Here's one for ya... you too can be a true American

[Peterofdevon]

Here's one for ya!

I'm sitting at a red light yesterday in the 94 and the guy in the car behind me decides that he wants to make a left turn. So he pulls out sharply into the left turn lane and clips my left rear bumper with his right front. He slows down and looks over at me as he's passing as I'm rolling down my window and yell HEY! YOU JUST HIT ME. He keeps on going and makes the left across the intersection as I sit stunned for a moment. I think, holy ****.. he hit and now he runs. Its broad daylight in the middle of my town! So I CHASE. He pulls in a Wallgreens and I park behind him and block him. He's getting out and I say YOU HIT MY CAR! He's an older guy and he says "I didn't think I hit you, but maybe I brushed you. I said brushed! Tapped! Hit, whatever you want to call it... there's damage to my car!!!

So I call 911 and the cop comes and sees the damage to both cars and writes the report. The guy says to the cop, well perhaps I hit him, I'm not sure. So I get the report and the write up area to it is blank, the cop says he keeps that in case of an ins. claim. The cop tells us that its a non-reportable and that we can settle amongst ourselves. So I go right to the body shop and get a $706 estimate and called the guy. He says.. wow that's a lot. I have a body guy who can do it cheaper. I said, no, we use my shop. I said listen, you sleep on it, you can call my shop and just pay them or you can report it...

So here's the kicker... he reports it to his ins. company... they call and take my statement and record it and then after the recording stops they say... well, our insured said he never hit you car!!! WHAT???

What a **** head. So I freak and say what kind of crap is this? Your guy reports the accident and then says it didn't happen. So the rep says we'll need the police report. Get this, the rep calls me back 20 minutes later and says they are getting the report sent over. So now I sit and now I fume.

Moral to the story... be a true American, never admit to anything--even with your hand in the cookie jar. The old guy may snake out of this. He must have worked on Wall Street.

Peter the pissed

[Jesda]

What a jerk. You should ask if he owns anything of value to take in lieu of cash.

[maxnix]

Secure an attorney right now! Yes it will cost you money up front, but you should recover reasonable attorneys fees when you prevail. Record everything in writing for your self and your counsel right now. Take pictures of your car and find his and do the same. Lots, including close up. Call the PD and get them to investigate further and take paint samples form his car. Damage over $500 in most municipalities will trigger this. And have as recent a picture of your car before the damage. You guy is guilty of hit and run. Talk to the investigating officer's supervisor and question him about the officer's report.

Your insurance company should be going to bat for you. One thing you have to realize is that your insurance company represents themselves first! This is another reason securing your own counsel will leverage them if they are lagging. A letter from him will work wonders.

You are in fricking Philly! Got any connections?

[Q451990]

Wow that sucks... let us know how this all works out.

Brian's advice is excellent - but I would probably hold off for a day or two on retaining the attorney until the insurance company makes their "final" judgment, assuming that will happen quickly. Just make sure you document everything... dates, times, who you talked to, what was said - etc. Then you can hand that over to an attorney if the time comes.

Heath

[marlin29311]

Was it one of those dbag main line old men? Those guys suck - fight this hard, make him pay for it.

[NightRiderQ45]

Pics should have been taken at the time of the accident when they both pulled over in the parking lot along with license plate. That is total BS when the cop stated that he couldn't report it! When is a hit and run non reportable? Total BS!

[Peterofdevon]

Now you guys made me really nervous, sooooo.

I go to his house (townhouses) and take the pics plus go to the police station and pay the $15 privilage for a copy of the report.

It clearly states he hit me. My tax dollars are on the job. So I say to the clerk after reading it, " I don't need a copy anyway." She gives me my 15 bucks back and all is well.

The lying old fart's ins. company will have to pay due to the report.

Its a pisser, I just had that bumper cover replaced and painted (out of my dust balled pocket).

I'll make sure I get a rent a car and take the optional insurance when the work is getting done.

Peter

[maxnix]

I'll make sure I get a rent a car and take the optional insurance when the work is getting done.

Peter

Absolutely! But don't forget to document everything in triplicate. Photographs especially.

Submit your car repair bid for inclusion in the police report.

And when you talk to the investigating officer's supervisor, be sure to have him clarify in writing the department's policy on hit and run. Really.