Other driver takes off after accident!

[J8]

Happened to my dad this morning while he was going to work.

A Jeep pulls out of the right lane (without warning, no signal), and smacked into the right front fender area of my dad's car (my dad was driving in the middle lane). Both of them pull over to the side of the road and my dad tells the other driver to get the registration, etc. to exchange. I guess she was in a hurry/no insurance, b/c she ended up driving away.

My dad ended up getting the make and model of the vehicle and a partial plate number. BTW, he went to police and they told him..."nothing we can do sir". Quote so far, is $1200 damage on a $3000 car! :confused:

Is there any way to track the driver down or SOL??? :confused:

[coriolis]

Happened to my dad this morning while he was going to work.

A Jeep pulls out of the right lane (without warning, no signal), and smacked into the right front fender area of my dad's car (my dad was driving in the middle lane). Both of them pull over to the side of the road and my dad tells the other driver to get the registration, etc. to exchange. I guess she was in a hurry/no insurance, b/c she ended up driving away.

My dad ended up getting the make and model of the vehicle and a partial plate number. BTW, he went to police and they told him..."nothing we can do sir". Quote so far, is $1200 damage on a $3000 car! :confused:

Is there any way to track the driver down or SOL??? :confused:

What area was this in? Any security cameras nearby?


If it was in the morning, I'm assuming they might of gone to leave for work/school/etc. and live there, so perhaps check the neighbourhood?

[steve-0101]

Happened to my dad this morning while he was going to work.

A Jeep pulls out of the right lane (without warning, no signal), and smacked into the right front fender area of my dad's car (my dad was driving in the middle lane). Both of them pull over to the side of the road and my dad tells the other driver to get the registration, etc. to exchange. I guess she was in a hurry/no insurance, b/c she ended up driving away.

My dad ended up getting the make and model of the vehicle and a partial plate number. BTW, he went to police and they told him..."nothing we can do sir". Quote so far, is $1200 damage on a $3000 car! :confused:

Is there any way to track the driver down or SOL??? :confused:

Nothing they can do? Failing to remain is one of the most serious driving related offences, and carries 7 demerit points - I'm surprised they just brushed it off. Or is it because the partial plate was *really* partial?

[Matrixvibe]

Nothing they can do? Failing to remain is one of the most serious driving related offences, and carries 7 demerit points - I'm surprised they just brushed it off. Or is it because the partial plate was *really* partial?

+1 I'm surprised about that too. OP's dad probably gave a partial or too vague of a license plate.

[jackiechan511]

OP, I have some questions about your case.

Did you manage to get all the letters and digits of the plate? This is important as there are millions of licence plates in Ontario. Even if one digit was missing, the police can and SHOULD track down the vehicle.

Highway 407 is sophisticated in doing this. If one digit of the licence plate is obstructed, they can still track down the vehicle if they know the details of the licence plate, and the make/model of the vehicle and issue a bill in the mail.

My own personal experience is that if a driver does flee the scene of an accident then 8 times out of 10, the driver is probably hiding something like being impaired, no insurance, suspended licence etc.....

My recommendation to everyone is to have dashcams on the dashboard and record away. That way if anyone tries to lie their way out then the camera evidence will make or break someone's story.

[vero95]

lesson learned
next time always get the license plate numbers
someone was saying it's good to tell cops the other driver appeared to be drunk. then they will do something

[trixstar]

dash cam would have been your best friend

[J8]

I asked my dad how "partial" the plate was. He keeps telling me the numerical part. It happened so fast, that's all he could remember. It was 630am, so it was still dark out. I've always heard stories about other scumbag drivers out there, driving w/o insurance/etc., but this hit a bit too close to home. I told my dad to keep an eye for that Jeep in future.

[umop]

Why didn't your dad follow the car?

[navyseals]

I asked my dad how "partial" the plate was. He keeps telling me the numerical part. It happened so fast, that's all he could remember. It was 630am, so it was still dark out. I've always heard stories about other scumbag drivers out there, driving w/o insurance/etc., but this hit a bit too close to home. I told my dad to keep an eye for that Jeep in future.

If you have the number and make of the vehicle you're ok. Go to a different police station?

[jjgitties]

lesson learned
next time always get the license plate numbers
someone was saying it's good to tell cops the other driver appeared to be drunk. then they will do something

better yet, tell em they were taliban and had kalashnikovs. that will get the army involved. :-)

http://estb.msn.com/i/57/F9E3B8E81138F9399B33B47B532.jpg

[trixstar]

If you have the number and make of the vehicle you're ok. Go to a different police station?

I've seen cars that are the same make/model/year with almost identical plates..


eg.. BMAT 256 , BMAT 583 ... maybe that's why the popo told u there was nothing they can do.. It's too hard to track down a vehicle with just the numbers.,,

[JohnB]

ie...

1999-2003 Jeep Grand Orvis Edition Dark Green
##A# 4(5/9/8)#
Postal Code (snow/frost still on the car the person probably lives near by)
Bulletin body shops / junkyards.

