Advice regarding recent road rage incident

[MJ]

I'd just like to say that I'm not saying the old bill are gonna roll up mob deep and knock his front door down but I'd be very surprised, from my own experience if they didn't follow it up and did nothing at all given they have his reg and address.

[betty_swollox]

Just out of interest, how do you know that the damage to your car was not caused earlier in the day wherever it was parked up. Amazed you did not feel the impact however small it may have been been

Obviously we are only hearing your side of the story, it seems he was mightily pissed off with something he thinks you did to him

Just playing devils advocate so please do not take any offence

These are all things he may use in defence

You'd be surprised at how angry some people get over nothing mate

[garrardrj]

I'd just like to say that I'm not saying the old bill are gonna roll up mob deep and knock his front door down but I'd be very surprised, from my own experience if they didn't follow it up and did nothing at all given they have his reg and address.

Take it from me that the Police will look at the evidence , they don't follow up everything is the first thing you need to know . Secondly a possible for the car/index were obtained 2 weeks after an incident that wasn't reported , thirdly the OP is obliged to report the accident when he found the damage to his car and he didn't . It is a similar car to the one that was involved in the original incident , where is the proof that it is ? There is none , if the car was a mk2 rs2000 or a e type yes a possibility but a white mazda ! Get some actual evidence , ie the car is damaged on its nearside .

Then if they are going to prosecute the mazda driver then they also have to prosecute the OP as he has also not complied with the law

OP - How do you actually know it was the car ? My mum has a white mazda , and she is sh*t at driving  

Now with all that mentioned above - They will not take the matter further - Take it from me i have experience in these things through my previous employment  

Another Edit ! I have re read the original post and also see that there were two people in the Mazda - Likely that the two people will say the same thing whether its the truth or not and this could lead to a false allegation from their part , to protect themselves

[DDM]

Hi mate, firstly sorry to hear what happened. as far as there being 2 people in the other car, this won't help them, the extra person cannot be classed as an independant witness. so it's still basically him against you. i'm sure if your straight with the police and tell them the truth which i'm sure you've done so far they'll entertain your complaint, what will go in your favour will be your the one reporting the matter and not him, that's hoping he hasn't already stating simular about you, and if the signs of the impact are found on his car i think you have a fair to good chance imo. good luck.

[andyR43]

Going on one step further to reporting it to the police where are you hoping to go from there?

If you think a telling off from the police will make him think carefully about his actions, I very much doubt it .

If you are hoping to claim on his insurance to cover the costs of your repair you will have to inform your insurance.

If you inform your insurance UP goes your insurance premium next year. 

I, personally, would look at other ways of dealing with the issue. 

[berg]

Having also experience of such things through my employment I agree with garrard, no way would lead to anything by reporting to the police.

However, if you can get photographic evidence and is there any paint transfer on his vehicle? You could report to insurer for notification purposes only but run his VRM through MIDIS and ring his insurer and advise you wish to claim for damage.

He will then deny but you can invite his insurer to inspect both vehicles for a consistency report. Any engineer worth his salt will be able to tell you whether the two areas of damage are consistent, if yes then his insurer pays for damage and hopefully his premium increases

[garrardrj]

Hi mate, firstly sorry to hear what happened. as far as there being 2 people in the other car, this won't help them, the extra person cannot be classed as an independant witness. so it's still basically him against you. i'm sure if your straight with the police and tell them the truth which i'm sure you've done so far they'll entertain your complaint, what will go in your favour will be your the one reporting the matter and not him, that's hoping he hasn't already stating simular about you, and if the signs of the impact are found on his car i think you have a fair to good chance imo. good luck.

The only way the OP can report this incident legally is "As soon as reasonably practicable"  after the event , this would be when he found the damage . The OP did not and therefore he has failed to report an accident . The OP was on his own and would give one statement about the matter , the two other witnesses (in the Mazda) would give their side of the story too . Who would be deemed to be the victim here ? Who do you believe ? There are no independent witnesses so no action would be taken by the Police/CPS .
Many times have the guilty party called the police and stated they have been hit by an offending vehicle and it turns out to be incorrect even though using DDM's logic that they called the police first , no true . The Call , whoever it is from starts an investigation (of sorts)  .

