Un. berkeleying. Believeable.

Got hit and run in the FRS today on my way to grab lunch 

I'm sitting at a red light in the left lane on a 4 lane divided road through a busy retail area, about 1 or 2 cars back from where a pair of LH turn lanes open up at the intersection. Waiting for the light to turn green, and all of a sudden there's headlights coming at me - ON THE WRONG SIDE OF A berkeleyING DIVIDED ROADWAY!!! Guy must have come barreling up through the turn lanes, doing probably ~30 mph, and started trying to scoot along the shoulder/median. I tried to move over as far as I could, watched him fly past inches away from nailing me head on, then felt the hit. berkeley!!!

Light turns green and traffic starts moving, so I pull into the turning lane, whip a U-turn, and tried to take off after the shiny happy person, but they were long gone, couldn't even get the tags. Called the cops and gave them a description of the vehicle - a maroon/tan two tone Subaru Legacy Outback wagon - then pulled into the mall parking lot up the street to wait for them to show up. Filed the report and then headed back to work. 

This is the intersection. I was heading east on Eisenhower Dr right about where the traffic is stacked up here.

Damage fortunately doesn't look too terrible, the driver's side rear quarter panel is creased pretty good, bumper is messed up, paint is scuffed and cracked, and the wheel is pretty scuffed too. Seems to drive OK still, but I haven't had it up much over 35mph, we'll see how it does on the drive home. I'll post pics later.

SO berkeleyING PISSED right now. This is by far the newest, nicest, and most expensive car I've ever owned and I haven't even had it three weeks before some shiny happy person goes and berkeleys it up. Haven't even made a damn payment yet. How you end up driving down the wrong side of a divided roadway like this is beyond me, the only explanation I can fathom is the asshat was drunk, high, or senile. Whatever the case may be, berkeley them, may they be t-boned and killed by a tractor trailer. This is my 3rd completely not at fault accident now in the last four years, with the previous two both resulting in my car getting totaled. Not quite ebonyandivory bad, but this is still getting a bit ridiculous.  

So now a couple questions: First, I'm wondering if I berkeleyed up by trying to chase the guy down. I only went about a block down the road before I realized he was long gone, but there were no witnesses there by the time the cop showed up for him to speak to. What are the odds I get held partially at fault as a result of this?

Second, how does one go about finding a good body shop? Can anyone recommend one in south central PA? Like I said, my previous two accidents both resulted in my car being totaled, so I've never had to deal with this aspect before. I damn sure want to make sure this thing is fixed right, though, and I'm especially concerned about the paint matching, since it looks like a good portion of the QP is going to need a respray.  

Ugh. E36 M3ty day. Feel a bit better now at least after venting.

Jfc. At least it wasn't an Accord?

For the first question, no. You should be fine; can always argue you were trying to get a better description of the vehicle/driver for the cops. Plus it was after the hit, so no possible reason you could be at fault.

Second question, local FB car group you can hit up?

I will PRAY they find the guy by using your description. I’ll hold him while you berkeley him up.

I had no witnesses in my two crashes but being completely stopped in traffic helps win the battle.

(I have a feeling he’ll be caught and arrested)

lol at the Accord comment!

BOLO

Any traffic cams there?

Sorry for your misfortune, hope it works out. 

This is why everyone should have a dash cam. Think of how much better this post would be if we could see the accident happen. 

I had similar damage less than 2 weeks after buying my Mustang brand new, but it was because I pulled out in front of someone I didn't see.  He almost missed me. 

As for body shop, I start with the list of preferred shops from my insurance agent and then ask around local car groups. Hopefully the damage is light enough that you can drive it while picking out a shop. Also go talk to the shops. Trust your gut about them.

In reply to ebonyandivory :

Yup, just like that one, except with damage on the driver's side. I'd LOVE nothing more than to royally berkeley this shiny happy person's day up, but I suspect that may lead to some further repercussions on my end. At the very least, if they find them, I will make this as financially painful as I possibly can. 

Logically, I can't see how this could possibly be my fault, but that had me worried a bit anyways. I DID have witnesses, there had to be at least a dozen other cars within eyesight of the accident, and it's actually pretty amazing that no one else (presumably) got hit, just that none of them were around when and where the cops showed up.

