Hit and Run Crash - Options?

Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 13:29
Last edited 30/01/2019 - 13:58

Long story short.

An absolute moron of a driver flew up my inside in a lane that was ending, came straight across and hit the front right of my car with back left of their car. I pulled over, they looked like they considered pulling over, but then gunned it into the sunset.

I report to police with the cars licence plate, turns out driver has a suspended licence.

What can I do from here? Is there a way for them to have to fix the damage to my car without me claiming through my insurance?

Thanks!

Hi-tech render and satellite imaging:
https://pasteboard.co/HYwPPy0.jpg

Automotive Hit and Run

Comments

  • smartazz104 on 28/01/2019 - 13:34
    +51

    What can I do from here? Is there a way for them to have to fix the damage to my car without me claiming through my insurance?

    No, use your insurance and don't worry about it.

    • tryagain on 28/01/2019 - 13:40
      +22

      This, it's why you have insurance, I think most policies don't make you pay an excess if you can provide details of the other party.

    • sim777 on 28/01/2019 - 17:59
      +5

      Thing is OP may have to pay excess out of pocket until the other guy has a court date issued by police (which may never happen).

      • WilliamDGH on 30/01/2019 - 15:36
        +3

        Depends on which insurance company you are with I guess. I had similar situation once, and my car was with AAmi. All they want is the other party's address. Police helped me get the address by checking the rego number. And then the insurance company took care of my car without me paying anything.

        • R-Man on 30/01/2019 - 17:29

          Yep same experience with GIO (part of Suncorp like aami)

      • imurgod on 30/01/2019 - 20:40

        You can sue, but it's not worth it. Go through your insurance.

        You'll need to pay an excess and may have it refunded if the police report holds the other idiot at fault. Better if they fine them.

        Press the police for that report.

  • wordplay on 28/01/2019 - 13:42
    +4

    just let your insurance deal with it.
    why would you want to avoid using insurance company?, even if they stopped and offered to pay for the repairs you end up in a world of difficulty when they either don't pay or want the repair done at their mates shop etc… its a nightmare.

    how do the police know who was driving from rego plate - isn't that just the registered owner? or did they go and pick him up?

    • bobbified on 28/01/2019 - 13:48
      +6

      how do the police know who was driving from rego plate - isn't that just the registered owner?

      On the balance of probability, having a suspended licence is likely to be the reason for doing a runner.

      • Downvoter on 28/01/2019 - 17:32
        +2

        Good thing criminal charges are beyond reasonable doubt and not balance of probabilities.

        • Masterpupil on 28/01/2019 - 21:27
          +2

          Yes, but civil claims are on the balance, so the insurance company are in a better position to deal attempt to claim the costs of the repairs.
          Also, the registered owner (in Victoria at least) has obligations to provide the police with details of the driver of the vehicle, or can be charged with a criminal offence. It can be a slippery slope, as I have seen people charged with these offences in perhaps unfair circumstances, but there are obvious public policy reasons why these laws are necessary.
          For example, I could not necessarily account for my car 100% of the time, but only two people have keys for it, so it is either me or my spouse that is likely to have been driving it. This could become more difficult for very affluent people, or people that allow several other people to use their cars (i.e. adult children).

        • HighAndDry on 29/01/2019 - 10:12

          OP isn't levelling criminal charges, they just want their damages repaid.

  • jjjaar on 28/01/2019 - 13:47
    +3

    Depending on your location and the linemarking, you may be at fault of the front of their vehicle was in front of yours when their lane ended.

    Scroll down for the image above merging (Victoria):
    https://www.racv.com.au/on-the-road/driving-maintenance/road…

    Edit 30/1: after seeing the diagram drawn by OP, the linemarking was indicating that OP had right of way. Though still worth knowing that linemarking is important!

    • serpserpserp on 28/01/2019 - 15:20
      +2

      From OPs description, sounds like he is in the left lane.

      • jjjaar on 28/01/2019 - 15:25

        It also sounds like OP was behind the other driver at the conflict point.

        hit the front right of my car with back left of their car

        If the linemarking was as is in the link (and they are in Vic), OP had to give way purely because they were behind. Regardless of the lane.

