Hit and Run. No Comprehensive Insurance. What Are The Options?

[Deactivated] on 23/05/2022 - 08:00

Today I was on Western Highway (west of Melbourne) near Caroline Springs at 7:25 am. Traffic was going smooth but not at full speed. One car started tailgating me so close. The guy in front of me braked because there was congestion. So I braked as well. But the guy behind me couldn't. He hit me and just drove off. His rego is SBU442. I checked in VicRoads website and it's a 2002 Black Holden Sedan.

I know I cannot do anything without comprehensive insurance. Just I want to put that on record. So that if that car comes for sale, people will know. My damage is minimal. Also, if there are any other options in such cases, please let everyone know if any options in such cases.

Automotive Car Insurance Insurance

Comments

  • SBOB on 23/05/2022 - 08:07
    +28

    Report to police for driver leaving the scene of an accident without stopping and exchanging details
    Likely wont make any difference at all though

    • SnoozeAndLose on 24/05/2022 - 18:44

      Wouldn't police do anything for hit and run?

  • racer1234 on 23/05/2022 - 08:17
    +5

    If you have thrid party property insurance on your car then some of those polices have $5000 coverage for an uninsured person hitting you. Would be worth checking your insurance policy. As above report to police.

    • Euphemistic on 23/05/2022 - 08:20
      +37

      IF YOU DONT HAVE AT LEAST THIRD PARTY PROPERTY INSURANCE GET OFF THE ROAD.

      If you can’t afford to lose your car in a crash like this, you can’t afford to not have comprehensive.

      • barge-in hunter on 23/05/2022 - 08:30
        +1

        This should be on the OzB front page hahaha

      • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2022 - 08:30

        I have third party insurance. The comprehensive insurance premium is too high, so I thought to take a risk and drive carefully. I am driving with a third party for 4 years. This exact accident happened exactly in the same place (within 1-2 km) 2 years back and that driver stopped and gave details and I fixed my car with his insurance.

        • garetz on 23/05/2022 - 08:31
          +2

          Why don't you have a dash cam at least.

          • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2022 - 08:33

            @garetz: Does that help in such cases?

        • HelpMeiCantSee on 24/05/2022 - 09:10
          +1

          Third party property, or just the compulsory third party?

  • Euphemistic on 23/05/2022 - 08:19
    +8

    Definitely report a failed to stop.

    Does your car require significant repairs? How much of your time is it worth to chase it up?

    You might be able to request the owners info from the rego authority (and pay a fee) and submit a letter of demand to the owner. But they’ll likely ignore it.

    Go back to that road and wait until you see the car again. Chase them down and ram them for vengeance.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2022 - 08:22
      +1

      Does your car require significant repairs? How much of your time is it worth to chase it up?

      When I was in the car I feared significant damage because of the sound. But when I checked after stopping the damage wasn't big. Not worth chasing. It could have been worse.

      • kerfuffle on 23/05/2022 - 08:24
        +9

        But when I checked after stopping the damage wasn't big

        Just because it doesn't look big on the outside doesn't mean it isn't big on the inside …

        • Euphemistic on 23/05/2022 - 09:31
          +11

          That’s what he said.

      • Richmond Tigers on 23/05/2022 - 09:18
        +2

        Get it checked, i stuffed around with insurance company after a prang for 6 months. Eventually found in my favour and wrote the car off after me driving it for 6 months due to chassis being compacted.

      • qwerty-4321 on 24/05/2022 - 07:44

        Get it checked. My sisters car was in what she thought was a minor fender bender, but the insurance assessor wrote the car off because of some hidden chassis damage at the weld points that would have made the car unsafe to drive.

  • elgrande on 23/05/2022 - 08:23
    +5

    Western Highway

    2002 Black Holden Sedan

    Just wait a few weeks until you find it broken down on the side of the road and tag it 'el barto'

  • MS Paint on 23/05/2022 - 08:34
    +8

    Finally. A realistic thread from the OP.

    • Jason Genova on 23/05/2022 - 09:01
      +4

      i still have my doubts based on his post history

      • SF3 on 23/05/2022 - 09:08
        +2

        One car started tailgating me so close
        He hit me and just drove off
        My damage is minimal.

        Could be due to post history?

        • MS Paint on 23/05/2022 - 09:17
          +6

          I'm surprised the title didn't read…

          Are biennial rear ended car accidents on the Western Highway useful or harmful?

    • kanmen on 23/05/2022 - 11:15
      +1

      Was really surprised to not see a comment like 'This is Albanese's fault' tagged onto the end of the post.

  • Seraphin7 on 23/05/2022 - 09:38
    +2

    Report to the popo.

    If you don't want to pursue damages, then do nothing more.

    So that if that car comes for sale, people will know.

    Won't happen. Any record of "criminal" behaviour attaches to the driver, not the car.

