Car hit mine—stranger left note

[Anonymous]

I was in a parking lot and someone left me a note that they witnessed another car hit mine and drive away. The witness left a note on my windshield with a description of car and tag number. Do I call my own insurance company with the info and ask them to contact other driver’s insurance? Do I contact police first? I want the damage fixed but not have my rates go up or have to pay my deductible (which is quite high).

[Anonymous]

I would contact insurance first.

[Anonymous]

This happened to us, in DC. We did call the police and filed a report (I think we were actually able to file the report itself online, since the other driver was gone and there wasn't really much point in the police coming out) and then filed a report with our insurance company based on the police report. And it worked the way it was supposed to; our insurance company tracked down the other car's owner and their insurance paid for our car to be fixed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happened to us, in DC. We did call the police and filed a report (I think we were actually able to file the report itself online, since the other driver was gone and there wasn't really much point in the police coming out) and then filed a report with our insurance company based on the police report. And it worked the way it was supposed to; our insurance company tracked down the other car's owner and their insurance paid for our car to be fixed.

Do this OP.

[Anonymous]

Call the police first. If you call your insurance, the first round of questions will be "did you call the police?" If you did, then they'll ask for the police report number. If you did not, they will document the claim, but tell you to call the police and call back with the report number. They will not start your claim without the police report number so just call the police first and save yourself some back and forth time.

Make sure that when you all the police, you note it as a hit-and-run and provide the information from the witness. They will treat a hit-and-run more seriously than just a simple fender-bender. In a hit-and-run, especially one where the tag was recorded, they'll need to investigate the owner of the striking vehicle before the owner can get the car repaired and remove the evidence of a collision.

[Anonymous]

Technically this is a "hit and run" case. You need call the police first.

[Anonymous]

What if the person who wrote the note was actually the person who hit the car? Maybe the car/tag their accused stole their parking spot.

[Anonymous]

Call your insurance. There us no need for a police report. The insurance might tell u u need one but you don’t. Wasn’t witnessed by the police so there is nothing they need to do. This is what you pay insurance premiums for. Make them work for their money.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. I called police who called witness and driver. Driver admitted to it and gave insurance info for me to make claim. Grateful there are good people out there who will report hit and runs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. I called police who called witness and driver. Driver admitted to it and gave insurance info for me to make claim. Grateful there are good people out there who will report hit and runs.

Did they get fined for leaving? I sure hope so.
Glad it worked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if the person who wrote the note was actually the person who hit the car? Maybe the car/tag their accused stole their parking spot.

They can do research on the "alleged hit car" for damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call your insurance. There us no need for a police report. The insurance might tell u u need one but you don’t. Wasn’t witnessed by the police so there is nothing they need to do. This is what you pay insurance premiums for. Make them work for their money.

Whether your insurance company will require a police report depends on the state you live in. In VA, when my car was damaged in a hit and run they told me I didn't need a police report, but in some states they will. It was also a lower than normal deductible, FWIW.

OP--so glad that this all worked out in your favor!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. I called police who called witness and driver. Driver admitted to it and gave insurance info for me to make claim. Grateful there are good people out there who will report hit and runs.

Did they get fined for leaving? I sure hope so.
Glad it worked out.

usually if they fess up within 24 hours it’s not a hit and run per se so no charges. This may vary by jurisdiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if the person who wrote the note was actually the person who hit the car? Maybe the car/tag their accused stole their parking spot.

You still call the police first.

I wrote a note to a neighbor after some jerk hit his car and ran off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Technically this is a "hit and run" case. You need call the police first.

Hit and run when there is someone in the car and cops would be all over it by now.