Got Hit and Run while parked.
 

So I recently bought a Toyota 86 on July 4th (Best purchase of my life). I believe around Saturday July 27 or Sunday July 28 my car was side swiped. Unfortunately, on Sunday night I drove the car to work before noticing my car was side swiped. I don't know who the culprit is but I found a suspicious Nissan Altima behind where I was parked.

Anyways here a pic of my 86 and the damages.
https://i.postimg.cc/94JjmtRJ/86-hit-and-run.jpg

After work I went to the police station and filed a report. As I got home I found this Nissan parked near where I had left my 86 the night before. Do you think it's him?
Should I even bother filing for an insurance claim and just pay for the damages out of pocket?
https://i.postimg.cc/wyLZtX3C/Niisan...it-and-Run.jpg

A little background about me:
This is my first car I bought brand new. Most cars I've owned where hand-me-down FWD automatics from family members. I've been with progressive for 7 years and never filed a claim. I need your advice. As for the car well I love it. In fact while i was working my 10 hour shift, I couldn't stop thinking about my 86. I had chest pains all day but I'm o.k. Funny thing is I was never like this with my other cars. Guess I'm a car enthusiast now!

Get a quote to see what the repair cost would be. If it's not more than triple your deductible, I would pay out of pocket.

Even if it were that guy, if you can't prove it you'll be wasting your time. If they didn't have the conscience to leave their insurance information, they won't own up to it when confronted.

I think there is little doubt that he is the one that hit you but proving it may be a different matter.
It should be a comprehensive claim that would not impact your premium but you may want to check that out before making a claim. That repair will be well over most deductibles so paying out of pocket may be expensive. If you go the out of pocket way when you get quotes make sure they understand that you are paying not the insurance company since it is usually much cheaper.

Thank You for the support and advice Darkpira and Tcoat.

I'd try this. It's a little bit of lying but might work: First get a quick estimate for damages or just guess since time is important here. Find the owner and be very short tempered with this conversation and get
out of there quick like you have to be somewhere. Say your dash cams(rear in your case like a Rexing V1p) caught him hitting you after you had reviewed over the data and realized their car has the culprit.
Say you already made a police report. Now this is where it gets tricky.
You say you'll be willing to let him pay out of pocket for $XXX and not involve insurance companies if he agrees. Right then and there you'll probably know if it was him/her if they either totally deny it and act
like your crazy or if they act a little like a deer in the headlights for a second or two. If it turns out it wasn't them then you just apologize, tell them you had to give it a try and and walk away. Lying isn't illegal.

Well, that's a shame - :(

Welcome to the forum - :clap:

I have nothing to add.


humfrz

Extortion however is.

And then they either punch your lights out (or shoot you since they felt threatened) or counter with they have video of you backing into them. Lying rarely works out well.


Although approaching the owner in a calm manner and simply asking "is it possible you hit my car and didn't realize it?" may actually be all the nudge they need to come clean with you.

If they did hit and run, you think they are going to go to the police and report a claim of extortion? If they aren't guilty, they'll walk away and that's the end of it.
If somebody did the same to you, would you take it as far as calling the police. Unless it's a just happens to be a police officer's Altima, it's probably a safe bet to try it out.
If they actually pushed it further(not going to happen) since they aren't the guilty party, you just say you made a mistake since it was a silver Altima that was on video and still walk away.
They might have a little difficulty(really difficult to prove in reality) proving you said what they say you did.
Tcoat says they'll attack here which is doubtful but the point is not just rolling over and having your own insurance pay for it. Whether it's lie and say you know they did it or just try to
coerce a guilty admission, it is better than letting them get away with it if you are pretty sure it was them. If you are a little frail dude and the Altima owner is a 6'6" biker maybe don't try my method...

LOL that will be a first. Not many people in NJ carrying a gun at all. Probably like about 0.0001% since conceal carry is practically illegal there. Currently 1212 people are licensed to carry in the whole State.If they are illegally carrying, them pulling a gun out because you said they hit your car are slim to none and more on the side of none. Like I said, if they are some huge hulking dude, maybe that method isn't best if OP doesn't think he can defend a surprise attack.
If it was me the only way I'm rolling over here is if the Altima owner is some massive crazy looking dude that looks like he has nothing to live for. And even then I'd still take the "maybe you hit my car" approach.

Tell that to O.J Simpson :D


Edit: Just figured it out and it it really is .00013618% of the population in NJ that is legally concealed carrying. Good guess.

Several years ago, I had something similar happen though it was a tad more clear cut.


I was living in an apartment complex with assigned spaces. I came out and saw my rear bumper had been side swiped. I also saw the pos dodge charger with scrapes all over it, but it had one that was perfectly placed and colored to have been what hit my car. Now, I had no proof of this.



