Saw someone back into another car

[ggnl]

While walking out to my car this morning on the way to work I saw a white minivan back into another car and then just drive off. I was maybe 20 feet away when it happened and they had to drive right past me on the way out, so I kind of just stared at them and gestured with my arms as they passed. The driver was staring right back at me so I'm pretty sure she knew I saw the whole thing. I checked out the other car and there was some scraped paint on the rear plastic bumper cover but no real damage.

So I hauled ass to my car and managed to catch up to the minivan and write down the plate #'s. The thing is I kind of don't want to get directly involved in any disputes that arise out of this, but I also don't want to leave the victim hung out to dry. So what should I do? Go to apartment management, leave an anonymous note on the victim's car, or just suck it up and and leave a note with my phone #?

One more thing, after leaving the apartment complex the minivan immediately went back in the entrance back toward the scene of the crime. They might have been going back to leave a note, I didn't bother to follow.

 

[Arkaign]

Report it, both to the owner of the vehicle, and to the property management. If it were your car that someone backed into, you'd appreciate as much info as possible.

 

[yelo333]

When I saw this sort of thing happen in a college parking lot, I reported it to the campus police and left a note. I dunno what happened as I never called back to find out, but it's certainly what I'd want someone to do for me.

 

[chorb]

Originally posted by: yelo333
When I saw this sort of thing happen in a college parking lot, I reported it to the campus police and left a note. I dunno what happened as I never called back to find out, but it's certainly what I'd want someone to do for me.

Wish someone would have done it for me at my college

 

[dud]

This is an easy one ...

First, you should be commended for getting involved. Second, just leave the note on the windshield on the damaged vehicle, with your contact number if you feel like it. It helps to have a witness in these instances. How would you feel if someone damaged your car and drove off? Wouldn't you want a "good Samaratin" like yourself to help?

 

[StageLeft]

Report it and be a witness, it's the right thing to do. Without witnessing it and getting the plate, plus allowing the cops to QUICKLY follow-up and potentially check that one for damage, you are not really helping.

 

[randomlinh]

i saw the same, but unfortunately, i was too far to get plates. it looked like the driver was looking for paper in the car, so when it first happened, didn't think much of it. and all of a sudden, tires peeled and gone.

 

[Budmantom]

You lack character.

 

[alkemyst]

People won't even call when someone is laying in the street. Call the police and report it. If the driver has left a note when they get there he is set. If not he just committed a hit and run, which is what typically happens.

People give me a lot of shit when I get on my cell and call the cops for things...I figure they harass me enough for stupid shit, may as well get some of my tax dollars working for good.

I have called on 30 min old accidents only to be told by dispatch they were not aware. Not all victims have cell phones / working ones.

Most of my calls are pets locked in cars...cracking a window 1/4-1/2" is not enough with ambient 90-100 degree temps outside.

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
People won't even call when someone is laying in the street. Call the police and report it. If the driver has left a note when they get there he is set. If not he just committed a hit and run, which is what typically happens.

People give me a lot of shit when I get on my cell and call the cops for things...I figure they harass me enough for stupid shit, may as well get some of my tax dollars working for good.

I have called on 30 min old accidents only to be told by dispatch they were not aware. Not all victims have cell phones / working ones.

Most of my calls are pets locked in cars...cracking a window 1/4-1/2" is not enough with ambient 90-100 degree temps outside.

What phone number do you use? The local police department #?

 

[CptCrunch]

Originally posted by: yelo333

Originally posted by: alkemyst
People won't even call when someone is laying in the street. Call the police and report it. If the driver has left a note when they get there he is set. If not he just committed a hit and run, which is what typically happens.

People give me a lot of shit when I get on my cell and call the cops for things...I figure they harass me enough for stupid shit, may as well get some of my tax dollars working for good.

I have called on 30 min old accidents only to be told by dispatch they were not aware. Not all victims have cell phones / working ones.

Most of my calls are pets locked in cars...cracking a window 1/4-1/2" is not enough with ambient 90-100 degree temps outside.

What phone number do you use? The local police department #?

Every police department has a dispatcher number for non-emergencies. That is the number I call for the county sheriff's office. Look it up in the phone book and I bet they list the non-emergency dispatcher number.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
People won't even call when someone is laying in the street. Call the police and report it. If the driver has left a note when they get there he is set. If not he just committed a hit and run, which is what typically happens.

People give me a lot of shit when I get on my cell and call the cops for things...I figure they harass me enough for stupid shit, may as well get some of my tax dollars working for good.

I have called on 30 min old accidents only to be told by dispatch they were not aware. Not all victims have cell phones / working ones.

Most of my calls are pets locked in cars...cracking a window 1/4-1/2" is not enough with ambient 90-100 degree temps outside.

:thumbsup:

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: CptCrunch

Originally posted by: yelo333

Originally posted by: alkemyst
People won't even call when someone is laying in the street. Call the police and report it. If the driver has left a note when they get there he is set. If not he just committed a hit and run, which is what typically happens.