Its possible if the police werent so damn lazy.

[J8]

Why didn't your dad follow the car?

I asked him the same thing. His response was "..Didn't want to be late for work." Go figure. :rolleyes:

Never can figure out geezers...lol.

[XtremeModder]

First thing to always do when in an accident (if possible) is write down the plate or at least memorize it

[arm2000]

Something that I don't get here: insurance usually has a section for hit and run. They shd handle this, no need to ask police to search (but you have to report it) or follow the other driver. Have you talked with insurance company?

[bmedicky]

I've seen cars that are the same make/model/year with almost identical plates..


eg.. BMAT 256 , BMAT 583 ... maybe that's why the popo told u there was nothing they can do.. It's too hard to track down a vehicle with just the numbers.,,

Yeah, but one of those vehicles -- the guilty one -- is gonna have a big fat dent in the front from the collision. You'd think the police would realize that, and act on the partial info.

[blainehamilton]

First thing to always do when in an accident (if possible) is write down the plate or at least memorize it

Yes! Always - ALWAYS ALWAYS!!! memorize or write down the plate of the other vehicle in an accident.

Also very critical:

1. Make sure nobody is hurt.
2. Ask someone who saw to be a witness asap. Ask them to write down what they saw.

[TrevorK]

Something that I don't get here: insurance usually has a section for hit and run. They shd handle this, no need to ask police to search (but you have to report it) or follow the other driver. Have you talked with insurance company?

If his father does not carry collision, which seems likely if his car is worth $3000, then insurance won't cover the hit and run.

[DavidY]

Suggest carrying a digital or a cheap disposable camera in the glove compartment for accidents and such.

Dave

[adblink182]

Suggest carrying a digital or a cheap disposable camera in the glove compartment for accidents and such.

Dave

or just have a cellphone that was made in the last 5+ years?

[bmedicky]

If his father does not carry collision, which seems likely if his car is worth $3000, then insurance won't cover the hit and run.

Hold on... I thought insurance companies will cover a collision if you're not at fault, even without collision on your policy. There are threads here on RFD that say that very thing. Collision insurance pays to repair your vehicle if you cause an accident.

[mau108]

Hold on... I thought insurance companies will cover a collision if you're not at fault, even without collision on your policy. There are threads here on RFD that say that very thing. Collision insurance pays to repair your vehicle if you cause an accident.

Nope, your insurance company will not cover your vehicle in any incident. However if the other party was at fault you should be able to claim and the insurance company will gather funds from the party at fault.

[TrevorK]

Hold on... I thought insurance companies will cover a collision if you're not at fault, even without collision on your policy. There are threads here on RFD that say that very thing. Collision insurance pays to repair your vehicle if you cause an accident.

What I have been told is that hit and run is only covered if you have collision because hit and run involves an unidentified driver. While my views are based on my province, here is a thread in which COSMIC responds to such an inquiry:
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/hit-run-1131530/
COSMIC has represented himself as an Insurance Broker in Ontario so he may be a good source of information.

Further, using an insurance broker's site:
http://www.lombard.ca/rcl/faqsauto.html
Collision insurance - Covers damage to your car when it is involved in a collision with another car or object. Collision coverage also covers single-vehicle accidents and hit and run accidents.

[Drew_W]

On a hit and run, it is a collision claim (not at fault to you), but you are REQUIRED to have a police report.

[XtremeModder]

Yes! Always - ALWAYS ALWAYS!!! memorize or write down the plate of the other vehicle in an accident.

Also very critical:

1. Make sure nobody is hurt.
2. Ask someone who saw to be a witness asap. Ask them to write down what they saw.

I've been in 3 accidents (only 1 at fault) and someone hit my gfs car in December, not once Out of those times did anyone ever stop to be a witness because no one gives a **** about anyone but themselves.

I've been a witness to 2 accidents and offered to be but both said don't worry about it

[chickibum]

Nothing they can do? Failing to remain is one of the most serious driving related offences, and carries 7 demerit points - I'm surprised they just brushed it off. Or is it because the partial plate was *really* partial?

Happened to me as well. A car in a parking lot backed into my car not once, but twice, driver got out and looked, and drove away despite the damage. Luckily there was a witness who wrote down the full plate and make/model of the car and it was all caught on the surveillance camera from a macs store. I called the cops, they ran the plate. He told me it was a rental car so he can't do anything >:(>:(>:(

[ES_Revenge]

Nothing they can do? Failing to remain is one of the most serious driving related offences, and carries 7 demerit points - I'm surprised they just brushed it off. Or is it because the partial plate was *really* partial?
You must not have dealt with the police often. This isn't a surprise at all.

[ccyk]

First thing to always do when in an accident (if possible) is write down the plate or at least memorize itbetter yet, take out the phone and do a snap shot

[Ballroomblitz]

Better yet everyone these days carries a cell phone so snap a picture, I know that is step one for me after reading this one.