My car got hit by a shopping cart.

[JuanGoodman]

On a supermarkets parking lot.

I was shopping and when I came out there was a shopping cart resting against my car's drivers door.

The store has outside cameras and I was able to get them to review the video and got the culprits license plate number.

The guy was parked way away from me but the parking lot slopes down and when he unloaded his shopping into his car the cart started rolling down the parking lot until it hit my car and the guy just drove off.

The damage is minor, a small dent and a small scratch but it's a brand new car, just picked it up 3 weeks ago.

Any advice gents, has anybody ever had similar incident?

 

[Robert Mugabe]

On a supermarkets parking lot.

I was shopping and when I came out there was a shopping cart resting against my car's drivers door.

The store has outside cameras and I was able to get them to review the video and got the culprits license plate number.

The guy was parked way away from me but the parking lot slopes down and when he unloaded his shopping into his car the cart started rolling down the parking lot until it hit my car and the guy just drove off.

The damage is minor, a small dent and a small scratch but it's a brand new car, just picked it up 3 weeks ago.

Any advice gents, has anybody ever had similar incident?

You got the vid. The license plate. What more do you need?

 

[JuanGoodman]

You got the vid. The license plate. What more do you need?

I needed to vent, it's a brand new car and if I go through insurance it will be on record that the car was in an accident.

And I don't have the video, they only showed it to me and we were able to get the license plate number.

 

[Robert Mugabe]

I needed to vent, it's a brand new car and if I go through insurance it will be on record that the car was in an accident.

And I don't have the video, they only showed it to me and we were able to get the license plate number.

Well. That's something. A big something. Can't you get some kind of injunction or something to prevent the store from deleting the vid ?

 

[JuanGoodman]

Well. That's something. A big something. Can't you get some kind of injunction or something to prevent the store from deleting the vid ?

They told me that they hold all security videos for 2 weeks so it would be available to insurance company if they contacted the store.

 

[Scholar]

They told me that they hold all security videos for 2 weeks so it would be available to insurance company if they contacted the store.

Check your dealership/warranty. You might have some coverage there. Otherwise insurance is your only recourse. The guy didn't hit you with his car so his license number doesn't mean much. Best case scenario is that it allows your insurance company to attempt subrogation against him but for something so small I doubt they would be bothered. Your deductible will probably cover the vast majority of the cost.

Unfortunately, you are sort of screwed. And it's my nightmare as well since I just picked up a new vehicle last week. Every time I come back to it I do a full walk around to check it. I'm also very aware of where I park. If I'm in a busy lot I will park far away where nobody wants to park anyway. I usually have space. Now I'll know to be aware of slope, so thank you for that.

 

[JuanGoodman]

Check your dealership/warranty. You might have some coverage there. Otherwise insurance is your only recourse. The guy didn't hit you with his car so his license number doesn't mean much. Best case scenario is that it allows your insurance company to attempt subrogation against him but for something so small I doubt they would be bothered. Your deductible will probably cover the vast majority of the cost.

Unfortunately, you are sort of screwed. And it's my nightmare as well since I just picked up a new vehicle last week. Every time I come back to it I do a full walk around to check it. I'm also very aware of where I park. If I'm in a busy lot I will park far away where nobody wants to park anyway. I usually have space. Now I'll know to be aware of slope, so thank you for that.

Thank you for the advice, I kind of thought that I'm screwed too.

Probably will end up paying for it by myself but I wish I could make the guy that did it pay.

 

[S416905]

On a supermarkets parking lot.

I was shopping and when I came out there was a shopping cart resting against my car's drivers door.

The store has outside cameras and I was able to get them to review the video and got the culprits license plate number.

The guy was parked way away from me but the parking lot slopes down and when he unloaded his shopping into his car the cart started rolling down the parking lot until it hit

Thank you for the advice, I kind of thought that I'm screwed too.

Probably will end up paying for it by myself but I wish I could make the guy that did it pay.

You have his plates. You can find our where he lives and you know what car he drives.....

 

[JuanGoodman]

You have his plates. You can find our where he lives and you know what car he drives.....

How can you find out his name and address from a license plate?

 

[Robert Mugabe]

Check your dealership/warranty. You might have some coverage there. Otherwise insurance is your only recourse. The guy didn't hit you with his car so his license number doesn't mean much. Best case scenario is that it allows your insurance company to attempt subrogation against him but for something so small I doubt they would be bothered. Your deductible will probably cover the vast majority of the cost.

Unfortunately, you are sort of screwed. And it's my nightmare as well since I just picked up a new vehicle last week. Every time I come back to it I do a full walk around to check it. I'm also very aware of where I park. If I'm in a busy lot I will park far away where nobody wants to park anyway. I usually have space. Now I'll know to be aware of slope, so thank you for that.

But at least you get to enjoy that "new car" smell for a while.

 

[Robert Mugabe]

How can you find out his name and address from a license plate?

Used to be for $3.00 you could get his name and address from his plate down at the motor vehicles office. That was a long time ago. Probably no longer.

 

[bestseller87]

I needed to vent, it's a brand new car and if I go through insurance it will be on record that the car was in an accident.

And I don't have the video, they only showed it to me and we were able to get the license plate number.

I am new in this insurance world, but what is the point of having insurance and don't use it? How does this record work? Is it the same having an incident, that is not your fault, with a shopping car compared to a real incident on the streets, that may be your fault?

 

[tml]

What is your deductible?

 

[JuanGoodman]

I am new in this insurance world, but what is the point of having insurance and don't use it? How does this record work? Is it the same having an incident, that is not your fault, with a shopping car compared to a real incident on the streets, that may be your fault?

I think problem with insurance is:

1. Your deductible might be more that the repair, if is a small repair.

and

2. If you go through insurance, there always will a record of insurance claim on your car which in turn might lower your car value if you ever want to trade it or sell it.

 

[JuanGoodman]

What is your deductible?

$500.00

 

[xix]

Not just slopes, also where people leave the shopping cart in the rack/cage/ collector.
Also in winter snow plow collection I watch out, and tall SUV. I park away from Rain Drain, don't want to loose key or tire drops in there.

 

[tml]

$500.00

Can you get someone to give you a quick estimate of how much the total cost of repair would be? Subtract $500 from the estimate, and decide if it would be wortg dealing with the insurance company for the remaining amount.

 

[JuanGoodman]

Can you get someone to give you a quick estimate of how much the total cost of repair would be? Subtract $500 from the estimate, and decide if it would be wortg dealing with the insurance company for the remaining amount.

Yes that's basically what it comes down too,

 

[xix]

How can you find out his name and address from a license plate?

There is a way. The collection agency will provide that -for a fee - but you must be registered with MTO, they have list who can. I think this was discussed before and someone figure it out. Also I know this because a woman I know a lawyer found her. Her Ex-mother in law, no communication for 15 years, she was dying so EX-MIL wanted her help she was dying and had dementia. She looked after her, only because of her kids.

The Insurance will take it, then jack up insurance later. Insurance make a claim and we jack you up. That is why I learned to paintbrush my side panels, and change what I can or Duct tape it. I only use the insurance if I get hit bad on the road -(not private property), the mall is private. Ask your agent what they know. Just say you are curious for a friend.

I would just ask the body shop if they can fix it with just paint, nothing more. I am sure the car will be there for a week.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

I needed to vent, it's a brand new car and if I go through insurance it will be on record that the car was in an accident.

And I don't have the video, they only showed it to me and we were able to get the license plate number.

It was not your fault, the worse that can happen is that they make you pay the deductible ( if you have one to pay ).