If there is damage on the suspects car how can it be deduced who hit who without independent witnesses , it can't , Still no Case for the CPS

The OP will need to report the matter to his insurance company whatever he does as far as the police are concerned , will the OP do that ?

I used to specialise in the Police in everything pertaining to Motor Vehicles from Road Traffic Collisions (used to be Accidents!) to examining vehicles for construction and use offences , Stolen vehicle examinations , examining RTC sites after fatal accidents , liasing and visiting insurers , repair centres , working with the VOSA/DVLA , prosecuting all manner of people in Magistrates and Crown courts and can be used as a Professional witness in cases (If you pay the fee  ) etc etc , I did alot of this for around 24 years 

[betty_swollox]

Tbf I think the OP should have reported this on the day, even tho he didn't have the reg. he had a description of the vehicle and knew which road he had been driving on. Obv I agree with the above that there's very little that the police can do

[biffobear]

Go roud one night, wipe dog poo on his car door handles and ram a big potato up his exhaust

[ILoveTuna]

Damage had to be done before, I clipped a parked car last year and heard it. Two cars at 30 mph would be a massive noise.

Still doesn't excuse the driving thou pop round and give his car a polish... 

[jonnym]

Hi mate, firstly sorry to hear what happened. as far as there being 2 people in the other car, this won't help them, the extra person cannot be classed as an independant witness. so it's still basically him against you. i'm sure if your straight with the police and tell them the truth which i'm sure you've done so far they'll entertain your complaint, what will go in your favour will be your the one reporting the matter and not him, that's hoping he hasn't already stating simular about you, and if the signs of the impact are found on his car i think you have a fair to good chance imo. good luck.

Cut

 I did alot of this for around 24 years 

Off topic....but lucky man!! 

[Matto]

So have been sitting back to see how this thread panned out with other peoples' opinons and ideas etc. There are some valid point and that is why I posted to gain some knowledge and advice.

Just to clear up a few things though, after seeing the car in question again it was most definitely the same car as I recognised the reg. Also as he spent a fair bit of time up close and personal with my rear bumper I got a good look at make, model and colour but far too close to see the number plate.

The reason I paid no attention to his number plate the first time round is I thought it had not done anything. People say I should have felt it but this was not the case. His NS rear end scuffed my OF front end so for those saying that it was me that hit him I just don't get it. Plus witht he bumper being plastic and reasonably flexible I am almost certain you'd be doing very well to feel a graze.

I believe alot of the damage will polish out. It seems it has just left his plastics and paint on mine. I am yet to sort it as I want a proper detailer to sort it for me. Not worth going through the insurance for what it is.

I had basically given up on the fact that I would never see his car again so would have no chance of tracing it. My original question was is it worth doing something about it this late on? Obviously there are 'other' options which I have considered as it really got to me once i had had chance to think things over. I had never come across driving like it and a part of me wanted to retaliate in someway as I couldn't let him get away with it.

I am a a curteous and considerate driver and don't go around driving like a dick. I would be interested as to what made him so angry that he felt the need to drive like he did. Maybe he just didn't like the fact someone overtook him? I ride a motorbike also and see this all the time when filtering.

I do know nothing would probably come of anything whether I reported it or now, that is why I was after some help on the matter. Its done now but it was only by chance I spotted the car again that sparked me into wanting to know what I could do, if anythig.

[bigeyd]

Report it,you might be preventing some other innocent driver being hit by this goon

[betty_swollox]

I am a a curteous and considerate driver and don't go around driving like a dick. I would be interested as to what made him so angry that he felt the need to drive like he did. Maybe he just didn't like the fact someone overtook him?

Get that all the time mate, i wouldnt worry about it. I overtook a cooper S on the way to work. Next thing I know he comes flying up and then goes into my lane at a roundabout. you can go straight ahead in both lanes, right lane was clear, he just wanted to cut me up before I turned left at the roundabout!!!!


Just gotta let it go over your head, some people have a superiority complex and can't let someone else "get one over them"

[betty_swollox]

Report it,you might be preventing some other innocent driver being hit by this goon

How will that help though?


They're not going to follow the bloke 24/7.

There's no evidence.

No witnesses.

I agree with you, i would probably report it, but its not going to prevent anything else happening.