Unfortunately, the cops said the odds of catching the shiny happy person aren't good, but we'll see. My boss is actually letting me go early so I can stop at the Dodge dealer, Denny's, and Rite Aid adjacent to the intersection to see if any of them have cameras that may have caught anything.

Bummer, man!

Where exactly in SCPA?  I can ask friends in that area.

In reply to lnlogauge :

Yea, really should invest in one after this E36 M3. 

In reply to Duke :

I live in Carlisle, but the accident was in Hanover, where I work. 

Good part is that you are okay.  The car can be fixed, but it still sucks.  I'd bet that person is under the influence, or driving on an expired/suspended license (or both) which explains the bad driving/why they didn't stop.

What is it about the 86 that turns it into a E36 M3 magnet?  In less than a year, I've been run off the road 3 times, and hit from behind at a merge. 

No one ever screwed with the 450,000mi 4Runner that looked every bit the 450,000 miles.

I need to invest in a fron/back dash cam. 

Appleseed said:

What is it about the 86 that turns it into a E36 M3 magnet?  In less than a year, I've been run off the road 3 times, and hit from behind at a merge. 

No one ever screwed with the 450,000mi 4Runner that looked every bit the 450,000 miles.

I need to invest in a fron/back dash cam. 

Similarly, my friend had had his FR-S less than a month when someone rearended it, and a friend of a friend had theirs totalled when someone smashed into it in rush hour traffic.

All I have to say is that if someone ever hits my Miata, they better keep driving because I will likely yank them out of the car and beat them in the middle of the road.

lnlogauge said:

This is why everyone should have a dash cam. Think of how much better this post would be if we could see the accident happen. 

On Monday, an SUV in front of me failed to squeeze into a turn lane (hitting a Kia). Realizing their mistake, they promptly threw it in reverse and hit me too. Heck yeah I'd post dashcam footage if I had it! Got a video confession instead.

I have been contemplating a dash cam myself.. but I keep thinking harder and harder about it

In reply to Furious_E :

Set up a local Craigslist alert for Subaru Legacys in both the cars and parts section  Who knows a damaged Subaru may show up complete with contact phone number!  

Take that picture I posted and make copies and put them up all over town with your contact info.

sucks dude. the more posts i read like this the more i want to invest in a dashcam

NickD said:

Appleseed said:

What is it about the 86 that turns it into a E36 M3 magnet?  In less than a year, I've been run off the road 3 times, and hit from behind at a merge. 

No one ever screwed with the 450,000mi 4Runner that looked every bit the 450,000 miles.

I need to invest in a fron/back dash cam. 

Similarly, my friend had had his FR-S less than a month when someone rearended it, and a friend of a friend had theirs totalled when someone smashed into it in rush hour traffic.

All I have to say is that if someone ever hits my Miata, they better keep driving because I will likely yank them out of the car and beat them in the middle of the road.

Why didn't you people tell me this before I bought the damn thing?!?! 

I thought I was an isolated case. Doesn't appear so. 

Furious,

There's a good body shop behind the Hyundai dealer on Carlisle St. They do a nice job. Off hand I can't remember the name of the shop, but they are directly behind the dealer.

Pics of the carnage. Please excuse the dirt, weather has been crappy the past few days, and the lighting. It's the best I can do for now.

I mean, it's not horrible - quarter is pretty sprinkled, new bumper cover, some of the sheet metal under the bumper is mashed, and I'll want that wheel replaced. Still sucks ass, though.

Had no luck at any of the surrounding businesses, seems none of them have any cameras facing the road. Would have thouht the Dodge dealer, with a few hundred grand of inventory sitting on the lot and, incidentally the best vantage point, at least would have some cameras out front, but nope. The intersection has cameras, but as I understand it, red light cameras only shoot if someone runs the light and trips them. If that is in fact the case, hopefully he did.

And after this BS, I am definitely buying a dash cam.

This is a long shot.  If you know anyone in law enforcement, see if  there was any other activity in the area that may match the description of the car.  Just might get lucky.   Sorry about your misfortune, but glad no one got hurt.

In reply to Dirtydog :

He/she may have been pulled over for erratic driving or speeding.

Id also drive around random neighborhoods and ask friends to do so as well