        • serpserpserp on 28/01/2019 - 15:30
          +1

          You can only try your best if someone roars up the right side and pulls in. It can happen so fast that you might not have time to react.

          • jjjaar on 28/01/2019 - 15:33

            @serpserpserp: Completely agree, but as a driver it’s your responsibility to be aware of your surroundings and to react when things happen quickly.

          • Ughhh on 28/01/2019 - 16:37

            @serpserpserp: There's always a sign informing drivers about merging lanes ahead. If you've been paying attention to surroundings, not just cars infront, but cars behind and side, you should have an idea what kind of drivers they are and how big the gaps are between cars. I've seen so many people leaving it to the last min to merge, causing traffic to stop or have a near miss- absolutely dangerous. Look ahead, think ahead. If you see a gap, change lanes while you can and if it's very close to the end of the merge, I often stay in the middle of both lanes so that cars behind can not squeeze through.

    • Woodinski on 28/01/2019 - 16:13
      +1

      Wont matter if they are unregistered (or drunk)

    • Ryanek on 28/01/2019 - 16:46
      +2

      Other driver is suspended. His rights are null and void.

    • HighAndDry on 29/01/2019 - 10:14
      +3

      OP posted Paint diagram below:

      https://pasteboard.co/HYwPPy0.jpg

      Seems it's completely the other car's fault.

      • jjjaar on 29/01/2019 - 12:03

        Saw that last night, but it appears my comment about it didn't post.

        Definitely the other cars fault in this case.

  • jaybmate on 28/01/2019 - 13:51

    What if you only have third party insurance, the insurance provider likely wouldn't help..

    • Lexan on 29/01/2019 - 00:00
      +1

      Not really. I remember I got hit with 3rd insurance, the panel beater helped me to track down the driver to pay for my car repair bill.

  • Tech5 on 28/01/2019 - 14:02
    +1

    Was it a broken line in between your lane and theirs, all the way to the end? Or did it just disappear and the 2 lanes turned into one?

    • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2019 - 14:55

      Driver failing to stop suggests they're to blame.

      Suggestion only but your consideration is completely valid.

      • HighAndDry on 29/01/2019 - 10:15

        They could've done a runner because they had a suspended licence.

        Edit: Nope, per OP's diagram here, other car completely at fault.

        • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2019 - 11:53
          +1

          Or they were here illegally.

          We'll never know.

    • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 18:34
      +1

      Yeah it was broken lines and their lane was coming to an end.

  • JimmyF on 28/01/2019 - 14:21
    +6

    What can I do from here?

    You lodge a claim with your insurance company (you have insurance right?), they then handle it all.

  • chumlee on 28/01/2019 - 14:30
    +2

    You need to take civil action to recover costs. Easier to go through insurance and let them deal with the hassles

  • deelaroo on 28/01/2019 - 14:43
    +1

    Don't stress at all, not one bit, this is a non issue because you have insurance. You just lodge a claim and forget this all.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2019 - 14:54
    +4

    Dashcam?

  • loulou1 on 28/01/2019 - 14:55
    +11

    There isn’t even the obligatory MS paint pic :(

    • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 18:34
      +7

      Ok as soon as I get home!

    • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 22:37
      +34

      https://pasteboard.co/HYwPPy0.jpg

      • jjjaar on 28/01/2019 - 22:44
        +13

        +1 for “pow”

        • JayM on 29/01/2019 - 14:57

          I think the POW is also covering up the guy flipping the bird out the window.

      • Homr on 29/01/2019 - 13:13

        +1 epic!

      • Hirolol on 30/01/2019 - 05:36

        Is this not to scale?

  • serpserpserp on 28/01/2019 - 15:15
    +3

    Can we please have a MS Paint pic so we can better understand the scenario. Thanks.

  • Godric on 28/01/2019 - 15:21
    -1

    Insurance job

  • Some Human on 28/01/2019 - 16:22

    I’m confused.
    Were you in a merging/cut off lane? Was the other driver in a merging/cut off lane?
    Or was it a form 1 lane?

    • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 18:35

      Their lane ended, my lane continued as normal.

  • serpserpserp on 28/01/2019 - 17:54
    +1

    OP must be on hold to his insurance company.

  • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 18:31
    +4

    Well my insurance told me they can't do anything without the name, address and licence number of the driver, which I doubt the police just hand out. So that is the reason I didn't want to bother with using my insurance.

    As far as the 'crash', the driver of the other car did their best Verstappen impression, and flew up the inside lane so fast and came across that I couldn't have had the chance to give way even if I was meant to.

    And as far as knowing who the driver was, I described the driver I saw and the gender and ethnicity matched the person the car is rego'd to, who also happens to have a suspended licence.
    The police officer was going to speak to this person and see if they acknowledge it was them or offer another driver.

    • GaryG on 28/01/2019 - 19:31
      +5

      I thought insurance companies only needed the license plate of the car as the minimum, at least that's what mine says. Are you sure yours needs more than that?

      • smartazz104 on 28/01/2019 - 20:11
        +8

        Are we to also believe that in cases of hit and run, people are just sol? Surely if you have the plate you can file a police report and give the case number to your insurance.

      • Kamsi on 29/01/2019 - 22:26
        +2

        His with Budget Direct, that tells you everything.

        • Mitch889 on 30/01/2019 - 15:26

          Ah, now it makes sense.

    • burningrage on 28/01/2019 - 20:09
      +3

      Hit and Run should be a criminal offense which means forcing the cops to intervene as if it is a murder scene.

      Simply too many hit and runs incidence these days.

      • Masterpupil on 28/01/2019 - 21:35
        +3

        It is.
        The scenario described gives rise to several offences including failing to report an accident, failing to stop and render assistance, failing to provide details to the driver of a damaged vehicle.
        The police will more than likely get around to investigating it, but if no one has been injured then they are not going to do it fast.
        Generally speaking, the offenders: do not have insurance, do not have a license or are drug/alcohol affected. If they are drunk, then the police only have 3 hours to track them down to undertake a test, so it's actually a good way of dodging a drink driving disqualification, having said that, you can still have your license cancelled by a Court for the other offences that arise from fleeing a traffic accident.

    • mezje on 28/01/2019 - 20:53
      +2

      Hassle the Police, when I had a bingle they confirmed the details on the license matched where the car was regod.

    • burningrage on 28/01/2019 - 21:57

      Report to the cops first, get a police report (or case number), and then go to Insurance.

      Having said that, I recalled reading I think in AAMI policy document that Licence Plate would suffice. Correct me if I am wrong. In the past, when it happened to me, I just gave the police the licence plate number and they rang the dude in front of me and the cops obtained the Name, Address, and Licence Number for me.

      If you have a dashcam, I would imagine the cops could now have evidence to charge them.

      • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 22:42

        Interesting. I think I will try again with my insurance company. I have the Licence plate and police event number.

        They were going to ring them while I was there, but then they saw that the owner has a suspended licence and therefore they were going to follow up in person.

        I wouldn't be surprised if the insurance company was just trying to dissuade me from going through them.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2019 - 22:56
          +3

          Who are you with?
          I would think License plate and police event number is enough.
          You wont need to pay excess, and your Insurance lawyers would do the chasing with the other driver in ways you do not have access to.
          Fact that the driver did a hit n run and Police got him will look better for you, and his issue is no longer your problem.

          • sim777 on 29/01/2019 - 11:14

            @[Deactivated]: I had a guy kick my door in a road rage incident. I had license plate and went to police for pictures, statement ect. Called up insurance but have to pay excess out of pocket unless the guy has been questioned by police and a court date assigned. Well that's with my insurance RACV so might be different with others

            • Grillman on 29/01/2019 - 19:26

              @sim777: I am with Budget Direct.

              I guess this could also happen in my case, depending on whether or not the police find it important enough to pursue. My intuition tells me this person is a bit of a dangerous pest, so hopefully they follow it up.

              • Kangal on 30/01/2019 - 20:42

                @Grillman: I've typically heard that Budget Direct is the best car insurance you can get in Australia if you never get into an accident.

    • Randxyz123 on 28/01/2019 - 23:00
      +2

      Just keep calling the police. Most officers hate this sort of work and will try and avoid doing it.

      Ask for the name and address of the registered owner or ask your insurance what they will accept in these cases. Fair enough the police won't give you their name and address but they should give you a police report which your insurance SHOULD accept. Then they can contact the police for the details.

