Damage to my car in the parking lot of my complex...the perpetrator WILL be held accountable...(RANT)

[cherrytwist]

Yesterday I came outside to find a deep scratch in the bumper of my '02 GTI :|. It was clear to me what had happened based on the location of my car and the scratch. Somebody had backed their car out and turned too sharply, their right front bumper scratching the fender/bumper on my driver's side.

Before going to the police to file a report, I wanted to have some evidence. This morning as my car warmed up, a quick scan of the parking lot revealed a maroon sedan with a black streak of paint on the right corner of their front bumper :Q. Immediately I went inside and took pictures of the perpetrator's car and the damage done to my car.

I called the police and asked about how to handle this in a civil manner. The woman I spoke to indicated that I should come to the station to file a police report. An officer will then contact the perpetrator and/or pay them a visit. This seems to be the best way to handle the situation.

I know a lot of guys would cut out the middleman and go straight to the source, but I want the law on my side in this one. This person cannot be trusted. Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in itself, let alone the damage done to my car and the lengths I have to go to to have it fixed. The damage (a nice 8" scratch, cracked plastic on the lower part of the bumper) isn't really the issue.

The issue is accountability. Wtf has happened to people?

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: cherrytwist
Yesterday I came outside to find a deep scratch in the bumper of my '02 GTI :|. It was clear to me what had happened based on the location of my car and the scratch. Somebody had backed their car out and turned too sharply, their right front bumper scratching the fender/bumper on my driver's side.

Before going to the police to file a report, I wanted to have some evidence. This morning as my car warmed up, a quick scan of the parking lot revealed a maroon sedan with a black streak of paint on the right corner of their front bumper :Q. Immediately I went inside and took pictures of the perpetrator's car and the damage done to my car.

I called the police and asked about how to handle this in a civil manner. The woman I spoke to indicated that I should come to the station to file a police report. An officer will then contact the perpetrator and/or pay them a visit. This seems to be the best way to handle the situation.

I know a lot of guys would cut out the middleman and go straight to the source, but I want the law on my side in this one. This person cannot be trusted. Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in itself, let alone the damage done to my car and the lengths I have to go to to have it fixed. The damage (a nice 8" scratch, cracked plastic on the lower part of the bumper) isn't really the issue.

The issue is accountability. Wtf has happened to people?

dang It's good that you found the guy though. Most people never do

 

[guyver01]

dont get your cherry's in a twist... let the police handle it. the person might not even know they dinged your bumper.

 

[Quixfire]

If it is a private parking lot, aka an apartment complex, there maybe little the police can do, since it isn't on public grounds. You may end up settling with your apartment's insurance company or small claims court.

 

[rudeguy]

I dont know how it works where you are, but in michigan its no fault...if I get hit in a parking lot, or in the middle of the street, it doesnt matter..my insurance still has to cover for it...the only thing i could really sue for would be the deductible

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Beats what happened to my brother in law:

He got hit on a side and had major damage. He got it fixed via insurance. 2 DAYS later, some old guy in a van takes out the same part of the car. Luckily someone watched it happen and recorded a plate, the guy KNEW that he hit him. The cops get involved and find out it's some 90 year old guy, they'd rather not charge him with a hit and run, but are able to get the insurance info. The body shop was like "wtf? I thought we fixed this car."

 

[Jzero]

The issue is accountability. Wtf has happened to people?

Maybe you got the wrong guy. Maybe he didn't realize he hit you. Maybe he did and didn't realize the extent of the damage. Not everyone is malicious or trying to shirk responsibility.

 

[Alternex]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
If it is a private parking lot, aka an apartment complex, there maybe little the police can do, since it isn't on public grounds. You may end up settling with your apartment's insurance company or small claims court.

Really? Since when did the police only get involved if the event happened on public property? What if a pedestrian was hit and the driver sped away, will the police say "hey that wasn't on public property, fill a civil suit?"

 

[cherrytwist]

Maybe you got the wrong guy. Maybe he didn't realize he hit you. Maybe he did and didn't realize the extent of the damage. Not everyone is malicious or trying to shirk responsibility.

