Someone hit my car and left without reporting it

[CarolAnn856]

Yea I appreciate everyone's input, I think I'm going to bow out of this thread as I don't like where it's going. Enjoy the holiday weekend everyone.

It's a shame you didn't bow out before assuming they are here illegally based on race.

 

[aprilgail]

That depends. If there are no injuries, the Police here not only won't take a report, the won't even come out as they consider that a Civil matter, not criminal. Been that way for a number of years after budget cuts.

I was backed into recently- in a parking lot in my brand new 2 week old car- the pickup truck backed into my car in a parking lot where there was 2 things- my car and his. 10,000 in damage to my car. The FIRST thing the insurance co wanted when I called was the police report number!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Who cares if they don't have insurance? If they admitted to hitting your car when there was really no chance of them being caught and they offered to pay I don't see the problem?

I'm Hispanic, I rent, I have insurance, I'm not illegal and I would also offer to pay if I hit an old car.

In certain areas here cops won't come out for minor traffic accidents. I rear ended someone in my parking garage at work. The guy was insisting on calling the cops until a security guard told him the cops don't come out for minor accidents. Then he wanted us to walk to the police station. lol I gave him my info and told him good luck but I wasn't going anywhere. He had no damage. We were in the parking garage going 5 mph but he kept going on and on about his neck and back pain.

 

[tvguy]

I was backed into recently- in a parking lot in my brand new 2 week old car- the pickup truck backed into my car in a parking lot where there was 2 things- my car and his. 10,000 in damage to my car. The FIRST thing the insurance co wanted when I called was the police report number!

That would be a double no from the Police here. If there are no injuries, they don't do a report, and if it is on private property (and I am assuming it was) they don't take a report.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

That would be a double no from the Police here. If there are no injuries, they don't do a report, and if it is on private property (and I am assuming it was) they don't take a report.

Last reply for me just to clear this up. Car was on the street so not private property. Officer came, took report, knocked on the house but nobody was home at the time. He will follow up, probably today.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Stinks it happened on Thanksgiving but they said they'd pay for it, so that is in your favor. Hope your car is fixed soon and you can put it behind you.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Who cares if they don't have insurance? If they admitted to hitting your car when there was really no chance of them being caught and they offered to pay I don't see the problem?

I'm Hispanic, I rent, I have insurance, I'm not illegal and I would also offer to pay if I hit an old car.

In certain areas here cops won't come out for minor traffic accidents. I rear ended someone in my parking garage at work. The guy was insisting on calling the cops until a security guard told him the cops don't come out for minor accidents. Then he wanted us to walk to the police station. lol I gave him my info and told him good luck but I wasn't going anywhere. He had no damage. We were in the parking garage going 5 mph but he kept going on and on about his neck and back pain.

I would care that they didn't have insurance. Around here it is against the law to drive without it.

Another problem is, they said that they would pay in a month. After they had already left the scene of an accident.

I'm sure that the OP lost trust in them after that. I would also be very cautious about believing that they would actually pay in a month.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The problem is, they said that they would pay in a month. After,they left the scene of a hit and run.

I'm sure that the OP lost trust in them after that. I would also be very cautious about believing that they would actually pay in a month.

They said they had to rush to the pharmacy to get medication for their sister. I'm usually not very trusting but they live across the street. If push comes to shove I would do a civil suit against them.

Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't lose sleep or stress over my old car having a dent in it.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I might feel better about it, if they would be willing to pass insurance information.

That way, if they didn't pay, I would have their insurance information. And if they don't have insurance, I would report that.

 

[mnrose]

With all due respect, they committed 1 crime, possibly 2. They hit my car, they left the scene, that is a crime. Forgive me if I'm having trouble finding the nobility in them coming to see me several hours after the fact and after the police have already been called.

Actually there was an eye witness (2). There was a couple that came and knocked on our door to let us know that the car was hit, that's how we knew about it. They saw the car hit it. They just weren't aware of which house the car belonged to. But they certainly could ID the car if they saw it again.



I intend to let them but I think it's in my best interest to still report it to my insurance company. What if in 1 month, the people don't pay or vanish? If I wait till then to report to my insurance company they're going to really give me a hard time.



That dashcam is a good idea. I haven't really had a need for it before this incident makes me reconsider.

Look, I've got ZERO problem with you pursuing them for the damage to your car. What I have a problem with is you jumping to conclusions about them (a) not having insurance, and (b) being here illegally. Why did you have to do THAT? That is what I (and others) are calling you out on. And, you apparently don't even see it. SMH.

 

[tvguy]

Last reply for me just to clear this up. Car was on the street so not private property. Officer came, took report, knocked on the house but nobody was home at the time. He will follow up, probably today.

Glad your police still take reports on this. Like I said, they don't here or any other Civil issue.

 

[bcla]

Glad your police still take reports on this. Like I said, they don't here or any other Civil issue.

Depends on the department. Many have online self-reporting forms these days. They may not actually have anything like a declaration of fault, but that would provide a report number that many insurance companies require.

I've mentioned my collision before. The police certainly weren't going to send out a patrol or traffic officer to a private parking lot. They did say that I could go into any police station and get a report. I'm guessing that would have meant waiting a couple of hours for an overworked desk officer to be available.

I've actually been involved in a crash right in front of a cop. He came and took the report on the spot. It was really odd because when he was almost done, another car slowed down where we were parked in active traffic lanes, and another car clipped him. He just motioned the two drivers to pull up and he took that report there. I don't think they would have sent anyone out, but he was already there.

 

[lizabu]

That depends. If there are no injuries, the Police here not only won't take a report, the won't even come out as they consider that a Civil matter, not criminal. Been that way for a number of years after budget cuts.

