For those in Chicago you know we had a fairly decent snowstorm yesterday. Even though it wasn’t awful it seems the city crews weren’t able to get to the sidestreets for awhile. As a result there was a nice patch of compacted snow turned to ice just down from where I live. While standing on my porch I saw one car careen through the intersection (T intersection) and very nearly hit a parked car. Because of that guy I was watching the intersection when, a few cars later, an SUV driving too fast for conditions was unable to stop and plowed into a parked car. I was expecting the guy/gal to pull over but instead he/she backed up and started to drive away in my direction. Having had something similar happen to my car once I walked to the side of the road and was there when the car drove by. I got the make, model and plate number and wrote it down. I then called the police about it but they didn’t do much beyond taking my personal info and a brief description. I then wrote a note to the car that was hit stating what I saw, what I had done and all relevant info and stuck it on the car’s windshield.
Here’s my question…I cannot identify the driver of the car that did the hit-and-run. I tried but it was dark on a not so well lit sidestreet and the driver was bundled in winter clothing (including scarf and cap). I know in the past those photographic speed traps have been tossed out of court since while they can positively identify the car they can’t identify the driver. Will the same hold true in a case like this? I know it’s none of my problem now but I’d like to think this person will be made to pay. I assume the police/insurance companies will try and get this person to cop to it but if they feign ignorance and stick to it are they likely to get away with it all?
Can’t say for the criminal charges, but the eyewitness account will likely get the insurance company that covers the offending vehicle to pony up for repairs.
I’d bet the other driver contacts you and that it is pursued this way.
Did you tell the person whose car was struck how to contact you? If yes, then whoever is insured on that damaged car will get his repairs courtesy of the misguided SUV.
If you just left a note without your contact info, the injured party will not be able to prove anything to the satisfaction of an insurance company.
First, a thousand thank-yous for doing what you did.
I was on the receiving end of this same situation several years ago. My car was struck by hit & run driver in a mall parking lot and a passerby noted the make, model, license and left me a note. I took it to the police and they said they would not take any action at all unless I failed to settle this directly with the other driver. The police did run the license number for me and gave me the name & address of the owner.
It turned out that the owner’s son was driving the car at the time, they admitted guilt, and the insurance companies settled the rest. The good Samaritan was never needed further.
The business of identifying the driver of a vehicle when you know damn well who the owner is can be dicey. This is the source of a favorite maneuver of those who get a photo-ticket for red light running. I do not know how successful it is for an owner to claim that he was not driving, and also to refuse to identify who was.
[needless detail] My incident occurred in the Michigan snow. At first the mom (owner) didn’t believe the amount of damage that was done when I called. The car struck the passenger side door so hard the door and front and back quarter panels had to be replaced, the windshield broke, the unibody frame was bent, and the car skidded to its left about a foot. It was pushed too close to the next car to get in the driver’s side door, the passenger door was too damaged–I had to climb in the hatchback. [/needless detail]