Latchmere Rd Car crash 11/2/14: Appeal for witnesses Post Reply

[Erykah]

I was the driver of a virtually stationary blue VW golf that was hit by a speeding police car trying to overtake me on the right at 3.30pm yesterday afternoon.

I was indicating to turn right from Latchmere Rd into Amies Street when I heard a police siren. Before I had a chance to even look the police car had come from behind and smashed into the right side of the bonnet.

The car spun in the road and mercifully was hit by any other cars. Miraculously my children (3 and 1) were unhurt. I have a minor head injury.
At the time a woman with short dark hair and a tatoo on her arm helped my son out of the car while I rescued my daughter. She said she had seen the incident and that it was the fault of the police. In the shock of the incident I didn't take her name.

The police are now disputing liability over the insurance claim and i have no record of witness. My neighbour met another unknown man who had seen it and was angry at the police, but again we do not know who he is.

It was also the opinion of the ambulance staff who attended that I was not at faul, based on their experience of driving at speed with a blue light.

If anyone has any information that would help, please could you contact me by email rather than pm and let me know on this site that you have done so.

Many thanks

[Erykah]

bump

[Erykah]

anyone?

[TillyandMoo]

Have you checked for cctv? There are cameras along lavender hill which I used when a bus rammed into me so there may well be some on latchmere rd.

[Erykah]

Thanks. How would I go about accessing that?

[TillyandMoo]

Contact the council and they should be able to help. I didn't access it personally but it was done by the insurance company but the council are in charge of the cctv I'm sure.

Anyone else know?

[jess169]

Latchmere Road is a red route so if there are any cameras they'll belong to tfl rather than the council.

Good luck.

[AbbevilleMummy]

Your insurance company should be the ones investigating the liability, you shouldn't have to do this yourself.

I'm in a similar situation where someone hit my car but are not accepting liability and its being investigated by my insurance co. They have every incentive to investigate it fully as they obviously want to reduce their pay out.

Good luck, I know how stressful this is.

[Erykah]

They are investigating it, its just frustrating that according to them the police are still disputing liability so we can't move forward in free car hire. However some lovely friends have lent us a car with car seats suitable for our kids for the weekend so we can go shopping for a new car.
Neighbours and friends have been so supportive. I love the Shaftesbury estate community!

[mmb]

Hi, sorry I'm not a witness but I am a personal injury solicitor. I've just had a look at some case law and most of the time when a collision occurs with an emergency vehicle there is a split of liability, although sometimes it is held that the emergency driver is 100% liable.
It would be better if you had some witnesses to support your version but it is not absolutely essential; if you don't then it is your word against to police driver and there is no reasons why the police driver's version should be preferred to yours. It depends on the circumstances and on the basis of what you've said I would think that you/your insurer can recover at least part of the damages, if not 100%.
If you want to talk in more details or consider making a claim for your injury and/or losses, please contact me by pm.

[papinian]

if you don't then it is your word against to police driver and there is no reasons why the police driver's version should be preferred to yours

At this stage, most reasonable people would not believe testimony from a serving policeman or policewoman. We've seen lie after lie told under oath.

Good luck to Erykah.

[Erykah]

Thanks for both your responses.
I know at least 2 people witnessed the accident and apparently a senior police officer from Lavender Hill police station told my husband at the time that he arrived that it was not my fault. But nothing is on record. We just didn't think.

[Mrs Contractor Mum]

Did you get details of the ambulance staff or know which hospital they attended from? The hospital should keep a record of who attended and they may be able to give a witness statement. Appreciate they did not see the actual event but they may be able to provide an expert opinion.

Hope you and your children are ok?

[Erykah]

Yes, I have those details so we could go down that route if we need to

[mr f]

Hi Erykah - I have sent you a couple of emails regarding this thread.