What Do You Do If Someone Hits Your Car

What To Do When Someone Hits Your Parked Car

If someone has hit your parked car, you should treat it like any other accident. First, don’t move your car. If you can locate the person who hit your car, exchange information with them. Then, call the local authorities to file a police report and notify your insurer. You can also take our short quiz to see if you may be covered for the damage, as well as what your next steps should be.

My Parked Car Was Hit And Got Damaged

Unless the offending driver is from New Hampshire or Virginia, the person responsible for hitting your parked car should have some amount of state-mandated liability insurance, which includes damage to someone else’s property. If your car was hit while you were, for instance, shopping in the supermarket, the at-fault driver’s property damage coverage will pay for any repairs to your vehicle up to a certain dollar amount based on the extent of the damage.

It is important to keep in mind that your own personal liability insurance coverage does not insure your own vehicle. If the other driver doesn’t have liability insurance or hit your parked car and left the scene, auto insurance companies offer two products that will reimburse you for the damage to your vehicle:

Obtain A Police Report

If someone hits your car and flees, call a police officer to the scene. First, theyll complete a police report detailing the damage. Theyll also speak to you and any witnesses while at the scene. Be prepared to give as much information as possible to the responding officer.

If youre able to describe either the driver or the make and model of the vehicle that hit you, or if you happen to have seen the cars license plate number, share that information with the police. Make sure you write down the officers name and badge number so the report will be easier to locate once its ready.

If the police are unable to come to the scene, you can file a report at the police station or online at the police departments website after the incident.

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What If Someone Hits My Car And I Dont Have Auto Insurance

First off, not having auto insurance regardless of whether someone hits your car – is illegal in most states. If youre caught driving without a license, you could face fines and other penalties, including losing your drivers license. So, you should always have auto insurance if you own a car and drive it.

However, if you dont have insurance and your car is damaged, you will be on the hook for covering all repair or replacement expenses.

Here Are Some Dos And Don’ts For Handling A Hit And Run

DON’T follow the fleeing driver. Leaving the scene of the accident could put you in a compromising position: You’ll miss getting eyewitness accounts and police could question who’s really at fault. Not only that, you run the risk of getting into another accident, or putting yourself in a dangerous situation without knowing the demeanor of the other driver.

DO call 911 if you are in your car or someone is injured.

DON’T wait to call the police or your insurance company to file a police report or an accident claim. The official accident report will help police look for the missing driver and will be useful when you file your accident claim.

DOget as much information about the driver, car and accident as possible, including:

• License plate number,
• The other vehicle’s make, model and color,
• Description of damage to the other vehicle,
• Which direction the other vehicle was headed,
• Location, date, time and cause of the accident.

DO ask witnesses if they can supply additional information about the accident. If they give you or the police a statement, be sure to get their names and contact information. Witness information can be especially helpful if the hit and run occurred when you were not with your vehicle. Get more information about how to handle parking lot accidents.

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Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers

The process of getting you the compensation that you need and deserve after your parked car gets hit and damaged can be difficult because much of it happens behind the scenes, in the offices of whatever insurance company is involved. This makes it even more important to have a Philadelphia car accident attorney at your side to help you recover what you need and deserve to get your car back on the road. Contact us online.

Will You Be Covered After A Hit And Run

There were 737,100 hit and run accidents in the United States in 2015. That made up 11.7 percent of all accidents. This number was far from an anomaly. Cases seem to increase by the year, so make sure you are covered in case anything happens. Contact a licensed insurance agent to review your policy. They can recommend changes if necessary as you will have the protection you need, even if someone leaves the scene of the accident.

At Freeway Insurance, your peace of mind is our priority. Protect yourself and your family today and get a free car insurance quote online, over the phone, or at one of our offices near you.

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A Car Hit Me And Drove Off

If you have been in a car accident and the person who hit your vehicle left the scene they are still liable! There is still help available to you. Hit and run crashes occur with an alarming frequency here in the U.S. according to the AAA Motor Club. It is not uncommon to have someone come into our office and say, someone hit my car or I got hit by a car, and they drove off What can I do?

