Someone hit my car and left without reporting it

[Pacolovestacos]

So am at my parents, parked on the street, and someone hit my car. At first I thought it was the folks across the street based on where the damage was but my dad (who claims he saw a grey car moving slowly) says that isn't the car he saw.

There was a couple across the street who came over and let us know that they saw the car and the accident.

My dad didn't get their information. I believe they are at a house nearby celebrating Thanksgiving.

We called police and a cop came by and took the report but he didn't stop at the house to interview the people who saw the accident.

What is my next course of action here? Without the eyewitness report, I feel like it's a "he said, she said" type of thing with no possible recourse.

 

[sam_gordon]

So am at my parents, parked on the street, and someone hit my car. At first I thought it was the folks across the street based on where the damage was but my dad (who claims he saw a grey car moving slowly) says that isn't the car he saw.

There was a couple across the street who came over and let us know that they saw the car and the accident.

My dad didn't get their information. I believe they are at a house nearby celebrating Thanksgiving.

We called police and a cop came by and took the report but he didn't stop at the house to interview the people who saw the accident.

What is my next course of action here? Without the eyewitness report, I feel like it's a "he said, she said" type of thing with no possible recourse.

Either turn it in to your insurance or fix it on your own.

 

[bcla]

That's basically it. Absent someone getting injured, it's not going to be a high priority. I'd just contact your insurance company and give them as much info as you can.

 

[CarolAnn856]

So am at my parents, parked on the street, and someone hit my car. At first I thought it was the folks across the street based on where the damage was but my dad (who claims he saw a grey car moving slowly) says that isn't the car he saw.

There was a couple across the street who came over and let us know that they saw the car and the accident.

My dad didn't get their information. I believe they are at a house nearby celebrating Thanksgiving.

We called police and a cop came by and took the report but he didn't stop at the house to interview the people who saw the accident.

What is my next course of action here? Without the eyewitness report, I feel like it's a "he said, she said" type of thing with no possible recourse.

First, you need to decide if you want to pay for the damage yourself or have your insurance cover it. Since it's a holiday, you'll have to wait until at least tomorrow to get an estimate. Then make your decision. Not sure what else you can do at this point.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Unfortunately it's an old car so I don't have collision insurance on it. This sucks.

 

[cluvsdisney]

The same thing happened to us a couple of months ago. Someone hit the front fender and ripped off the bumper. Same thing...an older car with no collision. We had it towed it to a body shop and paid cash. Basically, people can suck. Sorry this happened to you.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Best thing you can hope for is the culprit getting caught when they attempt to fix their car. That's what happened to the kid who ran over my grandparents' mailbox.

 

[bcla]

Unfortunately it's an old car so I don't have collision insurance on it. This sucks.

I think collision only covers damage to your own vehicle that's your fault.

I've actually got a basic policy, but I was covered by uninsured/underinsured coverage after a hit and run.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Update: Couple across the street came over and admitted to hitting our car. They said they left quickly to buy asthma medicine for their sister who was having trouble breathing (I doubt it). Regardless, they said they need a month and they will pay for damage. They are hispanic and are renting the house. I suspect they were driving without insurance. I'll leave that for the police to determine.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I think collision only covers damage to your own vehicle that's your fault.

I've actually got a basic policy, but I was covered by uninsured/underinsured coverage after a hit and run.

My dad is arguing with me about this. He says that since I don't have collision, their insurance is responsible for paying. Since they don't have insurance (we're assuming this) then we'd have to file a lawsuit against them to collect the damages and that my insurance company wouldn't pay.

BCLA, you are correct. I'm in Illinois and as such, uninsured motorist coverage is included in my policy. Since they already admitted they are at fault, I am covered. I will report it to my insurance company.

 

[jenilynn]

My dad is arguing with me about this. He says that since I don't have collision, their insurance is responsible for paying. Since they don't have insurance (we're assuming this) then we'd have to file a lawsuit against them to collect the damages and that my insurance company wouldn't pay.

Why would you want to file a lawsuit when they said they would pay you out of pocket? Go and get a quote or a couple of them and let them know how much it will be. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt before jumping the gun

 

[CarolAnn856]

Update: Couple across the street came over and admitted to hitting our car. They said they left quickly to buy asthma medicine for their sister who was having trouble breathing (I doubt it). Regardless, they said they need a month and they will pay for damage. They are hispanic and are renting the house. I suspect they were driving without insurance. I'll leave that for the police to determine.

Their ethnicity is important because...???

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Why would you want to file a lawsuit when they said they would pay you out of pocket? Go and get a quote or a couple of them and let them know how much it will be. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt before jumping the gun

I don't want to file a lawsuit. That was my dad's thought. I disagree with that approach.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Their ethnicity is important because...???

Because they don't have insurance and I suspect could potentially be here illegally.

 

[CarolAnn856]

Because they don't have insurance and I suspect could potentially be here illegally.

The only relevant piece is that they don't have insurance.

ETA: I just re-read your previous post. You don't even know that they don't have insurance. So you really are just assuming that (a) they don't and (b) they are illegally here based on their ethnicity. Wow. Just wow.

 

[lizabu]

Because they don't have insurance and I suspect could potentially be here illegally.

Didn't you say earlier that you were only assuming they don't have insurance? I hope you didn't come to that conclusion just because they are Hispanic. And believe it or not there are actually Hispanic people who are not illegal immigrants.

 

[BadPinkTink]

just wow, really holding back from typing what my real thoughts are
seems to me to be a huge case of 1+1=5........

 

[mnrose]

Because they don't have insurance and I suspect could potentially be here illegally.

Jump to conclusions much? We've gone from they hit your car to now they are uninsured illegals. Makes sense.

Again,it doesn't matter one little bit. The last time I was hit by another car it was driven by a 19 year old white girl (as American as they come) who didn't have insurance.

I think it is admirable that they admitted they had done it. They didn't have to, did they? There were no eye witnesses and you never would have proved anything without their admission. I think that makes them admirable. You think it makes them illegal. Interesting.

 

[usnuzuloose]

My dad is arguing with me about this. He says that since I don't have collision, their insurance is responsible for paying. Since they don't have insurance (we're assuming this) then we'd have to file a lawsuit against them to collect the damages and that my insurance company wouldn't pay.

BCLA, you are correct. I'm in Illinois and as such, uninsured motorist coverage is included in my policy. Since they already admitted they are at fault, I am covered. I will report it to my insurance company.

When I got my truck totaled the lady had no insurance, they paid out of my insurance and they eneded up suing the lady that caused the accident. I felt bad for her. I collected the max amount.

 

[Denise W]

Uninsured motorist coverage only covers Bodily injury claims. You need to have UMPD coverage on your policy (uninsured motorist property damage) in order to collect for damage to your car through your policy if the responsible party does not have insurance. Hopefully you have UMPD sonce you don't have collision coverage.

Collision coverage will pay for damage to your car regardless of who is at fault, and regardless of whether the other party is insured or not.