Someone hit my car & drove off, need advice.

So I washed and waxed my 99 10AE on Sunday and detailed the entire interior. I took it for a drive and put it away for the night. In the morning I went to a doctors appointment and was only inside for ~5 minutes when I walked outside and my car had been hit in the parking lot. Someone was backing out and drove down the passenger side of the car, taking out the front quarter panel and the door, and then just drove off

Whatever hit my car was white (I believe it was a white ford explorer that I parked next to when I got there, but I'm still not sure if that car was on the passenger or drivers side, but I definitely parked next to one). So I had the police come, he checked it out, and amazingly the clinic I was at gave the names and numbers of the three people who had come before me (I was the 4th person to arrive that morning).

I have a really good feeling it was one of those 3 people who left the clinic before me. Because it looks like they were backing out, not driving up. It's plausible that someone drove up, bashed my car, and drove away, but the damage really appears like they were backing out and cut the wheel too hard. So anyhow, I called the cops yesterday afternoon and they didn't answer, and they still haven't answered my voicemail. I was just curious what is the best way to follow-up on the situation? I realize the chances of catching the person are slim, and I'm going to have to eat the repair costs , which is a real bummer, being a college student, I probably won't be able to get it fixed until after I graduate. It was a clean, two-owner and low-miles car for what it matters :-(.

No insurance? Granted Michigan is an odd state for auto insurance but I would think that your insurance company would pay for a hit and run verified with a police report.

Remember that the police rate hit and run accidents as a very low priority, so be patient.

I always avoid parking next to cars known to be attractive to idiot drivers for that reason...I had something similar happen to me when I was in university but luckily it was just a scrape on the front bumper...

Since you have no money I'd consider making a deal with the insurance devil on this one, I'm sure they'd pay for it. If you really want it fixed, it shouldn't hit you too hard in the long run since it wasn't your fault.

Don't call the police, go in and file a report. That will set the wheels in motion.

Also, ask the clinic or any surrounding business for any security video that might show something. Act quickly, as they often re-use the tapes unless they're needed.

He's in MI so unless he has collision he gets no $$ from the insurance company. I hate to say it, but you have essentially no hope of ever recovering any money from whomever hit you. Even if you could prove who hit you, they're limited to a $500 liability. Decide how much that $500 is worth and invest your time accordingly.

stumpmj wrote: Even if you could prove who hit you, they're limited to a $500 liability.

Why would they possibly be limited to $500.?

Michigan has a "Mini TORT" policy regulation on PLPD (basic) insurance that allows underinsured owners to collect $500.00 collision reperations for damage.

Why do you not have full coverage on your 99 10AE in Florida? You drive alongside those idiots, you should know better!

I have full coverage on a rusted 1989 Jetta GLI for crying out loud.

I have a joke insurance policy too. I'm just minimizing the parasitic loss of money. I'm good at avoiding accidents, my cars are cheap to fix and insurance is ZOMGEXPENSIVE, so it's really just simple math. I figure if I get into an accident where the repair bill is anywhere near the difference between one year's joke insurance and full coverage, the car probably has frame damage anyway.

If you file a report, make sure you write down the incident report number. It's like a quick reference number and they can bring it up the report much quicker.

<--had to google "10AE" to see what car this happened to.

Anyway, the situation sucks and furthers the case of why I NEVER park a car I care about near anyone. It's a given that something's going to happen eventually. People are far too self-centered to worry about dinging/denting someone else's car.

Crappy world. Teh person who hit you didn't care and the cops won't care. It's simply a losing situation (unless it wan an employee at the clinic adn you can match up the damage)

This doesn't help your situation, but in the future, trust no one to keep your car pristine.

That sucks, I love the 10AE (something about all the blue)

You're probably SOL, we got rear-ended in Michigan, both drivers had full insurance and we got nothing from their insurance... and I think that we didn't take anything from ours because our rates would go up more than the fixing cost? or something like that. This was after about 20 hours of dad on the phone trying to get anything.

gamby wrote: <--had to google "10AE" to see what car this happened to

So what is it ?

The first Miata with fixed headlights.

It is a factory "special" with a blue interior and the sports package and a custom blue color.

I'm in Florida. I dunno where y'all got Michigan (you think y'all would give it away). Anyhow, the 10AE is the 10th Anniversary Edition Miata, it's Sapphire blue with blue interior & sport suspension. It's nothing special, but it was my car and I was very fond of it. I also always make a point of parking far away from other cars, but it was 6:00am and I was not thinking. It also was not a minor scrape, they drove down the entire side of my car, they definitely knew they hit it.

I did act fast, the cop got the names of the three people who were at the doctor before I left (as per the original post). I realize I'm screwed, and my insurance told me they will cover nothing. I guess there is nothing I can do except hope the cops call me back, which is about a .00001% chance of happening. Bummer.

I had a hit and run and I even provided the police with a plate number. They told me that there were insufficient resources to track the car down, so I had to pay out of MY OWN deductible to get it fixed.

Then, to add insult to injury, LITERALLY the same day I got my car back from the shop, I had ANOTHER berkeleying hit and run that destroyed the body work that had just been done.

The only thing the cops could say was to make a claim and pay up.

Having a hit-and-run happen to you shows you just how remarkably ineffective your tax dollars are at funding law enforcement. It would take an intern about 15 minutes to look up a plate number, but it won't happen. I had uninsured motorist coverage, but that only works if the police research and discover that the car is uninsured. Since they refused to allocate those resources, I had no choice but to pay up.

iceracer wrote:

gamby wrote: <--had to google "10AE" to see what car this happened to

So what is it ?

It is also the first 6-speed in a Miata