Hi, I'm new to the forums, but I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar thing happen to them and whether or not they've went on to somehow claim any damages from anyone.
I went to downtown Charleston here in South Carolina and as I typically do, I locked my bike up to a parking meter. While I was in a club, someone in an SUV apparently hit the curb, decided to give it more gas, and ran into my bike, destroying the wheels (don't know if the frame is bent yet). Despite pleas from numerous bystanders, the individual drove off without even getting out to inspect the damage or leave a note of any sort.
I came out a few minutes later to find my bicycle badly damaged. Several witnesses approached me and said they saw the SUV crush my bicycle and gave me a license plate that seemed to concur with one others had jotted down. Someone had called the police and when they arrived they offered to run the license plate number, which mysteriously came up with nothing. However, I do have the make and model of the car in addition to what I believe was the license plate/state of the car.
For the purposes of describing what level we're talking about, I'd estimate my wheels are worth $300 combined and the frame is $1k. As it stands, I'm $300+ in the hole. Is there anything I can do about this?
Thanks in advance,
Aqua
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
What do you mean in your topic title, "unwitnessed?" You mention that more than one witness was able to supply the tag number.
Caruso
-=Łem in Pa=-
Hmmm......a plate number, description and no ID.
A Charleston Councilman hit your bike.
Being familiar with SC, Im sure there is something
fishy going on. Maybe try the SC State Police for a
tag ?
Sorry for your misfortune, Good luck.
Rex G
It is not at all unusual for license plate numbers provided by witnesses to be incorrect; in fact, I am amazed when anyone actually gets it right.
maddyfish
Look around the area for an SUV with some damage, and a similar lic.#
AndrewP
Make a claim on your household insurance. They will have an incentive to do a more thorough search than the police officer.
aqua
Make a claim on your household insurance. They will have an incentive to do a more thorough search than the police officer.
Yes, this is exactly what I'm doing! I called up my insurance company and asked them if my renter's insurance would cover it. They didn't have a definite answer since it's the weekend, but I gave them the license plate number I had and the make/model/color of the vehicle so hopefully they can do a little investigative work.
Honestly, I'm not too worried about dropping $300 on a new set of rims as it looks like the frame and everything else was okay. I just can't believe how irresponsible the driver was. If he had hit a car and did $300+ damage, would he just drive off? What a jerk.
iltb-2
I just can't believe how irresponsible the driver was. If he had hit a car and did $300+ damage, would he just drive off? What a jerk.
You don't have much experience with driving and motorists do you?:rolleyes:
$300 damage is a parking lot ding and many drivers wouldn't even notice or care; many would take off with burning rubber if they did notice.
CB HI
It is not at all unusual for license plate numbers provided by witnesses to be incorrect; in fact, I am amazed when anyone actually gets it right.When you get several people giving you the same plate #, then the odds are pretty good that the # is correct; don't you agree?:rolleyes:
jccaclimber
I forget which state office it is but you can run those numbers yourself for some tiny fee somewhere. You may also try a less local police branch.
Berg417448
I can tell you from personal experience that sometimes a valid license plate will come back as "Not on file" after a computer check. Sometimes the data base is temporarily down when the license is checked and that is how the system responds. Sometimes it is a new tag and has not been entered yet. In any case, it can be tracked down eventually if it is correct.
Rex G
When you get several people giving you the same plate #, then the odds are pretty good that the # is correct; don't you agree?:rolleyes:
Yes, but I was speaking in general terms. However, the original post did not state multiple witnesses provided the exact same plate number, so I did not assume this to be the case. Reading carefully, I see several witnesses, yes, but it did not state several witnesses independently observed and recorded the same license plate number. It looks more like two groups of witnesses provided two license plate numbers that "seemed to concur," which sounds like they were close, but not exact. There is also "witnessing by committee," where witnesses converse and reach a common accounting of an incident, or a conference will be held to "decide" or "settle" a detail, such as a license plate, vehicle model, or what a bad guy looked like. That is why investigators of serious crimes try to separate witnesses as soon as possible after an incident, and interview them separately. But, I digress. There are many reasons a plate number may not show a return. Perhaps it was an out-of-state plate. This is especially common in college towns, or tourist areas. I run into lots of plates from Mexico, which is a real dead end. Perhaps it was a new plate; such things can take weeks to be updated in a database. Blessed are those who remember to whip out their camera phone, and snap photos! :)
Rex G
Oh, people do drive off all the time, even if they know witnesses saw them. One reason is pure pragmatism; a conviction for hit-and-run, where no injuries are involved, is generally minor compared to what happens if one is arrested and convicted for DUI/DWI. Laws vary by state, but $300 damage in a hit-and-run may just be a traffic ticket offense, whereas some states will suspend driver's licenses instantly upon arrest for DUI/DWI, and the range of punishment is much more harsh. With no sobriety tests, and no breath or blood test, it is just about impossible to prove intoxication beyond a reasonable doubt in a courtroom, no matter how many witnesses saw the driver at the scene.
StrangeWill
You don't have much experience with people do you?:rolleyes:
Fixed
Rex G
Moreover, an out-of-state plate, even if the state is known, may not provide registration information 24/7. I work nights, and this is often the case, though things have gotten better the last few years. If this incident happened at night, as implied by the word "club," this may be the case. Another thing: an officer on a scene may not be willing to provide registration information to the public. It can be wrong, even a crime, for a police officer to provide such information directly to the public. Ironically, I can be fired and prosecuted for providing registration information directly to a private citizen, yet the citizen can wait ten days, and obtain a certified copy of the whole report, complete with registration information, at police headquarters. Disclaimer: I do not work for the police department of the hometown listed in my profile.
The Human Car
Look up the plates here and see if they are valid or not.
http://public-records-search.com/ReverseLicensePlate2.htm