So somebody reversed into me today...and drove off!

jaffa20

We were both waiting in a village on the lights. It was pretty busy as everyone going home. All of a sudden i see these reverse lights come on on a monstrous land rover. I manage to beep my horn as i seem himcoming towards my tiny mx5...bang:(

I thought it was pretty loud to cause some damage. I knew his towbar had hit some part of my car. Lights turn green, he's not going in my direction. I follow him. Turn on my lights and flash to let him know i'm behind him. He definitely knew i was following him as he couldn't seem to keep his foot of the accelorator and wasn't indicating at all.

He managed to get onto the m50 northbound and flew into the overtaking lane. The traffic was pretty busy and i wasn't going to follow him at this stage as i was going away from home in heavy traffic.

I manage to turn off and check the damage. I was surprised there wasn't much noticable damage. I think he hit my number plate plinth as it was a bit loose.

When i got home i check again. I touched my front bumper and it seems pretty shaky and i don't think it was like that before. Obviously the damage could be worse but i'm pretty pissed off that he didn't make any attempt to say sorry or check for damage. He has many opportunities to check for turn off somehwere.

All i have now is a reg number. Dunno whether to report him. I think he lives in this village or even works where i work as it was close to here.

I wish i had jumped straight out of the car when i happened before the lights turned green but was pretty much in shock and was even more shocked when he drove off like that:mad:

Wolfe Tone

Wait, were you waiting at the traffic lights and the chap in front of you reversed for no reason and hit you?

jaffa20

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

Wait, were you waiting at the traffic lights and the chap in front of you reversed for no reason and hit you?

I think he might have been making room for somebody else... Not completely sure. Or else he was an idiot which is probably more than likely the case. I couldn't see past his beast so he obviously couldn't see me.

Jimmy Bottlehead

I'd go to the Gardai straight away... if nothing else they'll advise you. And if you ever catch whoever it is, get every last cent outta them.

Jarren

1 -Garda
2-Insurance company

-Corkie-

What the hell are you waiting for. Ring the cops ffs. You are worse than him for letting the ignorent pig away with it...

jaffa20

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

I'd go to the Gardai straight away... if nothing else they'll advise you. And if you ever catch whoever it is, get every last cent outta them.

If it was a massive amount of damage. I'd be on to them straight away. There isn't any noticeable damage tbh and i'd say he'd deny everything. If he had got straight out, apologised and i had a chance to look at my car, i would have told him not to worry about it.

After driving off like that though, i'm leaning towards the Gardai even if it doesn't get me anywhere.

Random

he'll probably claim you drove into the back of him and it'll end up one word against the other

Alanstrainor

I know it's a bit late to say it now. But when i was learning to drive, i always remember my dad telling me that if anyone crashes into you, always look for witnesses, it can make all the difference.

That being said, it's impossible to tell how you'll react when some one has crashed into you, especially when they drive off!

I hope it works out OP.

Our man in Havana

Random wrote: »

he'll probably claim you drove into the back of him and it'll end up one word against the other

And claim whiplash thus destroying your NCB.

-Corkie-

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I know it's a bit late to say it now. But when i was learning to drive, i always remember my dad telling me that if anyone crashes into you, always look for witnesses, it can make all the difference.

That being said, it's impossible to tell how you'll react when some one has crashed into you, especially when they drive off!

I hope it works out OP.

Well the hit and run is a serious offence so that will leave Jaffa 100% in the right. Theres no way the jeep driver can argue this. Although it seems like he is going to go no further about it....

danjo

Random wrote: »

he'll probably claim you drove into the back of him and it'll end up one word against the other

I would say it depends on who reports it. If the OP reports it surely his word would take precedence over the other driver who may not have reported it.
On the balance of probabilities if you were to hit somebody from behind and they drive off you are hardly likely to follow it up by reporting it.
Saying that if there is very little damage I cannot see the Gardai worrying too much about it.

Tom Slick

Probably some idiot with an auto box.
Thought he had it in Neutral rather than Park.

Shane732

Get on to the Gardaí straight away - no matter how small the damage is. The lad drove off after all and deserves whatever he gets.

You have his number plate after all so report him and make sure the Gardaí follow it up.

In relation to it being his word against yours - if you hit him then why did he drive off? Was this a fairly big junction - if so then is there any CCTV around the area? Even if there is no CCTV it shouldn't matter.

Report the matter to you're insurance company company too.

Personally I'd look at getting counsel involved in this and prosecute him for the hit and run. People like this deserve to be taken off the road.

Get the insurance in relation to the damage caused. Don't make a meal out of the claim.

santiago

By reporting him you can avoid having somebody else in your position.
Maybe he doesnt have insurance or even worst a licence!
Every little helps

bonzodog2

Tom Slick wrote: »

Probably some idiot with an auto box.
Thought he had it in Neutral rather than Park.

