Advice on a 'hit & run'

[Photokid]

So, last Friday I was parked on East street, PMB, at Midlands Hospital, to come out and find the rear RHS of the bumper scraped.

I see this note on my windscreen thinking it cannot be that they've left their details...just no way...and I was correct.
It was a witness who left the number plate of a KZN Mobile Library vehicle that knocked into my car and drove off.

I've reported the incident.

Which is the best and easiest way to verify the witness' report and how does one go about claiming from a government department, and lastly, is it worth it?
If it's worth anything, there is a surveillance camera on the corner of east and church street that would have been able to pick up the incident.
I estimate the damage to be around R2-3k. Mostly just a respray of the bumper.

 

[Dippies]

Bud Its def not worth Pursuing the matter especially when its a State vehicle that bumped in to you. Dont get me wrong but usually the state has more then one driver per vehicle. You need somebody that will be able to assist you in that relevant department, and then the State will just drag the case out till kingdom come.

Good luck.

:sorry: Just not worth the Pain to pursue

 

[Nic_s]

Police drove into my 540. Completely the other driver's fault, but the state wanted to take the matter to court to see if I share guild and the legal fees would have been way more than the damage to my vehicle. My lawyer advised that it wouldn't be worth it.

That said, your car was stationary. Don't see how anyone could want to argue that you share guild as you weren't even in your car.

The other vehicle should also have scrapes on it. Find it and take a picture if you can before they repair it.

 

[Rayzor]

:argh: sorry bud

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

Sorry to hear, I have to agree with what was said above, its not going to be worth your blood pressure and moola.

 

[Fraser]

I tend to disagree.
There are 12 charges relevant to a hit and run case.
The only thing that will prevent this case from being successful in court is determined by the eye witness.
Do you have their contact details and if so are they prepared to testify in court.

A good detective will do the rest.

My take on all cases like this is not determined by the financial implications to the perpetrator but whether or not they get a Guilty conviction.
That lasts a lifetime.
His employer may dismiss him for being convicted of a criminal offence and looking for a job anywhere else with a crimal offence such as a hit and run being a driver will prospectively be impossible.

You may not get your money back for the damages but at least you'll know financially he will be destitute in the near future.
A conviction will cost him more.

It's the principle that is important in these cases.

I've entered into plea agreements based in this fact alone.

Don't let him get away with it.

 

[Photokid]

Thanks for the feedback.

Police drove into my 540. Completely the other driver's fault, but the state wanted to take the matter to court to see if I share guild and the legal fees would have been way more than the damage to my vehicle. My lawyer advised that it wouldn't be worth it.

That said, your car was stationary. Don't see how anyone could want to argue that you share guild as you weren't even in your car.

The other vehicle should also have scrapes on it. Find it and take a picture if you can before they repair it.

Getting pics the other vehicle may be almost impossible. I could get the driver's details though. I'm sure they'd know who it was if I give them the date and time of the incident.

That area of town has crazies driving, it seems. The day before I'd parked in the hospital parkade, only to have someone open his door on my mirror while I was in the car! He's car was in a state of repairs already with the front bumper hanging on and the like.
So to not let that happen again, I thought street parking, parallel at that too, would be safer. sigh

---

I tend to disagree.
There are 12 charges relevant to a hit and run case.
The only thing that will prevent this case from being successful in court is determined by the eye witness.
Do you have their contact details and if so are they prepared to testify in court.

A good detective will do the rest.

My take on all cases like this is not determined by the financial implications to the perpetrator but whether or not they get a Guilty conviction.
That lasts a lifetime.
His employer may dismiss him for being convicted of a criminal offence and looking for a job anywhere else with a crimal offence such as a hit and run being a driver will prospectively be impossible.

You may not get your money back for the damages but at least you'll know financially he will be destitute in the near future.
A conviction will cost him more.

It's the principle that is important in these cases.

I've entered into plea agreements based in this fact alone.

Don't let him get away with it.

This is my feelings too, at times.

 

[Dippies]

I tend to disagree.
There are 12 charges relevant to a hit and run case.
The only thing that will prevent this case from being successful in court is determined by the eye witness.
Do you have their contact details and if so are they prepared to testify in court.

A good detective will do the rest.

My take on all cases like this is not determined by the financial implications to the perpetrator but whether or not they get a Guilty conviction.
That lasts a lifetime.
His employer may dismiss him for being convicted of a criminal offence and looking for a job anywhere else with a crimal offence such as a hit and run being a driver will prospectively be impossible.

