Why God??? - Dodge Challenger Forum: Challenger & SRT8 Forums

bermise · #1 (**permalink**) 04-08-2011, 11:47 PM

I just bought a 2008 Challenger SRT8 with only 9,000 miles on it about 11 days ago. It is in mint condition! I went to CVS pharmacy at 11:20PM to grab a couple items, I was in the store for less than 5 minutes and in line checking out when a older lady comes in asking "who drives a orange challenger or charger in the parking lot". I casually said "I do", just getting used to the new attention that car brings. She went on to say "some older black sedan just smashed into the front of it, looked around for a few seconds and then fleed the parking lot!" I dropped my items and ran outside to see most of my driverside headlight laying on the ground and front bumper smashed into the fender on the driverside.

I still can not believe this happened so soon. The cops came did nothing but give me a case #. I filed a report with my insurance. The lady who saw it got a partial plate # of the black sedan but the cop could not find a car mathching the description or a local address with the partial plate #.

Does any one have any ideas as to what I can do to try and find this bastard!! I do know that the driver of the black sedan was renting a movie from a Redbox DVD rental at 11:20 when I pulled up. And no one else rented a movie until 11:33 when I was in the parking lot waiting for the police.

R/TCLASSIC · #2 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 02:37 AM

i guess it depends on your states insurance laws,for example florida is called a ''no fault state'',so a accident in a parking lot is a civil matter and it would be up to you to cover the cost(your insurance ) and file a lawsuit if you choose to pursue it.its a hassle and not worth the trouble unfortunately.im sure you could get in contact with the redbox vendor and they could provide you with the persons name if they wanted to cooperate(unlikely).i am very sorry for what happened,this world is full of lowlifes like that and life is too short to let it get you down,step back and take a breather and get it fixed and continue to enjoy your wonderful car,i am sure it is better than anything the scum will ever have that hit your car.hope this helps

HemiFan · #3 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 05:50 AM

Depending on how much effort you want to put towards ID-ing the other driver, you could ask the video store how many days rentals are good for, then wait around the parking lot on that day for a black sedan with the partial plate number.

There should be some noticeable damage to his car - maybe your car's paint is on his as well. If the car shows up, take some pics, copy the full plate number and file a hit and run charge with the police associated with the case number they assigned you. They already have partial evidence from the statements they took - a little more that would lead to a "positive ID" of the suspect vehicle should take care of the rest. If the police recontacted the lady who witnessed it, she should be able to ID the vehicle if she saw photos.

My thought is, if the police haven't contacted him by now, he believes he got away with it and will likely return the video with the same car.

**jb5226** · #4 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 06:01 AM

Did you see if CVS or video store has Video Surveillance System. You may see plate & make of vehicle.

bermise · #5 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by R/TCLASSIC

i guess it depends on your states insurance laws,for example florida is called a ''no fault state'',so a accident in a parking lot is a civil matter and it would be up to you to cover the cost(your insurance ) and file a lawsuit if you choose to pursue it.its a hassle and not worth the trouble unfortunately.im sure you could get in contact with the redbox vendor and they could provide you with the persons name if they wanted to cooperate(unlikely).i am very sorry for what happened,this world is full of lowlifes like that and life is too short to let it get you down,step back and take a breather and get it fixed and continue to enjoy your wonderful car,i am sure it is better than anything the scum will ever have that hit your car.hope this helps

Thanks man, you are right. It is just hard to let some things roll off you.

Originally Posted by HemiFan

Depending on how much effort you want to put towards ID-ing the other driver, you could ask the video store how many days rentals are good for, then wait around the parking lot on that day for a black sedan with the partial plate number.

There should be some noticeable damage to his car - maybe your car's paint is on his as well. If the car shows up, take some pics, copy the full plate number and file a hit and run charge with the police associated with the case number they assigned you. They already have partial evidence from the statements they took - a little more that would lead to a "positive ID" of the suspect vehicle should take care of the rest. If the police recontacted the lady who witnessed it, she should be able to ID the vehicle if she saw photos.

My thought is, if the police haven't contacted him by now, he believes he got away with it and will likely return the video with the same car.

Great idea, I might do that but I could be in for a 12 hour+ stakeout.

Originally Posted by jb5226

Did you see if CVS or video store has Video Surveillance System. You may see plate & make of vehicle.

Get this, CVS store manager tells me this morning that CVS is not responsible for situations in the parking lot and they will not get involved in aiding or assisiting me or the other party responsible. That is BS. I will now shop at Walgreens when possible.

USponycar · #6 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by bermise

Thanks man, you are right. It is just hard to let some things roll off you.

Great idea, I might do that but I could be in for a 12 hour+ stakeout.

Get this, CVS store manager tells me this morning that CVS is not responsible for situations in the parking lot and they will not get involved in aiding or assisiting me or the other party responsible. That is BS. I will now shop at Walgreens when possible.

CVS may not want to help YOU, but if the police asked them to review video footage of the person going to the video machine at the time specified, I should think they'd cooperate with THEM.
Does your police dept. not care about hit and runs? Had it been a cop car that had been hit, you bet they would!

internetguy · #7 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 11:27 AM

Dude- my advice is also along the lines of let it go. Focus on getting your ride fixed so you can enjoy it. You have no idea if the other driver was a dipsh!t blonde or a gangster who is armed, high, and about to die from testosterone poisoning.

If they ran off it's probable they have no insurance, in which case, your situation doesn't change. They may also have warrants out for them; you don't need to get between them and jail. It's only a matter of time before their next stupid decision lands them in jail, or dead.

Life ain't fair and you were dealt a bad card. Play it well and move on.

You still have a sweet car my friend. Live long and enjoy it.

69superbee383 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 11:35 AM

I hate to say this but the cops wont care. No one was injured and it occurred on private property. Even if you do stake him out and catch him then what? I know you would love to beat the dude but then you will go to the cross bar hotel. If you call the cops they will more than likely say it is still a civil matter and they could not charge him because they did not witness the event.

My Challenger got nosed when it was 3 days old so I feel your pain. Just make sure you get the car fixed right and move on. It sucks but that's really about all you can do.

nyca · #9 (**permalink**) 04-10-2011, 05:39 PM

I agree, the police won't do anything. And if you do find the guy - don't confront him in anyway (otherwise the police will do something - arresting YOU).

Sparkman #3372 · #10 (**permalink**) 04-10-2011, 06:26 PM

You are better off just moving on with your life. I once caught a guy trying to steal my motorcycle. I caught him in the act, got a full discription, full plate number, one of the tools he was using to strip parts off my bike with his prints on it preserved in a zip lock bag, filed a police report (gave them the bag with tool and prints), picked the dude out of a six pack photo line up, and everything added up. You know what the police did? NOT A DAMN THING. Next time I will not be calling the police if and when something like that happens again...