As I was out looking at the car, the girl who owned the dodge was coming out to leave. She was clearly severely hungover. She tried to deny it, but luckily the guy she took home at the time was there also and made her fess up to it. Once she admitted it, then she is on the hook now matter what and that's really all you can do here. Try to get them to admit it and get their insurance information; also take pictures of both vehicles damages. Getting the insurance info will be key later in supporting your claim that they admitted fault. This women then denied it to her insurance company and they said they wouldn't pay until she confirmed. I called MY insurance company and explained this to them. They called back in 30 minutes saying her insurance company will be paying for repairs at the shop and parts of my choosing. I think there needs to be threat of lawsuit if they fail to pay and it's hard to deny given the damage to both vehicles and why would she have provided her insurance if she was not involved.



I don't suggest making up stories and being mean about it, but rather try to make them feel guilty. Especially if this is a neighbor who will see you regularly and they will have to live with the shame. If you're mean, they will feel like they are justified to screw you. Start off explaining how much you loved this car and how you spent every penny you saved for many years just to get it and you can't afford to fix it if the person who did it doesn't own up to it with their insurance company. Don't directly accuse them, but do say you noticed they were parked there and had a similar scrape. Let them see how crushed you look at the thought of not being able to repair the damage... let the guilt eat them up until they say... ok, yes it was me and then ask for insurance card asap - snap a photo. If that doesn't work, then by all means lie and intimidate :)

Or maybe just attack them first them and when they are lying on the ground bloody you ask them if they hit your car. If not get out of there quick.

"If they aren't guilty, they'll walk away and that's the end of it." I don't think so. If they are innocent, what you did will come across to them as fraud and extortion. Now think for a second how you would react if a stranger comes up to you and said you hit their car and they want money?? First thing that comes to mind is fraud. I would call the cops right away to file a case and protect myself.
You can be charged. It's a fishing expedition and not a smart thing to do.

There is paint transfer. They can test the paints to see if they match.

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The police will not do that because no injuries or death and the damage is likely below $1,000. You have been watching too much CSI.
And even if the paint matches, it just proves at some point in time, that Nissan hit a Toyota. Still have to prove in a court of law that it's your car. Paint has no DNA. :sigh:

That was the case with my hit and run. Had to pay my deductible but didn't count against me. So just check with you insurance but don't see why it wouldn't be the same.

This will depend on how much insurance has to pay out for the repair. If it goes over a certain threshold, it will count against you. You can ask the insurance company what that threshold is and sometimes they will tell you (though sometimes the person you ask doesn't know correctly and gives you the wrong number).

Just walking away:
https://www.worldstarhiphop.com/vide...X6V9PgzO8NHtue
This is just a 5 second Youtube search. He wasn't guilty and that old guy was REALLY lying. You think that old guy is behind bars right now?

Maybe everybody is right, just bend over let em' stick it in and break it off? If my car is hit and I see what is most likely the culprit, I'm not letting them off so easy.
This isn't a Lawyers website giving out legal advice, we're just talking car stuff. I am just giving my opinion on what I'd personally do. I'd take the risk of the Altima owner fessing up.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/uYffljMqX1EHe/giphy.gif

Subaru. It is Subaru paint.

Your opinion sucks!


Lying and aggression is not a way that anybody should deal with a situation like this and even if they were guilty they would probably deny it after being attacked.


Not a matter of "bending over and taking" anything. Is a matter of honesty and decent human interaction. Preaching deceit and aggression is probably the Florida way though.

DASH CAM
Front and back
That is all.

https://www.aflab.com/paint-transfer-car-accident/

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Could probably have the car fixed three times for what that would cost you!

In some states the tax payers eat it.

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Like was said I highly doubt there are many local or state police that are going to send paint samples in for analysis on a hit and run fender bender. I know for a fact they would laugh in your face if you asked them to here. I doubt the situation is better in New Jersey.
It sucks that somebody that does that get's away with it but this is the real world where that shit happens.

This. They're good piece of mind. I got one with front and rear cameras during prime day sales for 80 bucks shipped with our Canadian monopoly money.


Even has shock sensors for situations like this.

If a Canadian thinks they will laugh in your face, in NJ you will probably get cement shoes just for suggesting it.

this is not true at all, a hit and run is a no fault accident and will not cause a rate increase.

In CT they will.

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Not for a fender bender they won't.


Gotta love that the paint database they use is Canadian!


https://portal.ct.gov/DESPP/Division...elcome-Message


Examiners are asked to analyze paint evidence from cases which usually evolve from hit-and-run incidents or other related investigations. They participate in a collaborative effort in maintaining the Paint Data Query (PDQ) database which is housed and overseen by the Canadian Royal Mounted Police (CRMP). State and local law enforcement agencies investigating hit-and-run homicides and other cases rely on the Chemistry Unit’s accessibility to, and expertise within, the PDQ database. The PDQ contains approximately 20,000 samples of paint systems, which represent over 74,000 individual paint samples from vehicles dating from 1960 to the present. This database assists law enforcement agents in their investigations of cases by providing the list of possible years, models and makes as the source of evidentiary paint samples. The primary instrumental techniques used for paint is a combination of microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR).

Only time it doesn't count against you is if 1) it is the other insurance company paying (other party fault) or 2) it is below the $ threshold that company has to determine if it will count against you. Even then, if you have enough claims that are not your fault or cheap, they will start increasing your rates as you will be considered higher risk. Insurance rates are more complex than the old myths we have all come to believe.


The $ threshold creates a lot of confusion as it varies by company and claim type. One guy may have a hit and run and it does $3k damage and his rates don't go up. Another may have a hit and run and it does $3,001 and his rates will be increased. First guy assumes hit and run / no fault doesn't increase rates and posts that on internet forums, four other guys had the same experience and confirm, and then everyone thinks that. A year later, the other guy is like WTF caused my rate to spike?

your state could be different but here in PA and where he is in Jersey it is a no fault and threshold does not apply, those people could have had it reported incorrectly. I am a Pennsylvania licensed auto appraiser and run a body shop.

Insurance in general causes a lot of confusion! There are very, very few "rules" that apply to everybody equally. Location, company and type of policy are what set what applies to each individual. A person in the same location and with the same company but a slightly different policy can have different requirements or payouts. It is a very individual business so when people start applying what happened to them it could be totally meaningless to anybody else.

It's actually ANY hit-and-run in CT but I don't think he is from CT anyway. Besides they might break down just from the cop asking them anyway, you never know.

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Your tax bills must be atrocious!


Yep. He filed a report and he has a "suspect". A call to the cops to see if they will even come out would be in order.

I backed into one of my own cars a couple of years ago and dinged up the rear corner pretty good and broke the tail light. I bought a tail light, and was going to try to fix it myself but there was too much to it, so I got a quote from a repair place, gave them the tail light and they fixed it. I also filed a claim with my insurer. When I went to pay the shop, they were weirdly surprised when I gave them the check. They did not expect an insurance check and thought I was paying out of pocket. They seemed oddly miffed.


Now I know why.

IF that is the case I can tell you State Farm pays at least $8100 and doesn't have it go against you.

Didn't have time to go through this whole thread.

I'll just say it's super worthwhile to spend $300-400 on a decent 2-channel dashcam.

I recently got a Blackvue 750s 2-ch and no kidding, within a month someone backed into my front bumper at work. They didn't leave their info either, but thanks to the dashcam I had all the proof that I needed.

Their insurance covered my deductible even though I went through my own insurance. I'm also still working on getting estimates for a diminished value claim.

But that dashcam was a life-saver. At the very least it's around the cost of my deductible, so it pretty much pays for itself.

Hope you can get things figured out!

My taxes are insane.

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Years ago a girlfriend of mine had her car sideswiped like this, so I went around the parking lot looking for paint transfer with my Polaroid (that should give you an idea how long ago it was). I found the likely culprit parked behind a hair salon adjacent to the apartment building and very conspicuously started taking photographs.

Within a couple of minutes I heard a girl going into the back door of the salon yell, "Hey, some guy's taking pictures of your car out here." Immediately the owner flew out the door shrieking that I didn't have the right to take pictures of her car and threatening to call the police. I sent her into a higher level of hysteria by taking a Polaroid of her also and went back to my girlfriend's place to call the cops myself. Today I would have recorded a funny video of her freaking out on my cell phone.

The cop showed up, looked at both cars and said, "If she won't own up to it, there's nothing I can do without a witness. Let me go talk to her and see what happens."

About ten minutes later he came back and said, "Well, she admitted it, so we'll write this up as her fault." He had her insurance card and driver's license with him, so my girlfriend never had to even deal with her.

Another time one of my neighbors backed his blue boat (on a trailer) into my red truck, then parked it and pretended nothing happened. Blue paint on my truck. Red paint on his boat.

Cop came out and said it was obvious what happened, but he wasn't all that enthusiastic about talking with the guy. He went downstairs and came right back up saying the guy denied it, and without a witness there was nothing the cop could do. So I had to eat that one.

The moral of the story is call the police and have them make a report. You might get lucky and get a cop actually willing to do his job. You might not. The person who hit you might be dumb enough to admit it. Might not. Trying it loses you nothing.

With my truck, the guy all but admitted it to me later when he thought I had retaliated when I hadn't. He was a little too paranoid about retribution. After some other nonsense with this idiot, I eventually did get even. But even though I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations has long since run out, I'll keep that to myself.

Recently Scott Adams (of Dilbert fame) had Dr. Stephen Hsu, a genetic testing expert, on his podcast. Dr. Hsu has a startup aimed at cutting the cost of testing of genetic crime scene evidence by about 90%. He said that there are 100,000 rape kits going back more than a decade in backlog for DNA testing around the United States.

100,000...

RAPE kits...

... that state and local governments haven't had the budget to test.

And somebody thinks they'll send off paint for analysis for a fender bender?