stuck for idea ring citizens advice they are always good