Got Hit and Run while parked.

[Takumi_Fujiwara]

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.


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?


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!

[DarkPira7e]

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.

[Tcoat]

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.

[Takumi_Fujiwara]

Thank You for the support and advice Darkpira and Tcoat.

[Impureclient]

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.

[humfrz]

Well, that's a shame -

Welcome to the forum -

I have nothing to add.


humfrz

[Dake]

Extortion however is.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

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 ) 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. 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.

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.

[Impureclient]

Originally Posted by Dake

Extortion however is.

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...

Originally Posted by Tcoat

And then they either punch your lights out (or shoot you since they felt threatened)

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.

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Lying rarely works out well.

Tell that to O.J Simpson


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

[xdavidx]

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

[Impureclient]

Originally Posted by xdavidx

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.

[James H]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

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.

"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.

[p1l0t]

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

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[James H]

Originally Posted by p1l0t

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

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

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.