Now not every hit & run is tragic, but many are. Illinois requires an uninsured motorist to carry personal injury coverage specifically, you have a right to compensation, and it will likely require legal intervention on your behalf to get that.

When your car is damaged and you are injured, and the perpetrator runs off, it creates all kinds of challenges. In the most common case, hit and run against a vehicle, it often leads to the victim having to sort out car repairs, rental cars, and often medical care. If you are fortunate enough to have details of the vehicle that did the hit and run, then you have the dread of dealing with their insurance company. This is where having an attorney experienced in hit-and-run accidents will prove valuable.

What To Do When Someone Hits Your Parked Car If They Didnt Leave A Note

It might still be possible to catch the culprit. So look around for any CCTV cameras that might have captured the incident. If youre in a public car park or parked outside a shop or other business, theres more likely to be CCTV footage than if youre parked on a residential street or a rural road.

If there are no cameras around, and if you dont have a specialist dash cam with a parking mode, then unfortunately you may never catch the other motorist.

Whether you can catch the culprit or not, you should call the police. Hit and runs are against the law, so you need to record the crime. The police might also be able to help you reach the other motorist, so they could help you get the compensation you need.

Beyond this, you need to follow the same steps as we outlined above: Assess the damage, contact your insurers, and head to a garage.

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What Should You Do If Your Car Is Stolen From Your House

Follow all instructions you get from the claims representative when you call to report the incident, and take any additional steps needed to protect your car from further damage, such as covering broken windows to protect the car?s interior from weather. If the police recover your stolen vehicle, let the insurance company know immediately.

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Should You Call The Police Or Handle It Privately

Nothing is more frustrating than returning to your car to find a dent or a scratch. You might consider shopping around at local body shops and asking the driver if they want to pay out of pocket if the damages are minimal. Remember to ask the repair technician if there could be any unforeseen damages related to this accident.

Know that your insurance company will not pay for any future car damages related to this accident if you decide to go this route. Going directly to the drivers insurance provider might be more advantageous if the damages are more extensive or you want to cover yourself in case of associated repairs in the future.

Drivers Must Remain Present At An Accident Scene And File A Report

What happens if someone hits your car and drives away will depend on the circumstances of the accident.

After a car accident, all parties are legally responsible for:

• Moving their vehicles to safety
• Staying on the scene
• Alerting the police
• Exchanging identification information

As stated by the Ohio Revised Code § 4549.01, violation of this law may result in misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the circumstances of the accident and if injuries or death occurred.

To leave the scene of an accident is a crime, and it can result in hefty fines, license suspension, and incarceration. Therefore, if you were in an accident with a negligent driver who hit your car and drove away, various circumstances may apply to your situation.

If you were able to remember the license plate number, you may be able to hold the driver accountable for the accident and file a claim with their insurance company. If not, your insurance might cover the costs, expenses, and damages resulting from the accident.

For a free legal consultation, call

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Collect Information From The Other Driver

If you witnessed the accident or the driver waited for you to arrive, the first piece of advice is dont get upset. Road rage incidents can escalate quickly. The other driver likely didn’t mean to hit your car and is as freaked out as you.

Instead, calmly collect his or her information:

• Insurance company

What Happens If You Hit A Parked Car And Leave The Scene

If you hit a parked car and leave the scene, you may be charged with hit and run. In Nevada, the law requires everyone to call the police when they are in an accident involving another vehicle. A driver in an accident must call the police whether or not the vehicle is moving at the time the accident occurs. If the police identify you, you may face misdemeanor charges. If someone is hurt or killed in the parked car accident, you may face felony charges.

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The Right Auto Insurance Can Help If Someone Hits Your Car

When someone hits your vehicle, immediately call 911 and your insurer. Law enforcement will determine who caused the crash, and you can use the accident report to support your claim.