Where I live there is a collision reporting centre and you have to drive out there.They take statements from everyone and take photos and create a police report. The insurance companies ask for the police report number. Police only come to a car crash if the cars are undrivable or if someone is injured.

 

[Denise W]

It must vary then with insurance companies or from state to state. I don't have Collision, and I do have uninsured motorist and it does cover property damage and damage to my car from an uninsured motorist. Collision would only cover my car if the crash were my fault. Since I don't have this coverage, if I have a crash that is my fault, my insurance won't pay anything.
https://www.allstate.com/tools-and-resources/car-insurance/uninsured-motorist-protection.aspx

When I read your link it did not indicate you automatically get UMPD that covers your car. It states "in some instances can offer coverage for damage to your car". It also indicates that UMPD is not offered in all states. I handled many claims against Allstate insureds. They were at fault in the accident and they collected for their damage under their collision coverage. I do not believe that Allstate will only pay you under your collision coverage if you are not at fault for the accident. That provision is true for people with UMPD, but not full collision coverage.
Denise

 

[MillauFr]

Several weeks later I get a letter from MY insurance company raising MY rates. I called and asked what for? They said it's now on record that I was involved in an accident. I said it wasn't my car, nor their insurance I was using at the time, nor MY fault. They said it didn't matter. An accident was now on my record, that just BEING in one caused my insurance to go up 10%. I dropped them as soon as I could find a different carrier.

Insurance companies can be so sleazy. That is why I prefer not to get them involved. Having a low deductible on your policy is crazy. Filing a claim to get a check for a few hundred dollars in crazy. They will jack up your rates and recover they money they used to pay your claim in a few months. Never get a policy with less that $1,000 deductible.

 

[bcla]

When I read your link it did not indicate you automatically get UMPD that covers your car. It states "in some instances can offer coverage for damage to your car". It also indicates that UMPD is not offered in all states. I handled many claims against Allstate insureds. They were at fault in the accident and they collected for their damage under their collision coverage. I do not believe that Allstate will only pay you under your collision coverage if you are not at fault for the accident. That provision is true for people with UMPD, but not full collision coverage.
Denise

It should be liability for damage to someone else's vehicle.

The OP said Illinois. Uninsured coverage is mandatory there, although it might not cover a hit and run. When I had my incident, the claims agent said they would need to check the rules for my state.

 

[Denise W]

It should be liability for damage to someone else's vehicle.

The OP said Illinois. Uninsured coverage is mandatory there, although it might not cover a hit and run. When I had my incident, the claims agent said they would need to check the rules for my state.

I handled all 50 states for the insurer I worked for (30 years) and I also heard Intercompany arbitration cases for 20 years, so I do have a little knowledge of insurance. Liability pays for property damage or bodily injury that you cause to someone else. UM Or UMPD coverage covers you under your policy if the liable party has no liability insurance. After your carrier pays you under that coverage, they go after the uninsured party to attempt reimbursement for what had been paid. I am not sure you understand the issue here.
Denise

 

[tvguy]

Depends on the department. Many have online self-reporting forms these days. They may not actually have anything like a declaration of fault, but that would provide a report number that many insurance companies require.

I've mentioned my collision before. The police certainly weren't going to send out a patrol or traffic officer to a private parking lot. They did say that I could go into any police station and get a report. I'm guessing that would have meant waiting a couple of hours for an overworked desk officer to be available.

I've actually been involved in a crash right in front of a cop. He came and took the report on the spot. It was really odd because when he was almost done, another car slowed down where we were parked in active traffic lanes, and another car clipped him. He just motioned the two drivers to pull up and he took that report there. I don't think they would have sent anyone out, but he was already there.

If you have a crash "in California".....which I assume means both private and public property....and there is an injury or the damage exceeds $750 the DMV requires you to fill out a form, I had to do that when DD rear ended someone on the freeway. CHP called a tow truck, but did not take a report.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/forms/sr/sr1

 

[tvguy]

When I read your link it did not indicate you automatically get UMPD that covers your car. It states "in some instances can offer coverage for damage to your car". It also indicates that UMPD is not offered in all states. I handled many claims against Allstate insureds. They were at fault in the accident and they collected for their damage under their collision coverage. I do not believe that Allstate will only pay you under your collision coverage if you are not at fault for the accident. That provision is true for people with UMPD, but not full collision coverage.
Denise

Okay, I'm confused. Yes, THEIR damage if they are at fault would be paid by THEIR collision is they have it.
The case cited was some who was the victim of an uninsured motorist. And while not universal, as indicated in my link, it could be covered under uninsured motorist coverage, not collision. That was what my coverage would be on my cars without collision (and even my cars with collision). It was something I discussed at length with my insurance agent when I dropped collision. If I crash and it is my fault I get nothing. If someone hits me and has no insurance it would be covered under uninsured motorist coverage. And if the car is vandalized, it would be covered by my comprehensive coverage.

 

[bcla]

I handled all 50 states for the insurer I worked for (30 years) and I was also heard Intercompany arbitration cases for 20 years, so I do have a little knowledge of insurance. Liability pays for property damage or bodily injury that you cause to someone else. UM Or UMPD coverage covers you under your policy if the liable party has no liability insurance. After your carrier pays you under that coverage, they go after the uninsured party to attempt reimbursement for what had been paid. I am not sure you understand the issue here.
Denise

That's sounds like liability for the other party should be in play here. On top of that, uninsured coverage is mandatory in Illinois, which the OP stated was the state in question.

I don't quite get what happened in my case though. The claims agent said I was covered under uninsured motorist even though it was a hit and run. I had the license plate and witnesses. Tracked down the owner, who denied knowing anything.