People give me a lot of shit when I get on my cell and call the cops for things...I figure they harass me enough for stupid shit, may as well get some of my tax dollars working for good.

I have called on 30 min old accidents only to be told by dispatch they were not aware. Not all victims have cell phones / working ones.

Most of my calls are pets locked in cars...cracking a window 1/4-1/2" is not enough with ambient 90-100 degree temps outside.

What phone number do you use? The local police department #?

Every police department has a dispatcher number for non-emergencies. That is the number I call for the county sheriff's office. Look it up in the phone book and I bet they list the non-emergency dispatcher number.

I have a police department section in my contacts. *FHP is the easiest though and can provide me with whatever local dept I need. I have my hometown, my parents, my office's area, and the city's police departments in my phone.

 

[KentState]

It's a pretty simple thing. Doesn't require much involvement.

Something similiar happened when my brother and I went to a baseball game last week. We went out to my car to leave and the people next to us were dumping out beer cans from their car. They were taking forever to leave and just before taking off, the driver and passenger switched. I was starting to back out of the spot next to them, and all of sudden the driver slams it into reverse and takes off. He plows into the car parked behind him, then takes off. They thought it was pretty funny as they drove away, but my brother was able to catch the plate. We simply called 911, reported what happened. Left a note on the hit car with all the info. Police called later tonight to verify and said they were able to match the plate and description to the car. That was the end of our involvement. Probably saved the owner of the hit TL about 1-2k in damage.

 

[Baked]

I make calls if I see cracked car window. Call the precinct where the car's parked at and give the popo the plate # and make/model.

 

[akshatp]

Dont ever move to NYC. This happens every second. Street parking is at such a premium, people squeeze into the tiniest spots. Kissing bumpers while getting in/out is unavoidable.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: akshatp
Dont ever move to NYC. This happens every second. Street parking is at such a premium, people squeeze into the tiniest spots. Kissing bumpers while getting in/out is unavoidable.

in the ghettos probably...I doubt those with decent cars would put up with this.

I have been to NYC, I saw quite a few I thought would hit, but they didn't.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: akshatp
Dont ever move to NYC. This happens every second. Street parking is at such a premium, people squeeze into the tiniest spots. Kissing bumpers while getting in/out is unavoidable.

in the ghettos probably...I doubt those with decent cars would put up with this.

I have been to NYC, I saw quite a few I thought would hit, but they didn't.

In SF, this is simply an accepted part of "city living." If you park on the street, you should expect to have your bumpers knocked by the cars in front and back of you. Most people pull all the way up and back ON PURPOSE as part of their regular parking routine. Most of the cars you see have countless paintchips, dings, and scrapes on the bumpers. Not my cup of tea, but that's just how they do it there. Those with "decent cars" can usually afford to have a garage waiting for them on both ends of their drive.

 

[dsity]

the guy probably went back to see if you had left a note....to remove it

 

[Dunbar]

I saw the same happen, wrote the plate down, saw a cop and flagged him down and he took the information. The only thing I had to do was fax a statement to the insurance company of the "offender". The way I look at it is would I want to be out my $1k insurance deductible because somebody couldn't be bothered to do anything?

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: akshatp
Dont ever move to NYC. This happens every second. Street parking is at such a premium, people squeeze into the tiniest spots. Kissing bumpers while getting in/out is unavoidable.

in the ghettos probably...I doubt those with decent cars would put up with this.

I have been to NYC, I saw quite a few I thought would hit, but they didn't.

No, not just the ghettos. Everywhere including all boroughs of NYC. Bumper cars. Literally. I never take my new car out there because it's simply not worth it. I cringe everytime I see someone do it and act like it's no big deal.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: akshatp
Dont ever move to NYC. This happens every second. Street parking is at such a premium, people squeeze into the tiniest spots. Kissing bumpers while getting in/out is unavoidable.

in the ghettos probably...I doubt those with decent cars would put up with this.

I have been to NYC, I saw quite a few I thought would hit, but they didn't.

No, not just the ghettos. Everywhere including all boroughs of NYC. Bumper cars. Literally. I never take my new car out there because it's simply not worth it. I cringe everytime I see someone do it and act like it's no big deal.

i second that. in manhattan be prepared to squeeze into the tiniest spots (if you are lucky enough to find one!) and face the aggressive taxi/limo drivers, esp at night.

on my way to work today i saw someone plowed into a parked car and just drove off. it made a big bang but i was already half a block away so i couldn't see the license plate.

there's a reason that you always see cars with scraped bumpers and dinged doors in the city. it is unavoidable.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i think i see this happen about once a day in NYC haha. its happened to me too, but luckily there was no visible damage to my car. i yelled the crap out of the other driver though.

everyone here talks about leaving a note, being a witness, calling the police. but that will probably never happen in NYC. lol

 

[Dunbar]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
In SF, this is simply an accepted part of "city living." If you park on the street, you should expect to have your bumpers knocked by the cars in front and back of you.

I think that's true of all big cities. If you park on the street be prepared for bumper rash. I wouldn't even bother owning a nice car if I was parking on city streets.