The Shoulder
The Shoulder
65
daring-badger-087

Someone hit my parked car at work and drove off — but I got lucky and have proof

So this happened last week and I'm still kind of in disbelief about how it unfolded.

I just started a new job at a large facility — we're talking a massive property with a huge parking lot. On my third day, I came out to my car after my shift and found my rear quarter panel caved in and my taillight shattered. No note. Nothing. Whoever did it just… left.

I was honestly about to just eat the cost and cry about it, but then I checked my phone and had a voicemail from an unknown number. Turns out a maintenance worker had seen the whole thing from a nearby loading dock, wrote down the plate and a description of the vehicle, and somehow tracked down my number through the front desk. An actual guardian angel.

Armed with that info, I talked to building security and they pulled footage from an exterior camera that caught the whole thing — the hit, the driver looking around, and them just pulling away. Clear as day.

Fast forward a few days: I spotted what looks like the exact same vehicle in the employee/contractor lot. Same color, same make, same partial plate.

So here's where I'm stuck:

  • Do I go to HR or facility management and ask them to help identify the driver?
  • Do I file a police report first (I haven't yet — is it too late)?
  • Do I loop in my own insurance and let them chase the other driver, or does that mess with my rates?

I don't want to tip the person off before I have a plan. I also don't want to do this out of order and accidentally make things harder for myself. Any advice from people who've been through something similar?

11replies

Not sure what your claim is worth?

AskMatlock can connect you with an independent injury lawyer for a free case check — no pressure, no cost to start.

Check my case

0 / 4000 · posted under a randomly assigned handle

11 replies

  • 18
    patient-marten-018

    File the police report TODAY. Do not wait. Bring the footage and the witness's info with you. That report is the foundation for everything else — without it, this is just your word against theirs. After that, then you can figure out the insurance and HR piece.

    • 12
      swift-bison-503

      Almost identical thing happened to me in a shopping center garage. I skipped the police report thinking I didn't need it since I had photos, and I regretted it so much later. The other driver's insurance kept asking for the report number and without it, everything dragged on forever. Please go file it now, even if it feels late — most departments will still take it.

  • 18
    brave-swan-676

    A few things worth knowing:

    1. Police report first — even if the officer just takes a statement over the phone, get a report number. 2. Don't approach the driver yourself — I know it's tempting since you've basically spotted them, but direct confrontation can complicate things legally and personally, especially if they're a coworker or contractor. 3. HR may or may not help — they're not obligated to give you someone's personal info, but if the vehicle is a company vehicle or the person is on-site regularly, security or management may be willing to facilitate contact. Frame it as wanting to resolve it civilly.

    Not legal advice, just stuff I've seen come up a lot in these situations.

    • 4
      patient-traveler321

      Solid advice. Getting it in writing is the part most people skip.

  • 15
    sharp-grouse-017

    Ugh, this is so stressful, especially when you're brand new to a job and just trying to get settled. I'm really glad that worker left you that voicemail — that kind of thing restores your faith in people a little. Hope you get this sorted out without too much hassle.

  • 14
    mellow-bison-363

    Not legal advice, but from a practical standpoint — the evidence you have is genuinely valuable and you're in a better position than most hit-and-run victims. The key is preserving everything now: get that footage saved somewhere secure (ask for a copy in writing), make sure the witness is willing to be contacted, and document your damages with photos before any repairs. The sequence matters too — police report, then insurance, then repair. Don't flip that order.

  • 14
    genuine-stoat-962

    Quick question — when you say you 'spotted' the same vehicle, how confident are you it's actually the same car? Same make and color with a partial plate match could still be a coincidence. I'm not doubting you, just want to make sure you're solid before you go to HR or security and it turns out to be the wrong person. Could cause a whole awkward situation at a job you just started.

  • 12
    brave-finch-981

    I used to work claims and honestly — the footage is gold. Most hit-and-run cases fall apart because there's no real evidence. You have a witness AND video? That's unusually strong. When you do contact insurance (yours or theirs), lead with that. Mention upfront that you have recorded footage and a named witness. It changes how seriously they take the file from the jump.

  • 10
    wise-swan-490

    Whatever you do, be careful about calling your own insurance before you have the other driver's info locked down. Once you open a claim on your own policy, it can take on a life of its own. Adjusters are trained to close files fast and cheap. If you can get the at-fault driver's insurance directly, that's almost always the better first move.

    • 1
      hopeful-traveler591

      Curious whether you did this on your own or had help with it.

  • 10
    gentle-heron-227

    Honestly though — you have camera footage AND a witness on a hit-and-run. Do you know how rare that is? Most people in this situation have absolutely nothing to work with. You're actually in a really strong spot here. Take a breath, follow the steps others are mentioning, and try to remember you're holding most of the cards.