Very minor hit and run - Video footage captured - Need some guidance

[Rahul718]

Hey guys,

Last week when I went grocery shopping some lady hit my car. When I came out a witness told me he saw it happen and got her license plate. I called the cops but after waiting 2.5hours I went home. In that time I went inside and was able to get a clip of the surveillance video (gotta say the camera angle couldn’t have been any better). Needless to say the damage is so extremely minimal as you can see in the picture.

I did file with insurance and within 1 day they deemed her at fault (no surprise) with all the relevant info (witness statement, plate # and footage). So it’s at the shop right getting the front bumper resprayed and the front wheel refinished (she chipped the lip of the wheel). However, just based on principle I want to go after this lady. If I did this I would have waited till the person got out so I could tell them what I did or I would have left a note with my info for them to get in touch with me. I guess I’m wrong for expecting that from other people.

Even though the damage is really minimal can I still charge her with a hit and run and if so who makes the decision whether to go after her? I have some time to file the police report so I want to take advantage of this window while I can. Would you guys let it go since insurance is fully covering it (her side insurance) or still pursue it based on principle?

First time I’ve been in the situation so some direction and guidance would be appreciated. If it’s not worth the hassle then I’d be willing to let it go and hope that the same thing happens to her in the future. I’m upset this will show up on carfax is a minor impact accident because my carfax is currently spotless but I hope with the pictures and video footage any future buyer will see it truly was really minor.

Thanks

[NickyC]

Pathetic, that's about the most clear evidence you could ever have that she knew exactly what she had done and decided against doing the right thing. Judging by her obesity, making incorrect decisions appears to be common for her.

If it were me, I'd go after her as much as the police would allow. They might shrug and tell you it's not worth it, but I'd certainly go out of my way to pay this bitch back so see what they have to say.

Also since it's a gorgeous F82, the car's honor must be protected at all costs. If this were a G82, I'd just let it go as the damage might be seen as an improvement.

[DocL]

Being that it wasn't much damage, I'd let it go. However this bitch needs to learn that she needs to be held accountable for her behavior, so I'd file and pursue a hit and run charge with the police. This type of person always blames other people and probably gives her children participation awards.

Make sure you save all the pictures and receipt for the work done. If and when you go to sell the car it will help dismiss any doubt as to how bad the damage was. This is going to be recorded on Carfax and you should file a diminished value claim with her insurance also.

Good luck.

[grocerylist]

Definitely pursue a diminished value claim at the least.

[Rahul718]

Thanks guys. I’ve already started a diminished value claim process a few days ago. This is new to me also so do I just let insurance handle it? They said they would look into it and forwarded the claim to a diminished value specialist. Any resources I can look into to make sure I don’t get lowballed?

Plan on heading to file a police report today or tomorrow.

[RickFLM4]

I’ve been involved in a more significant hit and run - lots of damage and lucky I wasn’t hurt, so I am biased against assholes like this one. Idiotic not to stop and at least leave a note, particularly since she is insured. I would definitely pursue DV claim and hit and run report with police. I’d also follow up with police to see what, if anything, they are doing with the report even if it required a time investment. IMO, her license should be suspended and her insurance should skyrocket, but like I said, I’m biased against assholes like this one.

[tcphoto]

She tried to pull into a spot that’s intended to parallel park, is a fire hydrant, scrapped your bumper in front of a witness then drove off. What part of that is not unethical, illegal and should be ignored? I would pursue it with the Police or Small Claims Court for as much as she obviously spends on fast food. Besides, the sight of her in those yoga pants is offensive enough to warrant an arrest warrant for indecent exposure.

[F30lolz]

Maybe it’s me but I always park as close to the curb as humanly possible as I’ve notice you were (and other vehicles) a good foot or more from the curb. Still, doesn’t give her a free pass. I see two sides here. As everyone on this forum is an auto enthusiast who would rather get punched in the face than have someone hitting our vehicles, I say pursue for the hit/run charge. However, since the damage is very minimal, probably going overboard.

If it were me? She deserves the guillotine.

[rwheels]

Take it to this thread; "The official "Ask a cop/deputy anything!" Sedan and others will chime in with very fair and honest answers. I agree with others that, at minimum, she should be reported to your DMV. That was literal hit and run.

[upstatedoc]

Find out where she lives in pour sugar in her gas tank.

