Car Scratched by Unknown Driver in Carpark in Perth: Seeking Advice on Best Course of Action

Lurker on 10/08/2024 - 09:46
Last edited 10/08/2024 - 13:33 by 1 other user

Dear helpful souls, while parked outside the Department of Transport in Perth to pay fees, my car was scratched on the rear side behind the right passenger door.

Upon returning after an hour, I discovered the damage along with a note from a witness on my windscreen providing information about the alleged perpetrator. Note shows alleged plate number and make of vehicle. No phone number nor name.

I have comprehensive insurance with an excess of $900. I am unsure about the next steps to take .For example, whether to contact the insurance company or the police first? What are the chances of resolving this without incurring any costs?

Any advice on the best options to pursue would be appreciated.

Automotive Accident

Comments

  • sumyungguy on 10/08/2024 - 09:52
    +5

    Make a no-blame claim with your insurer, see if they'll pursue the at-fault party on your behalf. Meanwhile get a quote in case they can't identify the other party and you either pay for the repair yourself or pay the excess. Not a police matter below $3K.

    • Lurker on 10/08/2024 - 09:59

      Thanks.

    • apple2016 on 10/08/2024 - 10:31
      +2

      Why is it not a police matter below 3k

      • Lurker on 10/08/2024 - 10:38
        +2

        https://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/resources/self-help-kits-and-…

        Reporting the crash

        After an accident, you must immediately report the crash to the police if:
        anyone was hurt, or
        the property damage is likely to cost more than $3,000 to repair.

        You can report the crash to the police at the scene, at a police station or online through the Online Crash Reporting Facility

        You may be charged with a criminal offence if you don’t report a crash.

        • apple2016 on 10/08/2024 - 19:27
          +6

          It does not prohibit you from reporting if damage is less than $3k. You can still report it if you choose to!

        • 2esc on 11/08/2024 - 09:23
          +1

          Should be reported to the police immediately before getting repair quotes because it could be a serial offender in the area damaging cars.

    • El cheepo on 10/08/2024 - 10:42
      +12

      Not a police matter below $3K.

      You can file a report for a hit and run to give to insurance though.

      • Lurker on 10/08/2024 - 10:47

        Thanks

    • JimmyF on 10/08/2024 - 15:57
      +3

      Make a no-blame claim with your insurer

      Normally still requires the excess to be paid until the at fault party agrees.

      • Lurker on 11/08/2024 - 04:15

        Thanks.

    • HeWhoKnows on 11/08/2024 - 08:13
      -2

      The problem with such claims is lack of evidence and no witness.
      The piece of paper means nothing unfortunately as the provider obviously doesnt want to get involved.

      OP could take this up with the police and ask for contact information to pursue themselves though:
      a) doubtful police wil provide the information
      b) doubtful the offending party will accept blame - they will simply deny everything

      So OP ends up paying the excess which affects thier claims record or pays the full cost of repair or just does nothing

  • El cheepo on 10/08/2024 - 09:53
    +9

    What are the chances of resolving this without incurring any costs?

    Zilch…

    You’re gonna end up wasting a fair bit of time chasing them down and time is money- unless you don’t place value on yourself and your time.

    But, if it was at the DOT you might be able to get camera footage depending which one you were at.

    Even with your insurance, they might track the person down but they (the car that hit you) can turn around and say it never happened, wrong car, you hit them etc.

    Seeing they didn’t stop and leave a note, seems unlikely they would admit fault.

    So getting footage would be helpful.

    • Lurker on 10/08/2024 - 09:59
      +2

      Thanks.

  • apple2016 on 10/08/2024 - 10:30
    +1

    police first?

    Do make a complaint with the cops. They might not do much, but does add to the statistics and will force then to take action at some point.

    • Lurker on 10/08/2024 - 10:39

      Thanks

    • sumyungguy on 10/08/2024 - 11:49
      -1

      Yeah, the WAPOL Touch Parking Task Force is standing by

  • randomusername2017 on 10/08/2024 - 10:36

    Perth is becoming a dangerous place to park cars 🤔

  • Euphemistic on 10/08/2024 - 11:19

    Very little chance of getting a zero cost repair. Report it to police. Get an estimate for costs to repair. If the estimate is over your insurance excess, then its time to make a decision on whether to claim or not. Youll likely be up fpr the excess without any proof of who was driving.

    • Lurker on 10/08/2024 - 11:38

      Thanks.

  • follow on 10/08/2024 - 11:26
    +3

    I had a hit and run incident outside a recreation centre (in Perth)
    The place had cameras so a few weeks after I lodged a hit and run online with the police, I received a letter from an officer with the details of the driver.

    • Lurker on 10/08/2024 - 11:39

      Thanks.

    • Bruceflix on 10/08/2024 - 12:08

      Wow. A couple of years back had a car change lanes into me. They sped up after, didn't stop. Had it on dash cam. Reported it to the police. They didn't do ANYTHING.

      • Browsers on 10/08/2024 - 14:07
        +1

        In my case 4 years ago in Perth, the only way to identify the vehicle owner was for police to investigate and disclose the details to my insurer, which took 6 months for them to do. They wouldn't disclose the details to me. Unlike OP here my witness left their contact details, which helped to corroborate. My insurer returned my excess that I paid when I claimed through them, not wanting to wait for police to complete their report. And frankly it is a dumb setup - police resources should be directed at more important things, Dept of Transport should be able to disclose details directly to insurers without police involvement.

