Anyone any advice please, I'm really worried. Got a letter from the met today requesting driver details for my car. Allegedly I have committed 2 offences: failing to stop after an accident and drving without due care and attention. It doesn't elaborate any more at the moment.
I remember the day and place - I swerved slightly to avoid an idiot about to go into the side of me, clipping my wing mirror with the mirror of a parked car. Not thinking I would have caused any damage I did not stop or think anymore about it.
How serious could this be? Will I have to go to court? I have a clean licence at the moment although have had 3 points for speeding in the past.
My car is essential for my job so i'm really worried about losing my licence.
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clipping my wing mirror with the mirror of a parked car.
You collided with a parked car.
Not thinking I would have caused any damage I did not stop
You didn't stop.
In short, you failed to stop after an accident. Big mistake.
--
L\'escargot.
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Whilst you may have taken evasive action to avoid the first car you hit the stationary car and just did not think to stop and check for damage. If you had stopped you would have known how much damage you had done and the reg of the parked car. You could have left a note on his windscreen with your deatails then reported the incident to the police they would have taken no action as you were going to pay for the damage, end of story. But now you have blown it, and even admitted in writting on here. Try and pay for the damage directly as this may avoid a summons. Regards Peter
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Early days as yet to say just what your could be taken to Court for.
The Met letter should contain some information to the effect that they are considering prosecuting you for driving without due care and attention and this should have been in your possession no more than 15 days from the occurrence in the ordinary course of the post and not Second Class. If they haven't done this then they cannot take action for due care. It is a requirement at law.
You will have had a request to name the driver of the vehicle at the time of the incident and have 28 days to respond. Failure to do so is an offence.
Whilst not au fait with Met procedure, in such cases they presumably will have obtained statement (witness) from complainant and on receipt of your nomination as to driver, normal police procedure is to interview driver under caution to get his account of what went on. Once all enquiries completed then file to CPS who will decide whether to run offences at Court i.e. fail to stop, fail to report, due care plus any document offences that also may be dislosed i.e. No Insurance, etc.
There are some serious points involved in offences gestimated so it may be prident to seek legal advice.
dvd
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Interesting user name, isn't that the same as a well known speeding ticket advise group ?.
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They would need a witness for 'drving without due care and attention' mind you someone must have seen it and got his reg number to allow the Met to contact him on the Failing to Stop. Definitely seek pro advise. Regards Peter
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The penalty for failing to stop and w/o due care could include a ban (9 points + 3 points typical, often more).
The penalty for s.172 failing to name the driver is 3 points.
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Interesting user name, isn't that the same as a well known speeding ticket advise group
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if it has not already been taken up on that forum by th o.p., maybe i will join there as "honestjohn".
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The Met letter should contain some information to the effect that they are considering prosecuting you for driving without due care and attention and this should have been in your possession no more than 15 days from the occurrence in the ordinary course of the post and not Second Class. If they haven't done this then they cannot take action for due care. It is a requirement at law.
Disagree DVD an NIP isn't strictly required after aan accident but may be good practice.
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Correct PU
In cases like this I always served NOIP until the facts were established to stop any defence submission on your side as to whether it was a reportable accident under the Act. What stated so far isn't as there is no evidence that damage was caused to the other vehicle involved.
dvd
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A friend of mine has received the exact same while driving his firms van he had no knowledge of the incident ,he then received a letter saying they were taking the case no further both letters seem to have been standard letters.After his firm a very large chemists suppy company took up the matter on his behalf it transpired a driver had reported him of having an accident and driving off which turned out to be an insurance scam but the police will not issue the name and address of the false claiment and is not been prosecuted.
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What a set of drama queens,it is not like he knocked a kid over.
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Drama Queens?
My wife's car was smashed into by a driver who then drove off. Our local police will have sent a letter just like this. Why should we pay the £1000 for someone's carelessness? Or lose our NCD?
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To replace a mirror on my car will be about 150 quid.
Your mobile phone costs about 150 quid,
So if I snatch your mobile phone off you, throw it on the ground and stamp on it thats fine is it?
After all its just a MOBILE PHONE
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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if i can add my two pennorth i lost 3 mirrors in 2004 all on my street all parked sensibly one on the wifes car two on my van nobody stoped nobody cared cost me \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\£200 all in............hang them that fail to leave details i say
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'oldman' two penneth?Sorry to burst your bubble but it is 2006,old time values are gone,you need to move with the times.
You cant leave your door open all day and night any more.
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Omeganoway, are you deliberately going out of your way to be objectionable? Would you talk this way to someone's face?
Oldman was talking about having three mirrors damaged by hit and run drivers. Are you seriously suggesting that that's just the way things are now, so forget it? That way lies anarchy.
V
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8< SNIP 8<
Non motoring comments removed - DD
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Fair argument.BUT if I reported it to the police they would not make a big issue of it like the letter that was sent out.
Mind you.......they would make a big issue of the fact that I did the same to you.
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its alright omeganoway i understand............ and i found one of the culprits myself.............the police werent needed at all................
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DVD, do people ever say thankyou for the advice you give on this forum?
The OP seems to have got his advice and done one. Bit like he did when he clipped the mirror.
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Did you get the money off the toerag om or did you just make him understand that you were offended?
A late friend of mine had just bought a new Ford booted Escort thingy when someone smashed its nearside mirror while it was parked. He was terribly upset. A decent man from Jamaica, he just couldn't understand why someone would do a thing like that.
I can't either.
I hope you gave the guy a real drubbing om.
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Unfortunately these things are happening more and more. A friend has had here micra damaged twice whilst at work - unfortunately has to park on the road. The first time two colleagues witnessed a truck reversing into it. They got the number plate details and it was reported to the police. The driver initially denied it and eventually confessed. He agreed to pay the bill so the police agreed not to prosecute. 6 months now on, he hasn't paid and the police state that it is not their problem now.
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Unfortunately these things are happening more and more
chairmanmatt, i apply your observation to something else - as barchettaman said: "The OP seems to have got his advice and done one. Bit like he did when he clipped the mirror. "
i tend to think on the same wavelength as "union-jack" about these classic questions, but that may not be what neil likes to hear.
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