[DocL]

Originally Posted by tcphoto

... Besides, the sight of her in those yoga pants is offensive enough to warrant an arrest warrant for indecent exposure.

Ha. Those are the Yoga Pants Mafia Moms. They are everywhere and think they are better than everyone else.

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Judging by her obesity, making incorrect decisions appears to be common for her.

F'ing classic. Thanks for the laugh.

For all the other folks pushing for a DV claim, I'd love to hear how many of you have actually been successful in such a pursuit. I got rear ended by a flatbed truck hauling cement blocks. Shoved me into the car in front. Front and rear bumpers replaced, bumper support bar in the rear replaced. No airbag deployment. I went after the insurance company for DV. They kicked it to their DV specialist who, shockingly, determined there was no DV. They basically said I was free to get a lawyer and sue them if I disagreed. I then went to an independent assessor that the body shop recommended. He reviewed the repair and said "Look, I'll push the issue for you with the insurance company. In my opinion, you have between $5k and $7k in diminished value. It'll cost you $500 for my time to pursue it. However, I want to warn you that the likelihood you prevail is low. Most DV claims are based on previously proven court cases that demonstrate that once stretched, pulled, ripped metal is banged and bent back into shape it may look undamaged but structurally it's weaker and no longer as good as OEM. Because 100% of your damage was corrected by unbolting parts and bolting OEM parts back on, the only lasting damage you have endured is based on the stigma of the car being hit. Those claims can be won but generally it's for things like an all-original, low mileage, classic or antique car."

So basically, I dont think the OP has a chance with winning a DV claim as it looks like they can just slap a new bumper on, paint, and be done.

Rahul718 Sounds like your insurance caught up with hers so at least you arent paying the deductible. If nothing else you can sleep at night knowing her rates have gone up. I would also be hounding the shit out of the cops to open a hit and run case. My wife got hit and run on the freeway. Punched a hole in her rear bumper big enough to put a watermellon through. The person just drove off. People like this need to be held accountable for their actions. it's the only way they learn. Dont drop this. File the report. She needs this on her record!

[leopard print]

To me, it doesn’t matter what car she hit. Ferrari, F82, shit box worth $500. I would still pursue the hit and run or whatever the law would allow if it’s not a huge burden for you to do so. People like her need to be taught a lesson to respect other people’s property. If not, I can see her doing it over and over again and teaching her children the same thing. Then the cycle of shitty people continues.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by grocerylist

Definitely pursue a diminished value claim at the least.

Not an option in NY State AFAIK, where the OP resides.

Since the defendant's insurance paid, there is no civil court recourse unless you had to pay a deductible. Criminal charges, on the other hand, assuming that NYPD will divert their manpower away from bigger crimes.

Disclaimer, IANAL, and didn't sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night.....

[bimmer pleaser V2]

I don't think merely filing a police report blemishes your car history but the accident history that will definitely be recorded on your Carfax if you report the accident to insurance companies. With high-end sports cars like this the diminished value due to accident is enormous no matter how minor the accident, and you can never recoup the real diminished value from insurance.

Edit: wait, you did let the insurance company know, I personally would not have done it.

[tcphoto]

BTW, Karen called and she wants you to pay the Detailers bill caused by you blocking her parking space.

[UncleWede]

Let your insurance handle all the paperwork, that is part of what you are paying them to do for you. You have clear evidence and a plate, so let them fight it out for you.

It's tough, I know. The guy who hit my wife (963 original miles) with a lunch truck doesn't seem to have a valid business license, the insurance provided on scene was for business, but not vehicles. When I took that info to the authorities after the report was done, showed them that they openly lied, he shrugged it off and said people lie all the time, it's now a civil matter.

Unfortunately, it seems law enforcement has more serious concerns right now.

[TheWatchGuy]

if youve already filed with insurance and filed a report with the police, not much more you can do at this point. Its up to them if they want to pursue a hit and run charge with her.

[CTinline-six]

I thought that was just how all NY'ers drive?






But that sucks man, hope it gets resolved.

[premier3is]

Pursue it, bitch needs to realize she was caught. I'd do it just for that reason alone. Teach the bitch a lesson to not hit a car and run off. Pathetic cunt.

[Patton250]

Man, some of you people are brutal. I thought TRF had some angry peeps but…………. Yikes

[infinitekidM2C]

Minimal damage? She scraped the shite outta your side. Get at that cow.