Someone Hit My Parked Car — Can I Sue?

When you park your car and head into the grocery store,...

the front of a car

When you park your car and head into the grocery store, bank, or even your house, you expect to return to your car just as you left it. Unfortunately, many people return to their car to find that it was hit and damaged by another vehicle. This can be an extremely frustrating experience because you may not know who hit it, meaning you’re stuck paying to have the damage fixed. Fortunately, you have many resources to track down the person who hit the car. So what should you do if someone hits your parked car?

Document the incident

One of the first things you should do when you notice that someone hit your parked car is document the accident. Start by writing down where you were parked, what time of day it was, and how long you were gone. Additionally, you should take pictures — not only of the damage, but the surrounding area, including the location of your car, as well.

If someone hit your car and waited to talk to you, make sure to get all of their contact information, including their insurance information. Unfortunately, not everyone will stay or leave their information if they hit someone’s car. But if you happened to see the accident happen, or a witness did and got the license plate number of the vehicle that hit your car, you may be able to find the person. Not only can the police look up who the vehicle belongs to, but you may be able to use online tools, like golookup.com, to obtain the contact information for the person who hit your car.

Talk to insurance companies

Another important step to take after your parked car was hit is talk to insurance companies. You need to talk to your insurance company to file a claim and determine what your policy will cover regarding the damages. If you know who hit your car, you need to talk to their insurance company as well. If no one was injured in the accident, it will be considered a “property damage only” accident. Often, insurance policies will pay to repair vehicle damages no matter who was at fault, which means there’s a good chance you won’t have to pay out-of-pocket. Collision coverage is something everyone should have to protect them in the event of an accident.

Call a lawyer

Just like with any other car accident, legal action can be taken if someone hits your parked car. Insurance doesn’t always cover damages, and if an insurance company is offering a low settlement, you should get a lawyer involved. A car accident attorney will be able to help in numerous ways. First, they can help deal with insurance companies. While drivers have to file a claim and report the incident, attorneys can speak with insurance companies on behalf of their clients to ensure a fair settlement is offered. If the settlement isn’t what it should be, lawyers can then help their client take the case to court if needed. Additionally, if a driver doesn’t know who hit their car, attorneys can help gather evidence and witness statements that will be needed to build a strong case. It needs to be made clear that someone hit your car and that you were not at fault for the damages — attorneys can help with this. All in all, whether it’s simply dealing with insurance companies or taking legal action against the other driver, working with an attorney can be extremely helpful when someone hits your parked car.

Having a damaged vehicle can be frustrating and expensive. This is why you need to follow these simple steps if your parked car is hit so you can make sure the damages are covered.

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