Do LR make automatics ?

kazul

Tom Slick wrote: »

Probably some idiot with an auto box.
Thought he had it in Neutral rather than Park.

Ehh, how would that work Ted?
Thought he had it in neutral but had it in park, couldn't have gone backwards. Reverse lights mentioned in OP lead me to believe it was in reverse.

jaffa20

Yep there was defo reverse lights. As soon as i saw them, i sounded my horn and i think that's what stopped him at the end. Could have been a lot worse only for that. Then he suddenly went forward again after he hit me. It's a bit of a blur really apart from that but i did her the sound of his towbar hit my numberplate plinth.

Tom Slick

kazul wrote: »

Ehh, how would that work Ted?
Thought he had it in neutral but had it in park, couldn't have gone backwards. Reverse lights mentioned in OP lead me to believe it was in reverse.

He thought he was engaging Drive, but actually put it in Reverse.

P
|
R
|
N
|
D

jaffa20

Just went out to look at my car again.

I'm now wondering if he stopped in time and i'm imagining things cos there doesn't appear to be any sort of damage.:o It might have been a slight tap and my plinth saved any damage but though it would have fallen off or something.

But, everything seems fine. Maybe he did stop in time and i heard a bang on the radio.:o It still pisses me off that he didn't get out and check or even stop when it was obvious i was following him. I have pretty bad damage on the lower lip that was already there and i'm getting this repaired at some stage anyway. Must start a new thread about that soon.

I'd say there's plenty of cctv around but i don't see the point of chasing this up and the guards might not be interested in my weird story.

I was angry earlier when i started this thread that i was sure he hit me and that's why he went after him. I'm now not so entirely sure...

I must sound like some stupid cow!:D

tricky D

Random wrote: »

he'll probably claim you drove into the back of him and it'll end up one word against the other

This is a real possibility. However, that might be mitigated by the fact that he drove off. Not exactly clear cut.

JillyQ

The same thing happened to me a couple of years ago. The person who reversed into you is in the wrong.

chiefbrody1974

youre mad as a hatter for letting that fly, I wouldve gone straight to the garda shop. I dont see how he could claim whiplash or anything because you would have repeorted him first and also you can argue, why he didnt stop you??? if you hit him. I think it is straight forward, id hang'em by the bollox to be honest and if you let him away with it, your a mug!

OldGuysRule

Do LR make automatics ?

Yes, can't imagine why someone would think they do not. Most (if not all) Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports are automatics, a lot of discoveries are automatics.

kazul

Tom Slick wrote: »

He thought he was engaging Drive, but actually put it in Reverse.

P
|
R
|
N
|

D

Not what you said first time then

jaffa20

chiefbrody1974 wrote: »

youre mad as a hatter for letting that fly, I wouldve gone straight to the garda shop. I dont see how he could claim whiplash or anything because you would have repeorted him first and also you can argue, why he didnt stop you??? if you hit him. I think it is straight forward, id hang'em by the bollox to be honest and if you let him away with it, your a mug!

I'm not even sure he hit me now, that's the problem. I thought i heard something and was deffo going to follow it up if there was damage but nothing to be seen. He may have just stopped in time when i beeped. Was too in shock, i didn't see if he put his hand up or anything.

Ah well, sure i'm a mug anyway :rolleyes:

Reloc8

You'd want to be entirely sure that he hit you before you make a report. Based on your last post, the gardai wouldn't have enough to go on to even warrant an investigation.

Of course, I hope he didn't in fact tag you and that your car is fine.


somewhat off-topic - the whiplash paranoia is fairly common in situations like this. Its considerably more difficult successfully to go claiming than people might think.

MajorMax

jaffa20 wrote: »

Just went out to look at my car again.

I'm now wondering if he stopped in time and i'm imagining things cos there doesn't appear to be any sort of damage.:o It might have been a slight tap and my plinth saved any damage but though it would have fallen off or something.

But, everything seems fine. Maybe he did stop in time and i heard a bang on the radio.:o It still pisses me off that he didn't get out and check or even stop when it was obvious i was following him. I have pretty bad damage on the lower lip that was already there and i'm getting this repaired at some stage anyway. Must start a new thread about that soon.

I'd say there's plenty of cctv around but i don't see the point of chasing this up and the guards might not be interested in my weird story.

I was angry earlier when i started this thread that i was sure he hit me and that's why he went after him. I'm now not so entirely sure...

I must sound like some stupid cow!:D

I got rear ended a couple of years ago. When I got out the rear bumper seemed fine. I took the insurance details of the EE who had hit me and when I took it to my garage to double check that everything was OK they told me that the rear floor was cracked. The bumper sprang back out after the hit so any damage was hidded. Get your car checked, call the filth and your insurance co asap

blastman

Reloc8 wrote: »

somewhat off-topic - the whiplash paranoia is fairly common in situations like this. Its considerably more difficult successfully to go claiming than people might think.

That hasn't been my recent bitter experience...