You may not get your money back for the damages but at least you'll know financially he will be destitute in the near future.
A conviction will cost him more.

It's the principle that is important in these cases.

I've entered into plea agreements based in this fact alone.

Don't let him get away with it.

I 2 share this motion but is it worth the effort and time to do is my dismay Unfortunately

 

[Photokid]

So, apparently, government departments don't have insurance for their vehicles.
Waiting on the manager to come back to me.
RTI are able to supply with video footage from the street surveillance camera.

 

[Thunder]

Sorry to hear bud.

Each post here has a valid point in it. It depends on you if you want to try and get then to pay for it.

Just hate when people have no respect for other peoples cars.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Photokid]

yeah, witness in the vehicle behind says that the truck hit the bumper,

stopped, and instead of backing up, continued damaging the car.

Luckily he missed my tail light else the repair cost would've gone up considerably.

 

[///Maniac]

Why don't you claim from your insurance and hand over all the details and info you have and let them claim from the relevant government department?

 

[Photokid]

because insurance premiums then increase.
also, the excess is more than half of the repair amount.

 

[Photokid]

so an update.

In a nutshell, I've decided to repair it out of my own pocket.

The case was handed over to their legal department who apparently ran 4 forensic tests on the truck involved and didn't find any evidence of an accident.
Also, their driver and assistant say they didn't knock any vehicle.(because people never lie)
Their reply is that it shall go to court and they will not accept any eye witnesses but would need proof from myself, which is impossible since I was not there.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Ralf*]

If anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it.

did you see the programme about the Amish-Mafia on DSTV...baseball bat does a lot of damage, just don't get caught..he he

 

[Clownshoe]

You are being strong armed. They have more to loose than you. Hit and run or "leaving the scene of an accident" carries penalties.

How this should work is after you filed the accident report, and as it is a hit and run with damages, the police have to investigate and you lay a charge. After the criminal case is completed you then file a civil suit for damages. If the criminal case is successful the civil case is a formality.

If your witness stands up and said he that he saw that truck, and he wrote down the numberplate as it happened, hit your car and cause damage. And he can give details. No amount of their own forensic details will help.

Are there paint marks on your car? The height and shape of these can be matched to the truck lending credence.

 

[Photokid]

If anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it.

did you see the programme about the Amish-Mafia on DSTV...baseball bat does a lot of damage, just don't get caught..he he

ha:rollsmile:

You are being strong armed. They have more to loose than you. Hit and run or "leaving the scene of an accident" carries penalties.

How this should work is after you filed the accident report, and as it is a hit and run with damages, the police have to investigate and you lay a charge. After the criminal case is completed you then file a civil suit for damages. If the criminal case is successful the civil case is a formality.

If your witness stands up and said he that he saw that truck, and he wrote down the numberplate as it happened, hit your car and cause damage. And he can give details. No amount of their own forensic details will help.

Are there paint marks on your car? The height and shape of these can be matched to the truck lending credence.

My witnesses just so happen to be an attorney and her sister in a vehicle behind the truck, who I believe should be of more credibility than your average citizen and a store owner in the street.
Thanks for the advice. I've only reported the incident and never thought of laying any charges.

There are print marks which I'd taken photos of and sent to them as well.

I'm currently trying to get CCTV footage from the traffic/surveillance camera at the intersection which will assure me that the incident unfolded as told by the witnesses.

 

[Josh-ZN]

i think you going about it the right way Photokid. if you do get that footage, you can then send it to the culprits and ask if they still want you to take this further. remind them you not only have video footage, but also an eye witness. if they still want to go to court, i would just leave it be.

if you dont get the video footage, pay for the repair yourself and move on. perhaps lay a complaint either way. i wouldnt even think about going to court for that amount of money. an hour with the lawyer will cost at least R1000. Yes the guy gets away with it, but you also have to pick your battles and do what is right for you.

sorry about your car. hope all is sorted soon.

 

[maximus]

Bloody agents! :nonono:

 

[tcal69]

because insurance premiums then increase.
also, the excess is more than half of the repair amount.

Is what I don't understand, what's the point of insurance if you not going to claim from it? Only gonna wait if something big and expensive then you gonna claim? Even then they might make a story to not pay out...

Your premium increase anyways yearly, so...:dunno: