Help/advice with a hit and run

[Evv3]

Last Sunday morning I took a sports car out for a coffee and a drive. The coffee shop lot is tight so I pull up to the neighboring business that is closed and park in one of the front spots. I ran into a friend and ended up chatting there for about 30 minutes. I head back to the car and see it has been hit on the driver's side.

From this point I start canvassing for cameras. I was able to get in touch with the building owner where my car was parked, who reviewed footage and found a truck that hit my car. Unfortunately, the truck pulled straight in off the road and backed all the way out to the road after hitting me. He had no front plate, and is way too far away to make out anything by the time his rear plate comes into view. He is however in a somewhat limited/recognizable newer truck. I have a few stills from video of the guy entering his truck as well but they are grainy when enlarged. The police were called and a report was made, but that was all as the car was parked in a lot and no injuries.

Now I know I can put this through my insurance, but I'm taking it a bit personal this time and feel the guy needs to be held financially accountable with the claim through his insurer. This is the third time someone has hit me and ran in the last 2 years in the area. Mind you I have a small collection of cars and am cautious about where I park them. It's almost as if you can't make it up at this point.

Any advice would be helpful. Many of you here are much smarter than I and I'm open to suggestions. I feel like I'm so close to identifying him, yet have now hit a wall. I have spent a lot of time combing security footage in the area, calling dealers/auto body shops, reaching out to local car groups etc with little luck.

*It is worth noting that the guy who hit me went into the shop and bought a coffee. Go figure their cameras don't work. After speaking with the owner, we believe to have identified his transaction. Pulling up the transaction details with Square shows the last four digits of the Amex used, but does not provide a name or phone number as it sometimes does.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for any input.

Best,
Evan

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Evv3

Any advice would be helpful. Many of you here are much smarter than I and I'm open to suggestions. I feel like I'm so close to identifying him, yet have now hit a wall. I have spent a lot of time combing security footage in the area, calling dealers/auto body shops, reaching out to local car groups etc with little luck.

*It is worth noting that the guy who hit me went into the shop and bought a coffee. Go figure their cameras don't work. After speaking with the owner, we believe to have identified his transaction. Pulling up the transaction details with Square shows the last four digits of the Amex used, but does not provide a name or phone number as it sometimes does.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for any input.

Best,
Evan

you've honestly already showcased that you've done everything and exhausted every option. there's really nothing else to do, except hope somebody buzzes you saying they found the truck. I feel you're looking for something that's not really there, and unfortunately know you've hit a dead end at the moment.

also in regards to financial transactions, you're not going to be able to pull his info based on what transpired. that's wildly illegal when we're discussing a civil matter and not something criminal in nature, which the police would be handling anyhow (such as, a hit and run dealing with an injured person). as let's be honest, it could easily be argued that a parking lot mishap, he wasn't even aware it happened. if there's not major damage, it's entirely plausible this is the case. It wouldn't be treated as a hit and run as you're describing, such as on the highway.

also, that's actually pushing the envelope that this business owner forked over the last 4 of another patron's cc. I'm pretty sure that if his name/actual card number had populated with that, this hit and run driver could sue that business owner quite easily. have no idea what he's thinking showing you that sensitive information, that's completely different than video footage.

[AzPaul]

This is easy for me to say because it's not my car or my likely to increase insurance rates, but I'd simply let insurance handle it. You don't want to go all Captain Ahab over this. It's just not worth the agita.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by AzPaul

This is easy for me to say because it's not my car or my likely to increase insurance rates, but I'd simply let insurance handle it. You don't want to go all Captain Ahab over this. It's just not worth the agita.

This.

[MrGoat]

Blast what stills you have from camera footage on all social media platforms. Someone will recognize them.


Sent from my Apple privacy invasion product

[Evv3]

Thanks for the replies. The car he hit is a Porsche 911 and the damage isn't absurd but also not small. I'd ballpark it around 10k. He is also very aware of what he did. He cuts his wheel hard and slams into the side pulling out. He is at such an angle that he cannot continue. He has to straighten out and pull forward, then reverse again straight out.

Also, to be clear the officer was with me when the owner looked into the transaction details. He did not share the last four of the Amex, but simply said that is all that shows up on his end.

I was thinking about going the social media route and giving it a few days before submitting the claim to my insurance. I've notified them of the situation and that I will be submitting the claim shortly if I cannot find his info.

[ltmgeller]

I think the social media route is the best way to go

[kieselguhr]

The frustration is palpable from your story. To many of us, it’s all too familiar (I know it is for me). As has been said already, it’s not worth your time and effort to make it personal. Have insurance handle it and forgive. You’ll feel better for it.

[huncho]

parking in public these days always gives me a ton of anxiety, especially in tight lots. so many things can go wrong with people opening doors or hitting you because they suck at parking and you're in the dark about all of it. sucks that you tried to avoid the tight lot and got punished for it anyway. hopefully you get it all straightened out

[JasoninDenver]

Do you really want to track down a POS who may or may not be a psycho in addition to be an asshole?

For me, this is why I have insurance in the first place.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

Do you really want to track down a POS who may or may not be a psycho in addition to be an asshole?

For me, this is why I have insurance in the first place.

And this Sad but (may be) true

[Speedbird-1]

Is this not, a police issue?

[Widows Son]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

Is this not, a police issue?

It's only criminal if the police can prove the truck driver was aware that he hit the car. If not, it's civil. If the person gets out of their car and looks at the damage, he obviously knew what happened. Then, he has an obligation to leave a note on the car or contact the police. In Ohio they have 24 hours to report the accident.

[TK-710]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

Is this not, a police issue?

Yes. Leaving the scene of a property damage MVA is a police issue. However it is a traffic infraction (violation) since there were no injuries. If you leave the scene of a personal injury accident that’s a misdemeanor which in my state is a crime. Most property damage hit and runs go unsolved because there’s nothing to go on. That said there’s plenty to go on here and with the proper steps taken it could be easily solved IF the other driver is local. With this much information this would actually be a great case to work bc you finally have a chance to catch one. That said depending on the size of the PD, and their case load, this case may not get triaged as a high priority. Staffing shortages in most areas are having a huge impact on exactly this type of incident. The truth is even if located and ticketed the restitution is a civil matter, which most likely will be handled by the insurance company. The fine paid on the ticket doesn’t even go to the victim.

[donas]

The only thing I have to add is to contact the investigating officer and stay on him. Every department that I know of has officers within the traffic division whose sole job is to work hit and runs. This does not mean that is who responded, but the report will make its way to them. It's kinda the squeaky wheel gets the oil type thing. Keep a record of when you contacted the officer and what you provided them. If you don't get results, start working your way up their chain of command. Sooner or later you will get to the right person; trust me, in my twenty years of law enforcement I've been on the ass end and the boot end!

[330ci]

Given the current climate towards the wealthy in this country, I'd let insurance handle it.

You're more likely to become a meme, with your Porsche plastered all over social media with people laughing about the $10k in damage caused to your car; than to find sympathy.

[THC]

Originally Posted by 330ci

Given the current climate towards the wealthy in this country, I'd let insurance handle it.

You're more likely to become a meme, with your Porsche plastered all over social media with people laughing about the $10k in damage caused to your car; than to find sympathy.

Sad but true

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by 330ci

Given the current climate towards the wealthy in this country, I'd let insurance handle it.

You're more likely to become a meme, with your Porsche plastered all over social media with people laughing about the $10k in damage caused to your car; than to find sympathy.

Wow, is the US this shit nowadays?

[BNA/LION]

Sorry to hear this. The chances of getting anything from the truck driver in this unfortunate situation are slim. Get with insurance company, pay deductible, fix it and move on. KARMA is a Biotch and the driver will get what they have coming eventually.

[White Collar Boy]

Sorry to read this, Evan. I think it would be prudent to resist posting about it on other social media, which might expose you to nasty people, including the driver. I hope your luck in not getting banged into improves.

[Evv3]

I'm leaning towards filing the claim with my insurance company on Monday and moving on from it. I was holding off, as to feel whole I feel I'd really need to hammer my company with loss of use, diminished value, etc. Not something I'm looking to do as renewal is coming soon and I'll expect a decent increase. I'll save you all from my insurance company rant as well. Reform is certainly needed.

As some have said, police do not want much involvement as it happened in a lot and there weren't any injuries.

As far as social media goes, I've held off for many of the exact reasons listed. If I did post, it would probably just be photos of him and his vehicle without much detail about what happened other than he ran. Would not post a photo of my car. I don't post much on social media as it is. He does not look like the type to get combative if he were to see the post.


Thanks again for the input guys.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Evv3

As some have said, police do not want much involvement as it happened in a lot and there weren't any injuries.

Thanks again for the input guys.

In my state the police would not do anything since it occurred on private property and the vehicles had already been moved.

[Cru Jones]

PITA, sorry.

Maybe ask a private investigator look into it for you?