Claiming from someone 3 months later?

[Bobton125]

In mid December I posted cctv footage of a car backing into mine and driving off, causing thousands in damage. The footage was quite poor, even though I could make out the spec of the car, couldn’t see a plate.
As it happened in a residential area and was a fairly uncommon car, said car has returned back to the house where the incident happened.
A police report was made at the time but they’ve since closed the case as local cctv couldn’t catch them either.

Is there anything I can do in this instance? I’m trying to think of the best way to play it?

Btw, a friend sent me a picture of the perps car but as it was such a light tap couldn’t see any visible damage from a distance. I’m currently away on holiday so unable to go check it out myself.

Any advice please as it makes me sick paying this imminent bill

Thanks

[smokey mow]

Unfortunately all you can prove is that a car that looks similar to one that damaged your car was parked on your street recently.

I would say that in the absence of clear cctv showing the plate or witnesses to the actual event there’s nothing you can do as all your evidence is circumstantial.

[Bobupndown]

Agree with above. Even if there is damage to it, it doesn't prove that it was caused by hitting your car. Police used to have a 'hit and run kit' which was for taking paint samples of suspected offending vehicle for forensic comparison of the paint transfer. Haven't heard of these being used for years though. With the passage of time, road dirt, car washing etc it's probably a lost cause. Hateful though.

[Alex Z]

If you go and speak to the owner with a friendly “Hello. I think you hit my car a few months ago. I have a video” and they admit it. Great.

If not, you have no proof the car in the footage is the one there now.

[anonymous-user]

Just go ahead and covertly damage theirs in some sort of grasp for retribution?

Or just let it go - things are sorted now and times have moved on. Just one of those st things that happen I guess

[Monkeylegend]

Bobton125 said:

In mid December I posted cctv footage of a car backing into mine and driving off, causing thousands in damage. The footage was quite poor, even though I could make out the spec of the car, couldn’t see a plate.
As it happened in a residential area and was a fairly uncommon car, said car has returned back to the house where the incident happened.
A police report was made at the time but they’ve since closed the case as local cctv couldn’t catch them either.

Is there anything I can do in this instance? I’m trying to think of the best way to play it?

Btw, a friend sent me a picture of the perps car but as it was such a light tap couldn’t see any visible damage from a distance. I’m currently away on holiday so unable to go check it out myself.

Any advice please as it makes me sick paying this imminent bill

Thanks

If it was "such a light tap" maybe they didn't realise they had hit yours and caused thousands in damage.

[Shiv_P]

Alex Z said:

If you go and speak to the owner with a friendly “Hello. I think you hit my car a few months ago. I have a video” and they admit it. Great.

If not, you have no proof the car in the footage is the one there now.

I would do this

[AlexRS2782]

For anyone missing the background, including OP hoping for some Horatio Caine, CSI Miami, style super zooming on the plate , see the original thread below.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Bobton125]

Haha thanks for that, incase anyone wanted to see the rubbish footage ^

[anonymous-user]

You could try approaching a company that specialises in neural engine. Even the most grainy of footage can be enhanced to a degree. Give them the footage and ask if it is possible before parting with any cash. It might cost a few hundred. Some provide a 5 second sample for free.

I would not approach someone because they are close by and it looks familiar, without any evidence.

Hope it works out

[elanfan]

Just report your claim to your insurers and give his details as the person that caused the damage. Let them follow it up.

He could get done for leaving the scene of an accident too. - unlikely.

How is there no visible damage to his car yet thousands to yours?

[Bobton125]

elanfan said:

Just report your claim to your insurers and give his details as the person that caused the damage. Let them follow it up.

He could get done for leaving the scene of an accident too. - unlikely.

How is there no visible damage to his car yet thousands to yours?

But if I was to tell my insurers, how would it work if they couldn’t claim from the other driver? I’d rather pay for it myself than have a claim under my belt if they couldn’t prove it was them

Cracked Aston Martin bumper, cracked bumper reflector, broken parking sensor was only a slight nudge too

Edited by Bobton125 on Monday 28th March 08:16

[Bobton125]

Monkeylegend said:

If it was "such a light tap" maybe they didn't realise they had hit yours and caused thousands in damage.

Oh they 100% realised as after they nudged mine they moved forward again to give reversing around mine a 2nd go

[Bobton125]

DarrenFromLeeds said:

You could try approaching a company that specialises in neural engine. Even the most grainy of footage can be enhanced to a degree. Give them the footage and ask if it is possible before parting with any cash. It might cost a few hundred. Some provide a 5 second sample for free.

I would not approach someone because they are close by and it looks familiar, without any evidence.

Hope it works out

Asked about this before on here, apparently my footage is too poor and miracles can’t be done with this sort of thing

[Bobton125]

Monkeylegend said:

If it was "such a light tap" maybe they didn't realise they had hit yours and caused thousands in damage.

Probably not.. but they did unfortunately

[elanfan]

Just name the third party. It’s hen up to them to try to deny it.

Keep your powder dry, if he does try just say you have him on CCTV which he can check out when he next returns it’s on house XYZ. You don’t have to say the footage is crap. Probably be enough to call his bluff and he accepts liability.

[Collectingbrass]

Bobton125 said:

elanfan said:

Just report your claim to your insurers and give his details as the person that caused the damage. Let them follow it up.

He could get done for leaving the scene of an accident too. - unlikely.

How is there no visible damage to his car yet thousands to yours?

But if I was to tell my insurers, how would it work if they couldn’t claim from the other driver? I’d rather pay for it myself than have a claim under my belt if they couldn’t prove it was them

Cracked Aston Martin bumper, cracked bumper reflector, broken parking sensor was only a slight nudge too

Edited by Bobton125 on Monday 28th March 08:16

Unnoticed impact, twice, in December? I'd be making an anonymous call to 111 to dob the tesla in as a potential drunk driver.

Are you sure you can't claim off your policy for accident damage caused by an unknown 3rd party? It shouldn't be an at fault claim if you were home.

[russell_ram]

Collectingbrass said:

Unnoticed impact, twice, in December? I'd be making an anonymous call to 111 to dob the tesla in as a potential drunk driver.

Are you sure you can't claim off your policy for accident damage caused by an unknown 3rd party? It shouldn't be an at fault claim if you were home.

Unfortunately insurance companies dont see it like that. Not 'at fault' as such but recorded against your record - after all, it's partly your fault because if you hadnt of been there then it wouldnt have happened.

[Durzel]

elanfan said:

Just name the third party. It’s hen up to them to try to deny it.

Keep your powder dry, if he does try just say you have him on CCTV which he can check out when he next returns it’s on house XYZ. You don’t have to say the footage is crap. Probably be enough to call his bluff and he accepts liability.

+1

This is what I'd do. I'd probably report it to the Police too so that they (hopefully?) follow up with a "Failure to report within 24 hours" NIP, assuming that isn't timed out, in the hope that it might put the wind up the guy and they proactively come clean. That's pretty much your only hope really, since the CCTV is completely useless and only proves a grey Tesla hit it.

[elanfan]

The TP insurer will contact the TP and actively question them about the incident. He might find it difficult to lie to his insurers. The insurers might not believe his denials so might find they just pay out anyway.