The other driver’s liability insurance will cover your damages when the person caused the accident. Your collision insurance will cover your repairs when you’re at fault. Uninsured motorist insurance will pay for your medical expenses and repairs when a hit-and-run driver damages your vehicle and leaves the scene.

Your vehicle is your most valuable asset that deserves the best insurance protection. If you’re unhappy with your insurer’s claims process, consider finding a carrier that better suits your needs. SmartFinancial can help you get free auto insurance quotes from quality insurers. Just enter your zip code below to get started.

About the Author

Dani Milton is a senior content strategist and insurance specialist for SmartFinancial. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-Columbia. The Georgia writer loves making complicated topics accessible. Her past work has appeared on NPR and other news outlets. She once served as a public relations specialist, NASA Solar System Ambassador and Georgia Radio Reading Service volunteer host. In her spare time, she creates art, reads books, listens to music and watches online content.

Someone Hit My Parked Car And Left A Note

If someone hits your parked car and leaves a note, they would ideally leave their contact information or insurance companys information.

• If they dont identify the insurer on the note, call them for the insurance companys name.
• Itll also be helpful to look around for witnesses either people living in the houses near where you were parked or people working in the shops near the curb to gather more information.

If the damages are small, you might consider getting quotes as soon as possible from several body shops to determine how much repairs would cost, and then seeing if the other driver would be willing to pay cash out of pocket.

Ask the auto mechanics if there could be any unforeseen damage . However, going this route could mean that your insurance wont cover any future problems from the same accident.

But you would avoid paying a deductible and premium increases from filing a claim .

If the repair bill is high, or larger than your deductible, then consider going the insurance route.

While the driver may still pay out of pocket, the peace of mind in having the whole car looked at and potential future problems covered under insurance may be better in the long run.

You can file with:

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Should I Talk To The Other Partys Insurance Company

If you are filing a third party claim you will do so directly with the other drivers insurance company, which means you will be in contact with them. However, if youve filed a claim with your own insurance company, its typically smart not to talk to the other persons insurance company and to let the insurers work it out between them.

The other persons insurance company has their own interest in mind, meaning they are going to ask you questions, and if you contradict any of the details in the original report you could make things more difficult for yourself. If the other persons insurer wants to talk to you, you should ask your insurance company if this is advisable before speaking to them.

What If The Driver Didnt Leave A Note

If the driver hit your car and left the scene without reporting the incident or leaving a note with their contact information, then this is a hit-and-run accident. This is a crime and should be reported to the local authorities as soon as possible.

If this happens, the first thing you should do is check for any witnesses or security cameras at the scene. If there is a shop nearby, then it could be worth asking them for any video footage they might have, or the police might follow this up later in the investigation.

Be sure to take photos and videos of your vehicle and the surroundings from different angles. Even small scratches or marks should be documented, as they will still cost money to repair.

Regardless of whether you locate the driver, you will first have to file a claim under your own insurance. Additional costs might be covered by uninsured motorist insurance or collision insurance if you already have this type of policy.

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Do I Have To Pay If Someone Hits My Parked Car

In at-fault car accident states, you shouldnt have to pay if someone hits your parked car. If someone hits your parked car, whether you have to pay depends on the laws in your state and your insurance coverage. In at-fault states, like Nevada, you shouldnt have to pay if someone hits your parked car. Instead, you may sue the driver that hit your parked car for your losses. If the driver cant be located, your insurer may cover your losses as an uninsured driver if you elected that type of insurance coverage.

In no-fault states, your own insurance policy should pay for your losses for a parked car accident up to the maximum of your insurance coverage. Thats because, in no-fault states, the law requires all drivers to carry a minimum insurance amount. However, in at-fault states, youre responsible for paying your deductible as well as any amounts beyond your insurance maximum.

For all cases, either the other driver or your insurance should pay if someone hits your parked car. Either the other driver should pay you directly , or your insurance pays you . In addition, if you dont have insurance or your damages exceed your maximum limits, you may have to pay if someone hits your parked car.