Note left on my windshield about hit and run — now what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on how much damage was done. If it was mostly superficial, I would not worry about it.

Do you have a crap car?

[Anonymous]

Sometimes when I’m driving and someone rolls into me at a stoplight and there isn’t any damage I’ll tell them not to worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes when I’m driving and someone rolls into me at a stoplight and there isn’t any damage I’ll tell them not to worry about it.

If there’s no damage, there’s nothing to worry about. Unless you’re looking for punitive damages for your pain and suffering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call the insurance. Find out what they need. My guess is a police report, and official statement from witness just in case. Police may press charges or do something with license plate. I’d start with insurance.

Yes, call your own insurance company, and let them do the battle for you.

[Anonymous]

New cars have all the sensors in them so even visually superficial damage can turn out expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes when I’m driving and someone rolls into me at a stoplight and there isn’t any damage I’ll tell them not to worry about it.

If there’s no damage, there’s nothing to worry about. Unless you’re looking for punitive damages for your pain and suffering.

There are usually some scratches but it’s not that bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't even call the person. I have my insurance company call them.

This is the correct answer. I think it’s ok to thank the person but don’t discuss the details with him/her. Let the insurance company handle this.

[Anonymous]

I have a different idea.

Call the note leaver and ask if the car damager seemed aggressive or crazy. I wouldn’t give the insurance company the info if the car damager seemed nuts, like they were drinking or on drugs. You don’t want to bring crazy into your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a different idea.

Call the note leaver and ask if the car damager seemed aggressive or crazy. I wouldn’t give the insurance company the info if the car damager seemed nuts, like they were drinking or on drugs. You don’t want to bring crazy into your life.

If you go through insurance, you never need to meet up with or even talk to the hit-and-run driver. And they don't get your contact info from the insurance company. I don't see how you'd be inviting any trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on how much damage was done. If it was mostly superficial, I would not worry about it.

Do you have a crap car?

It's ok, I don't want to pay higher insurance bills for superficial damage I can fix myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call the person and thank them and let them know you’ll be calling the police and insurance and they will probably be getting a call for their statement. Then call the police, then your insurance.

I’ve left notes before and had the police follow up.

This. As for what order:
1. Call the witness and do the above.
2. Call the police to file a report for a hit-and-run, mention the witness and their phone number. Get a case number.
3. Call insurance and let them know that there is a case number for a hit-and-run on your car.
4. Work with the insurance company to get an estimate.

Cars nowadays are much more delicate than they used to be. Simple bumps/dings can often be costly. Cars are designed now with crumple zones to protect passengers and some of the materials that are designed to crush do not work as efficiently after even simple bumps/dings. The classic example is that bumpers nowadays are designed to crumple and the materials used in the bumpers sometimes lose structural integrity and become weaker and less able to absorb impact after a simple fender bender. I was involved in a fender bender that left scratches and a minor ding in my bumper and the repair shop told me that I needed the bumper shock materials replaced as they were no longer as effective as rated due to the impact. This is in addition to all the electronics on the car. Cars now have tire pressure sensors in all the tires and other sensors that are easily damaged under impact. It's best to have an auto shop evaluate all the car systems to ensure that none of the delicate or safety systems in a car are damaged after even a minor fender bender or hit. If the damage is light, you can opt to waive any remediation. In any event, when you are not at fault (especially in the case of a hit-and-run where you were not present), insurance companies are not allowed to change your rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on how much damage was done. If it was mostly superficial, I would not worry about it.

Do you have a crap car?

It's ok, I don't want to pay higher insurance bills for superficial damage I can fix myself.

When you are not at fault, your insurance premiums can not go up. Insurance premiums are based on "insurance points". You do not accrue any insurance points if you are not at fault. It's illegal for companies to assess you points or change your premiums for an accident that is someone else's fault. No-fault or At-fault are different, but not when another driver is At-fault.

Here's an example from North Carolina about what governs insurance premium changes. Although the specifics vary from state to state, the general concepts are the same. Your rates cannot change when you are the victim and not at-fault.

https://www.ncconsumer.org/news-articles-eg/your-auto-insurance-premium-changes-based-upon-insurance-points-when-you-file-a-claim.html

[Anonymous]

OP here. Hit-and-runner told her insurance company that she didn’t hit my car. Shocking, I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Hit-and-runner told her insurance company that she didn’t hit my car. Shocking, I know.

And that is why it is important to call the police with the information from the eyewitness. The police can interview the witness and include the information in the report. The report can be used by your insurance company to help litigate the issue with the hit-and-runner's insurance company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Hit-and-runner told her insurance company that she didn’t hit my car. Shocking, I know.

And that is why it is important to call the police with the information from the eyewitness. The police can interview the witness and include the information in the report. The report can be used by your insurance company to help litigate the issue with the hit-and-runner's insurance company.

There’s still time to file a police report. What a sad drain on resources (at the fault of the hit-and-run driver).