Conference terri::cars_uk

does anyone know the legal consequences of not stopping after an accident 
involving an injury (aka hit-&-run)? (nor reporting it soon after)

cheers...

...art

ps. no, it wasn't me

    According to the DVLA INS 62 document (you know,the one you get when
    you've been a naughty boy ;-)) it says:
    
    Description.				Points.
    ------------				-------
    Failing to stop after an accident		5-9	8-10 (for 
    Failing to give particulars or to report		offences
    	an accident within 24hours		4-9	commited on
    							or after 1-3-89)
    Undefined accident offences			4-9
    
    Also it says you can also be done for:
    
    AIDING,ABETTING,COUNSELLING,PROCURING,CAUSING,PERMITTING and INCITING.
    
    So which one was you then ;-)

You must stop, and if there is personal injury it must be reported to the
police.

So, if you do neither, can you get two lots of "8-10 points", or would it count
as one offence?

Scott

�You must stop, and if there is personal injury it must be reported to the
�police.
    
    Isn't it also true that if you run over a dog, that you must report
    that to the Police ?  Do same points apply if you do not ?
    
    J.R.

    people who knowingly commit a hit&run should be banned for life..........
    
    Flying Dutchman
    

    According to the law you must report any accident to the police, but if
    you go round to your local police station they won't be interested if
    there is nothing else unusual.  So if you do some damage and don't stop
    and tell the owner *and* don't tell the police then you're liable to be
    summonsed for both failing to give your details to the owner and the
    police.  I know this 'cause it happend to me.
    
    I don't think that there is a special difference (legally) between
    hurting someone or not in an accident, but the police will usually take
    special interest when someone is, and not be interested when there
    isn't.
    
    Rob

>>    I don't think that there is a special difference (legally) between
>>    hurting someone or not in an accident, but the police will usually take
>>    special interest when someone is, and not be interested when there
>>    isn't.
    
I understood that if someone was injured (in any way) then the
Police *must* be informed within 24 hours of the incident. The
Police hold separate files for incidents which involve injury and
which don't.

Steve

    Re .8
    
    Yes, you must stop if you hit a dog, I would say points would apply if
    you didn't!  This doesn't apply to Cats and other vermin through,
    thats why Cats and my car have a *special* understanding! 8-)
    
    ..Craig

    >  This doesn't apply to Cats and other vermin through,
    				      ------------
    
    The person who stole my car radio had better watch out then! :^|
    
    Mark

    > WARNUT::HARRISC "Not very nice at all"
    
    
    You're right, you're not.
    
    Lisa.
    

	I was actually informed by a Policeman chappie (I went to school
	with him but he doesn't hold it against me :-)) that you no longer
	have to report an accident involving a dog.

	This only applied when there was a dog license - no license; no 
	reason to stop.

	Mind you - If I squished a dog I'd have to stop to see if it was
	alright and then to throw-up.

�	This only applied when there was a dog license - no license; no 
�	reason to stop.
    
    
    I was under the impression that a dog license still existed,
    but that it was usually ignored.
    
    Was it actually 'done away with' ?
    
    It was, of course, more trouble than it was worth.
    
    J.R.

    >According to the law you must report any accident to the police, but if
    >you go round to your local police station they won't be interested if

    Which law is this then ?  I believed that only accidents involving
    injury or damage to property need to be reported.  I'm sure the
    police would have difficulty coping with the 50,000 accidents a
    day (source of info: Drive and Survice instructor) that do happen.
        
    TP

    My understanding is that if involved in an accident, a driver:
    
     1. Must stop.
    
     2. Must give his name and address to anyone with reasonable grounds
    for requiring it. Note you are not obliged to give any insurance
    details, for instance.
    
     3. If there is personal injury, the police must be called.
    
     4. If having stopped, you are unable, for any reason, to provide your
    name and address to persons with reasonable grounds etc., then you must
    report the accident to the Police within 24 hours.
    
    Note that 3 is calling the police to the accident; they are very
    interested in personal injury accidents, less so with others unless
    there is demonstrable naughtyness.
    
    A dog is a possession, and subject to the same protections in law as
    other possessions, such as fences and cattle. I seem to recall that
    working dogs, such as sheepdogs, never had to have licences anyway. But
    you still have to stop, and give name and address, and if you can't,
    report to the plods.
    
    Steve

    re -2 
    
    I had an accident where I hit a garden wall - the owner wasn't in and I
    left, intending to come back later that day.  The police visited me a
    couple of hours later...
    
    I got summonsed for failing to report the accident to the police
    (no-one was hurt) AND failing to leave my details with the owner (even
    though I left my number plate was in his garden!).  My local lawyer
    looked up the details and told me that as the law is written any
    accidents where someone elses property is damaged must be reported to
    the police.
    
    Now the police would be swamped with paperwork if they enforced this
    law, they have common sense and know that it would be a waste of money.
    
    Rob                                       

>    Now the police would be swamped with paperwork if they enforced this
>    law, they have common sense and know that it would be a waste of money.
 

Would you feel the same way if it was your property that was damaged?


Ian

    re -1
    
    I don't understand the point - can you explain?
    
    Where there are so many accidents that those involved sort it out
    between themselves what could be the advantage of telling the police?
                                                           
    Rob

    looking at .14, who'd want to buy an accident? 
    
    :-)
    
    Re car phones, a colleague had reason to report another driver the
    other day Discussing this point, he was told by the police that
    using a car phone on the move is NOT an offence, but if it was
    contributory to dangerous driving then it would be taken into account.
    
    Richard

    re:19
    
    >2. Must give his name & address to anyone.....not obliged to give
    >insurance details...
    
    I was under the impression that you must give name and insurance
    details. You are not obliged to give your address. You are required, by
    law, to have insurance. You do not have to have an address!!
    
    Colin
    

    You are obliged to give insurance details to a police officer on
    request, or if not available on the spot, produce within five days at
    the nick of your choice. You are not obliged to have an address, but it
    is difficult to maintain a car legally without. For instance, when you
    buy it, the form goes to DVLC, who update the computer record, and send
    out a new registration document. Without an address, where do they send
    it? How does your insurance company communicate if you have no address?
    
    Bear in mind that the address does not have to be your home; it is a
    contact address. I have used my business card before, and the plods
    have been perfectly happy with that; it is an address where I can be
    contacted.
    
    I continue to maintain that address, but not insurance deatails, is
    required. But if anybody has a Highway Code in the office, perhaps they
    could check?
    
    Steve

       If you are involved in an accident
   -   which causes damage or injury to any other person, or other
       vehicle, or any animal (horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat
       or dog) not in your vehicle, or roadside property:

       You MUST
   -   stop;
   -   give your own and the the vehicle owner's name and address and the
       registration mark of the vehicle to anyone having reasonable
       grounds to require them;
   -   if you do not give your name and address to any such person at the
       time, report the accident to the police as soon as reasonably
       practicable, and in any case within 24 hours;
       if anyone is injured and you do not produce your certificate of
       insurance at the time to the police or to anyone who has with
       reasonable grounds required its production, report the accident to
       the police as soon as possible, and in any case within 24 hours.

       	RTA 1972  RTA 1974

       Ian.

�    You are obliged to give insurance details to a police officer on
�    request, or if not available on the spot, produce within five days at
�    the nick of your choice. You are not obliged to have an address, but it
    
    I believe that it is seven days now (for production of driving license,
    MOT and insurance documents).  I could be wrong, but Plod will let you
    know when he hands you the slip of paper.
    
    J.R.