      If they weren't driving they can tell your insurance that. Not your issue.

    • CVonC on 29/01/2019 - 01:03

      Who are you insured with mate?

      • Hirolol on 30/01/2019 - 05:38

        Budget direct

    • Never Pay RRP on 29/01/2019 - 10:59

      "name, address and licence number of the driver, which I doubt the police just hand out."

      I think the police would provide that information, especially if you tell them that it is in relation to an insurance claim and a requirement of the insurance company.
      It's a shame the process isn't easier, hope it all works out for you

      • Marty131 on 30/01/2019 - 17:37

        How could police verify it is a genuine request? A certain amount of investigation would be required in the first instance. Otherwise a stalker could see someone driving in a car, get license plate, go to police station and ask for their address and name… Scary!

    • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2019 - 11:21

      Harass your insurance again. Keep harassing them. If you've been able to identify the car involved and the police have the rest of the details, they should be able to go after the driver.

      In the meantime, they're your only option anyway, since if they can't get money out of the at-fault driver you're going to have a harder time of it.

    • MtnMama001 on 29/01/2019 - 11:24
      +1

      Call bullshit on the insurance company. You can't reasonably be expected to do more than get the rego of the other car. I had an issue a few years ago when my car was damaged by an animal - a neighbours cow. I provided his name and address, and my insurance still tried to get out of paying because he wouldn't return their calls. I pointed out that if the damage had been caused by a random kangaroo they would not be able to contact the owner. They agreed and paid up. My neighbour is still a d!ckhead though.

    • Windows98 on 29/01/2019 - 11:29

      I can tell you now that you will have to be on the polices back to follow this up, get the information and pass it onto the insurance company.
      These incidents are extremely low priority and won't get done unless you keep persisting. They will delay action for weeks until it gets to the point where it's been too long to do anything.

      Bug them, or be prepared to pay the excess and let the other rguy get away with it.

    • shreav on 29/01/2019 - 18:18

      So…what insurance company are you with again…?

      • Hirolol on 30/01/2019 - 05:39

        Budget direct

    • Zylam Marex on 30/01/2019 - 21:01

      Really sorry for your situation, some people man.

      But love the photo you made and the Verstappen reference is pure gold. You don't by any chance happen to be Called Ocon?

  • SydStrand on 28/01/2019 - 19:19
    +1

    As far as the 'crash', the driver of the other car did their best Verstappen impression

    Don't you mean Kvyat?

    • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 21:41
      +6

      This move was too aggressive for Kvyat.

      • Zylam Marex on 30/01/2019 - 21:02
        +1

        Pastor Maldonado

        • WhyAmICommenting on 30/01/2019 - 22:45
          +1

          He takes people out even after the race

    • savage bargain on 30/01/2019 - 01:32

      It's completely a Perez move.

      • WhyAmICommenting on 30/01/2019 - 22:46
        +1

        No way, he'd be too busy saving tyres so he stops one time less than the entire field

  • solidussnake on 28/01/2019 - 20:23

    What can I do from here? Is there a way for them to have to fix the damage to my car without me claiming through my insurance?

    Hmmm I dunno maybe call your insurance company, If you are clearly not at fault and you have the driver at fault details let insurance settle it with the other driver..

  • stumo on 28/01/2019 - 20:43
    +1

    Wait, OP which side of your car are you calling the "inside" lane. eg the inside lane is usually the lane next to the passenger side of your car.. This is leading to some confusion.
    MS paint is actually needed here because the damage doesn't match what you are describing.

    • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 21:44

      Ah yeah. I guess I am referring to the lane that was ending as the inside, but to be clear it was the lane to my right.

    • abb on 29/01/2019 - 10:11
      -3

      eg the inside lane is usually the lane next to the passenger side of your car.

      No, the inside lane is the one closest to the centre of the roadway. i.e. Driver's side (right hand side, seeing as how we're all in Australia)

      • HighAndDry on 29/01/2019 - 10:19

        That also makes sense I guess, but I've always conceived of "inside" as the one closer to the sidewalk, where "further out on the road" means closer to the center.

