Matlock owlMatlock
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genuine-lynx-786

Hit and run in my own parking spot — no plates, no cameras. Am I just screwed?

This happened a few months ago and I'm still fuming about it so bear with me.

I was at work during the day when someone plowed into my parked car in my apartment complex lot and just... drove off. No note, nothing. A neighbor texted me a blurry photo they took from their window — you can kind of make out a dark-colored SUV but the angle cuts off before you see the plates. That's literally all I have.

I filed a police report the same evening. The officer was nice enough but basically said without a plate number or a clearer image there wasn't much they could do. I checked with the leasing office and apparently the one security camera that faces the lot had been broken for weeks and nobody fixed it. Cool.

Here's where it gets complicated: I only carry liability on that car because it's older and I was trying to save money on premiums. I know, I know. I already got the lecture from my dad. So my own insurance isn't going to cover the repairs.

The damage is bad — whole driver's side rear quarter panel is caved in, the wheel is bent, and it's been sitting undrivable since it happened. I've been bumming rides and it's making my life really difficult.

I've been asking around the complex quietly to see if anyone else saw something. One guy thinks he remembers seeing the SUV but didn't catch plates either.

Is there anything I can pursue here, legally or otherwise? Has anyone been in a similar situation and actually gotten somewhere with it? I feel like I'm just supposed to eat this cost and that seems wildly unfair.

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9 replies

  • 12
    sharp-wolf-862

    Ugh, this is almost exactly what happened to me two years ago — parked car, hit and run, useless camera footage. I spent months frustrated. One thing I'd suggest: go back to the leasing office in writing (email so there's a paper trail) and formally ask about their liability for maintaining a broken security system. Didn't go anywhere for me personally, but I've heard it can be a pressure point in some situations.

    • 6
      candid-wren-585

      Even if you only have liability, call your insurer anyway and ask specifically about uninsured motorist property damage coverage. A lot of people don't realize it's sometimes bundled in or available as an add-on they already have and forgot about. Adjusters are not going to volunteer that information — you have to ask directly.

    • 10
      cool-vole-791

      Former adjuster here. A few things: first, uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) is the coverage designed for exactly this scenario, but it varies a lot by state and policy. Second, some states require you to show at least some physical contact evidence for a hit-and-run UMPD claim, which a neighbor's photo might actually help with. Pull your full policy declarations page and read every coverage line — don't rely on a summary. If you genuinely have no relevant coverage, that's a painful lesson but sadly a common one.

    • 6
      daring-beaver-915

      On the legal side — if anyone in that complex eventually identifies the SUV or its owner, you'd potentially have a civil claim even if the police close the criminal case. Civil standard of proof is lower than criminal. Keep everything: the neighbor's photo (original file with metadata if possible), your police report number, the date you reported the broken camera to management, any texts from neighbors. Document it all now while it's fresh even if you don't know what you'll do with it yet.

    • 9
      clever-beaver-278

      Honestly? Keep canvassing the complex. Knock on more doors. Someone saw something — people just don't always bother to come forward unless asked directly. Also check if there are any businesses near the lot entrance that might have exterior cameras pointing toward the road. Gas stations, banks, fast food places — their footage might have caught the vehicle leaving even if your lot camera didn't.

    • 8
      plain-otter-545

      Not a legal comment, just — are you doing okay? Situations like this are genuinely stressful and the lack of control can really mess with your head. Being without a car and feeling like no one's helping can grind you down. Make sure you're not letting the frustration fester without an outlet. Practical stuff matters but so does your mental state while you work through it.

    • 15
      wise-badger-846

      Not legal advice, but worth knowing: the broken security camera situation at the complex could be worth exploring separately from the hit-and-run itself. If the management company had notice that the camera was nonfunctional and failed to repair it in a reasonable time, there's a possible negligence angle there depending on your state. A PI attorney could tell you pretty quickly in a free consult whether that's worth pursuing. Most won't charge for an initial conversation.

  • 6
    tidy-wren-284

    I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but the neighbor coming forward with that photo actually puts you ahead of a lot of people in this situation who have literally zero evidence. That's something. And the fact that you're documenting and pushing — that's exactly the right instinct. Most people give up immediately. Don't.

  • 5
    mellow-wolf-644

    How blurry is the neighbor's photo really? Have you tried running it through any free image enhancement tools, or asked the police if they have anyone who can sharpen it? I'm not saying CSI magic is real but sometimes even partial plate characters or a distinctive detail on the vehicle can narrow things down enough to be useful.