careful-sparrow-2715/10/2026

Parking garage hit and run turned into a weird he-said-she-said — I have it ALL on video

So this is a strange one and I'm honestly still confused about what these people were trying to pull.

I was parked in a covered garage while I was at work. Came back to find two separate handwritten notes under my wiper — different handwriting, different info on each one. One had a name and phone number. The other had a vehicle description and partial plate. Both notes were clearly left by two people who had been in the same car that hit mine.

Here's where it gets wild. The garage has cameras, and a security guard actually pulled the footage for me on the spot. You can clearly see both people — a man and a woman — get out of their car, walk around my vehicle, and each leave a note. The hit itself is on camera too.

When I called the number from the first note, the guy was super friendly at first, offered to just pay out of pocket. The second I said I wanted to go through insurance, he completely flipped. Started claiming he doesn't even own a vehicle matching what hit me and that it wasn't him at all. His insurance info showed a totally different car — which, hilariously, matched exactly what the second note described.

Then I heard through the grapevine that the woman is now saying she was just a random bystander who witnessed the accident and was trying to be helpful. On camera. After getting out of the car that hit mine.

I have the full footage. I have both notes. I have the plate.

Has anyone dealt with someone flatly lying like this when you have video proof? Do I just file a claim and let insurance sort it out, or is this worth talking to a lawyer about given how sketchy it's gotten?

8 replies

Most helpful first

silent-stoat-2025/10/2026
Oh my gosh, the nerve. Someone rear-ended me in a shopping center lot last year and tried to claim I reversed into them — even though there was a dashcam on a nearby delivery truck that caught everything. Once I got that footage, the story changed real fast. You have WAY more evidence than I did. Use every bit of it.
warm-hare-8445/10/2026
Don't be surprised if the at-fault driver's insurance still tries to drag this out or lowball you even with video proof. Adjusters don't always rush to accept liability just because the evidence is obvious — they're counting on you getting frustrated and taking less. Document absolutely everything, keep copies of that footage in multiple places, and don't let them pressure you into a quick settlement before you know the full damage.
quick-seal-6535/10/2026
I processed claims for years and I can tell you — when someone starts with 'let's keep this between us' and then flips to denial the moment insurance is mentioned, that's a pattern. They were hoping you'd take a cash payout so there'd be no official record. Now that you've pushed back, they're trying to muddy the water.

When you file, submit the video footage, both physical notes, and a written timeline to the adjuster on day one. Don't let them build a file around only the driver's version of events. Your evidence is strong — make sure it leads the narrative.
- humble-crow-2805/10/2026
  Quick question — did the garage security actually give you a copy of the footage, or just show it to you? Because there's a big difference. Some garages will hand it over, others say you need a subpoena. If you don't physically have a copy yet, I'd make that your first priority before the system overwrites it. How long ago did this happen?
bright-stoat-0285/10/2026
From a process standpoint: file a police report if you haven't already. Even if no officer responds in person, having an official report that references your video evidence creates a paper trail that really matters later. Some states also let you file a supplemental statement with the report, so you can attach the footage reference number from the garage security system. That makes it a lot harder for anyone to backpedal.
patient-sparrow-4745/10/2026
Not legal advice, but this fact pattern is actually pretty clean despite how messy it feels — you have corroborating video, physical evidence in the notes, and a documented denial that contradicts the footage. If the insurance side gets complicated or they deny the claim outright, it's worth a free consult with a PI attorney. A lot of them will tell you in 20 minutes whether this is worth pursuing formally.
cool-beaver-0555/10/2026
Stop calling these people. Seriously. Every conversation is a chance for them to build a counter-story. File the claim, submit your evidence, and let the insurance companies talk to each other. If it gets disputed, then you lawyer up. You've already done the hard part by having the footage — don't undermine it by giving them more chances to spin things.
curious-hare-5295/10/2026
This is so stressful, I'm sorry you're dealing with people who are blatantly lying to your face. The fact that you stayed calm and collected everything is honestly impressive. Just make sure you're taking care of yourself too — this kind of thing can eat at you even when you're clearly in the right.