        Plus, in racing and such sports, the "inside" is always the one closer to the side of the track.

        • stumo on 29/01/2019 - 10:36
          +2

          Plus, in racing and such sports, the "inside" is always the one closer to the side of the track

          Thats the "inside" because its a corner. The "inside" is the side closest to the apex of the corner. In athletics the inside lane is always the same, because the corner is always the same. In car racing the inside is closer to the apex, which changes if the corner is left or right hand.

          Taking this concept to the street… If you are leaving a multi lane highway. You 99.9% of the time are making a left turn. So if someone passes you on the inside, they would be passing you on the left.

        • abb on 30/01/2019 - 11:48

          in racing and such sports, the "inside" is always the one closer to the side of the track

          Sorry I don't follow. What is the side of the track? Doesn't a track have two sides? (I must be misinterpreting something…)
          Anyway, in racing, closer to the apex is the inside, further from the apex is the outside.

          Despite opposition from the OzB community, I maintain my logic that the centre of the roadway is "in"!

          By the prevailing OzB interpretation, taking an "exit" to the left would be moving "in" to the road… Come on people, use some logic! :)

          edit: Wiki's got my back, thanks Wiki.

          By law or custom, inside lanes are often reserved for faster traffic, and outside lanes are used by slower traffic.

          • HighAndDry on 30/01/2019 - 13:05
            +2

            @abb: Haha touché!

            I see your wiki article on lanes and raise you the wiki article on overtaking which says:

            Overtaking on the inside or undertaking[2][3][4] refers to the practice of overtaking a slower vehicle on a road using the lane that is kerb side of the vehicle being passed

            and the Cambridge dictionary definition for "Outside Lane" that says:

            outside lane noun (ROAD)
            ​
            [ S ] uk informal outside the part of the road nearest the vehicles going in the opposite direction, used especially by faster vehicles:

            (but I agree that your usage also makes sense)

            • abb on 30/01/2019 - 15:52
              +1

              @HighAndDry: Curse you human language with your variations in usage!

              [shakes fist in the air]

  • CalmLemons on 28/01/2019 - 22:15
    +4

    OP. Report to police. Get the report number and officer name and rank. Make a million copies of it and give to insurance. Don't lose it. Insurance will need it definitely as you will lose your excess otherwise.

    I say this as very often when people lodge a report with the police the offer either moves or the paperwork goes missing, and you will need to lodge again.

    Hit and run is a criminal offence. The driver will be in big trouble. This is an incidence where the law needs to be applied and the cowards weeded out.

    • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 22:45
      +1

      I will do that.

      I do wish the driver to be punished, they drove like someone who didn't give a shit about anyone.

  • Grillman on 28/01/2019 - 22:35
    +2

    So something like this:

    https://pasteboard.co/HYwPPy0.jpg

    • smartazz104 on 29/01/2019 - 20:08
      +4

      The Pow! really sells it.

    • aussieolfaction on 30/01/2019 - 00:44
      +1

      Make sure that you provide your insurance company a copy of this masterpiece along with the police paperwork. Brownie points for the "pow". :-)

      All said, I'm glad you're OK mate. It never ceases to amaze me what kind of jerks we share our roads with.

    • Hirolol on 30/01/2019 - 05:40

      Can you update the original post?

      • Grillman on 30/01/2019 - 13:56

        With the link? Ok!

  • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2019 - 01:53

    they looked like they considered pulling over

    They were probably checking that you were OK, then saw that you seemed ok and didn't wanna be done for unlicensed driving. Not saying at all it's ok them driving off. Use insurance company and they will chase up the driver for the money owed.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2019 - 11:57
      +6

      The Legend of the Thoughtful Unlicensed Driver.

      (You're way too glass half full)

      • HighAndDry on 29/01/2019 - 13:08
        +1

        You're way too glass half full

        I mean, in this case it doesn't make a difference to OP either way. I agree with you, but Chewy's outlook is probably a lot better for their blood pressure.

        • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2019 - 17:53

          When the glass is half full tips, almost a full glass is spilt.

          When a glass half empty tips, there was hardly anything in it in the first place.

        • WhyAmICommenting on 30/01/2019 - 22:49

          "Hrrrrrrrr!"

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