        • Lurker on 10/08/2024 - 14:27

          Thanks.

      • follow on 10/08/2024 - 14:47

        I was surprised by the letter. Thought nothing would come of it.
        Did you follow up?
        Did you have to pay an excess?

  • holdenmg on 10/08/2024 - 12:12
    +1

    Car Parks are hazardous places.

    https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/payment-options.as… offers alternatives.

    • Lurker on 11/08/2024 - 04:13

      Thanks.

  • JimmyF on 10/08/2024 - 16:00
    +2

    What are the chances of resolving this without incurring any costs?

    Basically zero, the rego given to you can say it wasn't them, and without a witness or any video footage its random piece of paper word against yours. Heck I could have done the damage and then wrote someone elses rego down on the paper blaming them!

    As for video it is near impossible to get from the DOT, unless via the police.

    • Lurker on 11/08/2024 - 04:15

      Thanks.

      • JimmyF on 11/08/2024 - 09:31

        Thanks

        Give it a try, you might get lucky and the driver admits fault when the police call them.

        But otherwise, all these public spaces with cameras are very hard to get footage out of. Train stations, shopping centers etc. Basically they don't want to start a flood of requests chewing up their time reviewing footage, so only do it for police matters.

        You'll always get your car repair paying the excess or the repair quote, but yes that is a pain indeed.

    • kiitos on 11/08/2024 - 08:47

      Unlikely to happen, but the police could go and inspect the car and see if it has damage matching the incident?

      • JimmyF on 11/08/2024 - 09:33

        Unlikely to happen, but the police could go and inspect the car and see if it has damage matching the incident?

        The police would have to review cars and see if any damages line up. Sometimes one car gets damaged while the other car doesn't.

        But I don't see the police wasting hours of time over this, or at least I don't think it would be the best use of their time to spend half a day chasing down cars to review over a carpark ding.

  • Nucleus Acumbens on 10/08/2024 - 23:55
    +2

    Whilst you appear to have identifying details of the person who it is alleged to have hit your car, did your good Samaritan's leave their contact details? Are they prepared to act as a witness?

    Person driving offending vehicle may not be the owner of the vehicle. Furthermore, Good Samaritan may not have even given you the correct details about what they witnessed or who they saw hit your car.

    Perhaps Good Samaritan was really the crashed and wanted to deflect blame - fooled other onlookers he was leaving his name instead of strangers.

    What proof do you have that specified third party caused the damage your apportioning to them, to your car?

    • Lurker on 11/08/2024 - 04:14

      No name no phone number.

      Good points noted.

      Thanks.

  • simplystu on 11/08/2024 - 02:24
    +1

    As I have Posted on Google maps previously …

    Basically ALL dept transport centres == cause for concern.
    Just need to look at parking area - ppl having no regard to white lines +++ parking at stupid angles + close to other cars

    The few times that have needed to visit dept. Transport office in person … Always park well away, then walk over.

    Lesson leaned long ago.

    • Lurker on 11/08/2024 - 04:14

      Thanks.

    • JimmyF on 11/08/2024 - 09:43
      +1

      Just need to look at parking area - ppl having no regard to white lines +++ parking at stupid angles + close to other cars

      As a eastern person who visits the west often, Perth drivers are pretty shocking drivers on a good day compared to the Esat, so I'm not surprised they can't park in the lines etc. :/

      Train station carparks anywhere, East or West are easy pickings for thiefs, rarely guarded, cars left for hours, people arriving on a schedule meaning its easy to not get caught by passerby's. Video footage is hard to get.

      Best advice I got from a carpark attendant many years ago who was cleaning up a broken window of someone elses car, was never leave anything of value in view. Not even a few coins, as they'll happily break a window to get 20 cent piece. This applies to all carparks in general, as this one was one in the city, not a train station.

      Pretty much said they go car to car looking in, if they see something of value, the break the window to get it, then move on to the next car.

      • Subere on 11/08/2024 - 21:17

        I need to show your post to my wife whom I have constant arguments to not leave stuff on the floor in the car. I always say to put it in the boot so it's not visible. She thinks no one is going to break in for a random bag of unknown contents….
        I've had a bag of baby soccer clothes stolen 20 years ago because it was in the passenger side floor.

        A friend has similar arguments with his missus. I think it depends on which areas you grew up and now vigilant and (non) trusting you are.

  • numloxx on 11/08/2024 - 12:08

    I had the same thing happen to me at Cloisters carpark in the city. Luckily I had a DashCam recording in parking mode with evidence. RAC said don't pay the excess yet as you won't have to. RAC was sent the video. I made a police report as the other driver drove away. Hit and run basically. RAC will chase up with Cloisters for the CCTV footage if any. I checked the rego of the other car and they were unlicensed at the time which means that their insurance won't be valid. Basically they are screwed.

    But yeah, buy a decent DashCam that has parking mode (you'll have to wire it to the battery) but it's wise investment. Mine is the Viofi Pro 139 3 camera model (internal as I do rideshare).

  • dkwon10 on 11/08/2024 - 23:54

    Happened to me few years ago, it was an undercover carpark with CCTV. I contacted the mall and they said they can only provide footage if police requested it. I cbf and just paid $200 to someone on Facebook to fix it

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