Maybe I did get the wrong guy. However, the marks match perfectly. I'd post the pics, but I"m at work.

There is really no feasible way the guy didn't realize he hit my car. Like I said, the plastic "skirt" on the bottom of the bumper is cracked...as well as the 8" scratch straight through the clearcoat. Judging from how hard the plastic is, there would have to be quite an impact to crack it.

He may have thought there was no damage, but that's my whole point. If I hit somebody's car in the parking lot, I'm gonna get out and check. If there is damage, I'd leave a note or wait for the person.

 

[KC5AV]

I witnessed an accident on a Wal-Mart parking lot. The guy that got hit had no insurance. The girl that hit him was 17 and driving her brand new car. The police told them that they could only file a report if both of them wanted a report filed since it was on private property, and if they filed a report, both of them would be getting tickets. Suddenly, neither of them wanted a report filed.

The thing is, since you didn't actually see this person hit your car, you have no proof. I mean, you could have the paint tested by a lab to see if it matches, but you'd probably be responsible for the cost. It may just be easier to file it on your own insurance and be done with it. I know that stinks, but that's life. Good luck.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: KC5AV
I witnessed an accident on a Wal-Mart parking lot. The guy that got hit had no insurance. The girl that hit him was 17 and driving her brand new car. The police told them that they could only file a report if both of them wanted a report filed since it was on private property, and if they filed a report, both of them would be getting tickets. Suddenly, neither of them wanted a report filed.

I saw this happen in a Walmart parking lot too, only it was an old couple! They clearly smashed into someone's car, then started driving away in their slow old-person way, but someone jumped in front of their car and made them stop. I wonder if they even knew what they did.

 

[tarheelmm]

Originally posted by: Jzero

The issue is accountability. Wtf has happened to people?

Maybe you got the wrong guy. Maybe he didn't realize he hit you. Maybe he did and didn't realize the extent of the damage. Not everyone is malicious or trying to shirk responsibility.

agreed

 

[cherrytwist]

The thing is, since you didn't actually see this person hit your car, you have no proof. I mean, you could have the paint tested by a lab to see if it matches, but you'd probably be responsible for the cost. It may just be easier to file it on your own insurance and be done with it. I know that stinks, but that's life. Good luck.

My thinking is the person will admit it if a cop confronts them and they indeed are responsible. Which is another reason to file a police report. If they don't, there isn't much I can do...except maybe small claims court or approach the apartment complex as mentioned before.

I doubt I'd claim it on my insurane. I have a $500 deductible and would think the damage couldn't be much more than that.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: cherrytwist
Yesterday I came outside to find a deep scratch in the bumper of my '02 GTI :|. It was clear to me what had happened based on the location of my car and the scratch. Somebody had backed their car out and turned too sharply, their right front bumper scratching the fender/bumper on my driver's side.

Before going to the police to file a report, I wanted to have some evidence. This morning as my car warmed up, a quick scan of the parking lot revealed a maroon sedan with a black streak of paint on the right corner of their front bumper :Q. Immediately I went inside and took pictures of the perpetrator's car and the damage done to my car.

I called the police and asked about how to handle this in a civil manner. The woman I spoke to indicated that I should come to the station to file a police report. An officer will then contact the perpetrator and/or pay them a visit. This seems to be the best way to handle the situation.

I know a lot of guys would cut out the middleman and go straight to the source, but I want the law on my side in this one. This person cannot be trusted. Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in itself, let alone the damage done to my car and the lengths I have to go to to have it fixed. The damage (a nice 8" scratch, cracked plastic on the lower part of the bumper) isn't really the issue.

The issue is accountability. Wtf has happened to people?

Here in Ontario and in particular London, if your car is hit in a private parking lot and the other driver actually leaves the lot and you have proof he hit your car, you can have them charged with hit and run. This is a serious charge. My friend had to lay that charge when someone hit his car in his apartment parking lot and left.

Not sure if this applies in other cities or States/Provinces.