Hit and Run and found the possible runner

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Hit and Run and found the possible runner

starcub

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#233405 14-Apr-2018 22:17

As shown in the video below, my car was parked on the street and it was hit by a Toyota Hiace at around 8:30pm Thursday night.

The guy run away without leaving a note or anything.

I only have 3rd party insurance so I had to fix it at my own cost. I took it to a panel beater for a quick fix - basically put the scratched and cracked bumper back on. It's not ideal but that's all I could afford.

Then I found a Toyota Hiace parked on the driveway of my neighbor's house about 20 houses down. Our street is quiet and there are not many Vans would come to this street at that time. So it's probably people who live in the street.

The van matches with the description and it has scratches and some freshly applied putty to where the van would have hit my bumper. I took a photo.

So I'm pretty sure this is the van escaped.

I'd like to get some advice on what I should do now? Should I just go and knock on the door and hopefully they will admit it? Or do I just send everything to the police and insurance?

I think my 3rd party insurance will also cover me if I can provide evidence that I'm not at fault and the other drivers contact details?

Many thanks

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#1996220 14-Apr-2018 22:27

Unless you have evidence it's pretty circumstantial so be careful about making accusations. You could go and talk to them and see if they admit it, otherwise report it to Police. I doubt the Police will do much about it however. If they don't admit it I think you are kinda stuck.

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gehenna

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#1996235 14-Apr-2018 23:26

That damage looks rusty, which takes a while to happen after the paint is removed. Unless it's just dirty?

It does look like a very similar bumper layout.

Kraven

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#1996238 14-Apr-2018 23:55

Damage to the van looks like he's reversed into something, it's pushed in from the rear. Doesn't match with the video where the van is driving forwards. IMHO I don't think you have the right van, sorry.

Bung

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#1996242 15-Apr-2018 00:27

As above ^ . The van in the video looks as if it hit ahead of its rear wheel when the bumper came off. The dent in the picture is wrong direction and too old.

Dial111

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#1996249 15-Apr-2018 05:37

Watching the video I can 100% say you have the wrong van. Impact is before rear wheel on van, that van has reversing damage.

starcub

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#1996253 15-Apr-2018 06:19

It's not the rusty dent I'm refering to, It's the bigger area between the wheel and the rusty dent.

It's probably very hard to see on this photo but It clearly has had scratches and new putty on when looking the van.

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Dial111

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#1996257 15-Apr-2018 07:43

The point of impact was before the rear wheel which you haven't provided photos of so without proof of damage to that area I still believe you have the wrong van.. Any evidence you have is all circumstantial at this point, nothing that ties that van to the accident.

As an ex tradie in panel and vehicle refinishing that distortion on that back panel can easily have been caused by the initial impact (rusted area)

You can ask the owners if they know anything about it but I would stop short of accusing them though.

Fred99

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#1996258 15-Apr-2018 07:48

Pretty well every old full-size tradie/delivery van has scratches all over it like that - they're b*stards of things to reverse and park, plenty of people have private driveways etc with low obstacles, walls, posts etc at the perfect height to run in to, not visible in rear view or easily seen in side mirrors. (for this reason they're a major hazard to small children as well of course).

I agree that it looks possible that's the van, but there are thousands of vans like that - and you're probably going to be on a hiding to nowhere accusing the owner.

Bung

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#1996262 15-Apr-2018 08:10

Does the van have any damage ahead of the rear wheel? I see the car bumper start coming off before the van rear wheel has reached the front of the car. Try watching at 0.25x playback speed.

RunningMan

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#1996265 15-Apr-2018 08:19

Different style wheels too.

lNomNoml

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#1996266 15-Apr-2018 08:28

The point of impact was before the rear wheel of the van, is there any damage before the rear wheel?

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Dairyxox

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#1996267 15-Apr-2018 08:38

I'm not convinced from this evidence either.

The rear light cluster looks a bit different to my eyes. The one in the photo extends down quite far in a vertical layout. The one in the video appears higher up?

Batman

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#1996281 15-Apr-2018 09:16

It may or may not be the van, but your photo is NOT where the impact area is. Impact area seems to be at the front of the rear wheel arch from the video.

Damning evidence would be your paint over his front of the rear wheel arch area.

scuwp

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#1996288 15-Apr-2018 09:30

Sorry video didn't work for me earlier on my phone.

I agree that the damage to the van would be forward of the rear left wheel, not behind it. You have photographed and are looking at the wrong area. Hard to tell but the wheels on the van in the video look different. The rear left wheel has a distinct reflection as if it's got a polished or shiny finish. Perhaps a mag wheel or shiny plastic cover. The wheel in your photo shows a mat finish hubcap.

Unless you can provide better/wider photo's of the suspect van my conclusion would have to be you likely have the wrong vehicle.

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tdgeek

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#1996289 15-Apr-2018 09:31

The video shows the bumper as all pale, I cant pick the black corner

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