  • 1st-Amendment on 23/05/2022 - 10:21
    +1

    The few experiences I've had with the Police around property damage is that they don't really care. Even when I investigated and identified the culprits for them they still did nothing. I think their view is that these things are insurance issues, not Police issues, and if you don't have the correct insurance then too bad.

    So the lesson here is to always get insurance.

    • rektrading on 24/05/2022 - 17:29

      Not exchanging particulars is a law enforcement matter.

      The damage on the other hand is an insurance issue.

      • 1st-Amendment on 25/05/2022 - 09:46

        Not exchanging particulars is a law enforcement matter.

        Sure, but where do you think that sits on the list of priorities for your average cop? I have multiple experiences from both sides and not once did anything ever happen.

        If you want to be protected, insurance is far more effective than the police.

        • rektrading on 25/05/2022 - 09:50

          Law enforcement has limited resources. They should focus their resources on indictable offences instead of civil cases.

          • 1st-Amendment on 25/05/2022 - 10:00

            @rektrading:

            Law enforcement has limited resources. They should focus their resources on indictable offences instead of civil cases.

            I agree, hence my comment to make sure you're insured instead of relying on police for trivial property matters

  • oscargamer on 23/05/2022 - 10:52
    +5

    Report the collision in person to local police station.
    Ask for the 'vehicle accident information application form - over the counter use only' form.
    Fill out this form. The over the counter version of this form is free.
    Get police to fill out their section of the form and give you that section. It will have the details of the registered owner on it. This is for your information. Don't do anything with it at this stage.
    Get the name of the police officer you are talking to.
    What should now happen.

    …. Police officer should start an enquiry into who was the driver of the other car. You should contact this police officer regularly to ensure they are doing what they are required to do. If they are not progressing the matter, have a chat to a sergeant, and get that sergeants name also.

    For future…. Get comp insurance FFS

    • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2022 - 14:46

      I cal to the local police station. He asked me to come in person and report it.

      • oscargamer on 23/05/2022 - 14:52
        +3

        WHICH IS WHAT I SAID IN THE FIRST LINE !!!

        Would you also like me to come with you, just in case ………

        • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2022 - 15:01
          +1

          Just letting you know that you were correct

    • singlemalt72 on 24/05/2022 - 08:17
      +1

      Get comp insurance FFS

      Depends on the vehicle, and some TPFT policies supply a limited payout for a not at fault accident. If you are driving an old Hooptie it can be worth it.

      • Euphemistic on 24/05/2022 - 08:46
        +1

        Yep. You NEED comprehensive if you can’t afford to lose the car.

        If you are willing to risk either not having any car or can afford to buy a replacement at very short notice the TPP is just fine.

    • drewbytes on 24/05/2022 - 18:31

      Still not going to do you much good. You might find out who the driver was, but that won't get your car repaired or any money from the guy. That's nothing to do with police. You'll have to take them to small claims court or similar to try and get any $$$ out of them.

      • oscargamer on 24/05/2022 - 19:32
        -2

        …. Once driver established, police should charge them for failing to stop and exchange details and/or failure to report to police. Along With those charges, there will be a restitution order for the cost of the repairs…. Simples

        • drewbytes on 26/05/2022 - 18:53

          No, no their won't. It doesn't work like that. At most the other driver will get a ticket or two, there won't be any charges, and certainly no restitution orders.

          • Euphemistic on 26/05/2022 - 21:05

            @drewbytes: Best you can hope from the police is contact details so you can send your own demand letter.

          • oscargamer on 26/05/2022 - 21:55
            -1

            @drewbytes: It absolutely will work like that. There is no ticket for failing to stop / exchange details /reporting to police. And the restitution order is the simplest of forms. It's all of 3 lines of text.

            • drewbytes on 28/05/2022 - 07:33
              -1

              @oscargamer: Australian Road Rule 287. The penalty will vary state to state, but it is a ticketable offence, in the ACT the penalty is $301 no demerits.

              • oscargamer on 28/05/2022 - 08:56

                @drewbytes: All very nice. All very irrelevant.

                In Vic, where the op is and where the collision occurred, there is no RR287 and I'll repeat, there is no ticket for what is colloquially known as 'hit and run'.

                Maybe you'd like to quote some other non existent legislation?

  • morse on 23/05/2022 - 14:04

    Police report. They might do something.

  • Myone888 on 24/05/2022 - 07:48
    +1

    No vehicle should be on the road without at least 3rd party car insurance and comprehensive insurance! It shud be made illegal without insurance.

    • Euphemistic on 24/05/2022 - 08:47

      I reckon that would just increase the number of cars running totally unregistered and would likely end up with premiums increasing a lot.

  • OzHunterNSW on 24/05/2022 - 15:08

    So you have gone to the police… immediately to report a hit and run?

    What did the police say, after you reported the hit and run?

    The police will track them down - is that what the police told you?

    Have you heard anything from the police after making your report to the police?

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