If you drive into a parked car in your Land Rover turbo, make sure you stop and leave your details or you could find you face criminal damages if you fail to do so and are later caught by the police.
Figures from Gocompare.com have just revealed that 1.7 million drivers have in fact driven into a stationery vehicle and then fled the scene of the accident without leaving their name, address, contact number and insurance details.
The worst culprits in this regard were found to be younger drivers and men. Of those aged between 25 and 34, 14 per cent admitted to driving away after hitting another car. In all, eight per cent of men had done this, compared with five per cent of women.
Matt Oliver, car insurance spokesman for Gocompare.com, said: “Accidents happen, especially in busy streets and car parks. But, if you damage someone else’s vehicle – whether it’s a small scratch or major dent – you should always stop and leave your details. While it may be tempting to just drive away, it’s illegal to do so, no matter how minor the damage.”
If you fail to leave your details at the scene of the accident for whatever reason, you need to report the incident to the police as soon as you can and within 24 hours of the accident.
Were you to have bumped your car into something that wasn’t another vehicle, supply your insurance details to any third party who may want to pursue a claim against you. You should also let the police know if you’ve damaged council property but don’t know who to tell.