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What To Do If You Hit A Parked Car

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What To Do If You Hit A Parked Car

What if My Parked Car Gets Hit? [Personal Injury Attorney]

If you hit a parked car, no matter how minor the collision, dont think that you can just drive away you must let the owner of the parked car know. Thats the law .

If the owner is present when it happens, then thats simple enough. If they arent, it might be tempting to simply drive off, but as weve already stated doing so is illegal. Even if you think you might be able to get away with it, there could be witnesses you havent noticed or nearby CCTV might be recording whats happening.

So dont chance it. Pull over, make a note of the damage and leave your details with the car.

Write your name, address and phone number on a piece of paper and leave it behind a windscreen wiper. If its raining, see if you can protect the paper with a plastic bag or similar.

If you have a camera phone on you, take pictures of the damage this is important in case the third party attempts to blame you for damage you didnt cause.

You must also inform your insurer if you hit a parked car.

What Should I Do If Someone Hits My Parked Car And Drives Away

If somebody hits your parked car and drives away without leaving a note, you should call your insurance provider. Even if you dont intend to make a claim, its important to update your provider about any damage to your car. If you dont, you could end up invalidating your cover. If you decide to make a claim youll need to gather as much information as possible about the incident. Ask people nearby if they saw anything and take photos of the damage. You can also check to see if there are any cameras around that may captured footage of the prang. Remember to make a note of the time and date, and the location of your parked car, and call non-emergency police number 101 within 24 hours to report the accident.

Missouri And Illinoiss Statutes Of Limitations

If you were injured when the other vehicle hit your parked car, you only have a limited time to seek damages under your states statute of limitations. Illinois especially has a short deadline you only have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit, per 735 ILCS 5/13-202.

In Missouri, you generally have five years from the date of your accident to file, according to Missouri Code § 516.120.

Despite these deadlines, you must pursue legal action promptly because:

  • Certain evidence could disappear over time.
  • The liable insurer may have different deadlines for filing a lawsuit.
  • You want to give your lawyer enough time to build your case.
  • Peoples recollections of the collision could fade with time, making their testimonies unreliable.

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Should You Offer To Pay Out Of Pocket

The majority of parked car fender benders don’t involve huge, expensive damage so it may make sense to cover the damage out of pocket.

Paying out of pocket keeps your insurance record clean and means you will avoid a premium increase. “Any time you make a claim there is a very good chance your rates will go up,” warns Gusner. “Save your insurance for major claims and pay small incidents out of pocket if you can afford it.” But remember the other party has to agree to you paying out of pocket and not making a claim.

One last word of advice from Gusner, If you decide to settle without a claim being made, be certain to have the other party sign off that they received compensation and your financial duties for the accident have been fulfilled. That way if they try to double dip and also claim with your insurer, youll have proof it was already taken care of.

Will Your Insurance Go Up For Hitting A Parked Car

What to Do if You Hit a Parked Car?

If you are at fault, the short answer is probably. Ultimately, though, itll depend on your insurer, your insurance policy, the level of damage and if youve filed a claim before. Some insurers have accident forgiveness, which allows a single at-fault collision without increasing rates.

Should you settle out of pocket? Its worth noting that most insurers require you to report any accident within a reasonable time. This protect both them and you. However, to avoid increased rates, people do sometimes choose to settle with the other driver out of their own pocket, but this carries some risks.

Ultimately, only you can decide what risks youre willing to take.

Above all, try not to beat yourself up.

Everyone makes mistakes and many make this one. In the words of poet Alexander Pope: To err is human to forgive, divine.

Have you ever hit a parked car? What was your experience? Feel free to share your story in the comments below.

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Is The Driver Backing Up Always At Fault

In most cases, the driver backing up will be partially at fault, if not entirely at fault. That said, there are a few exceptions to the rules when making a determination of fault.

In some situations, the driver backing up may be the victim of another driver’s negligence, despite failing to comply with the right-of-way rules.

These exceptions include:

What Happens If I Hit An Illegally Parked Car

What happens if you cut through an incorrectly parked car? Stop and leave your details. As a driver, you are legally obliged to stop your vehicle in the event of an accident. Call the police for a formal investigation. Explore California’s comparative criminal law. Maximize the resolution of your car accident.

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What Happens When Someone Hits A Parked Car And Leaves

A hit and run accident occurs when someone leaves the accident scene without stopping to fulfill the duties imposed by law. When a driver hits a parked car, he or she is required to make a reasonable effort to identify the owner of the vehicle and leave a written notice. Every state has its own traffic laws covering hit and run accidents.

Information To Gather When Someone Hits Your Parked Car

Is it okay to leave a note if you hit a parked car?

Regardless of the situation involving damage to your parked car, it will be important to gather as much information as possible about the other driver and the surroundings. Failure to collect information may delay the claims process. Think in terms of who, what, when, where and why. The following are some key pieces of information about the other driver youll want to have ready for your insurance carrier after someone hits your parked car:

  • Name of the Driver
  • Police Report
  • Date of the Accident

The more information youre able to provide to your insurance carrier, the better. Most of the information youll need can be gathered by simply using your cell phone to take pictures of the other drivers insurance card and damage to all cars involved in the accident.

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Here Is What You Need To Know If You Hit A Parked Car

If you hit something or someone with your vehicle, its a collision, period, says Traffic Services Const. Clint Stibbe in a Globe and Mail interview. It is best to leave your information if you dont, you could be charged.

You must do your best to locate the owner of the parked car. If you cannot find the driver of the parked car, the law requires you to leave written notice of the accident. Place your notice in a visible location on the parked car and include the following:

  • Full name and address
  • Drivers license number
  • License plate

Leaving an accident scene may result in penalties including traffic tickets, fines, demerit points, possible license suspension, imprisonment, and increased car insurance rates.

Remember, all accidents must be reported to your insurance company regardless of fault and the damage amount.

Document The Accident Scene And Your Injuries

Take pictures of the scene, talk to witnesses, and collect other evidence from the accident scene. If somebody injured you, you need a physician to treat you and file a medical report.

Take all of this information, including copies of the police and medical reports, and call your car accident lawyer so that you can file an insurance policy claim against the other driver that hit your car while it was parked. Even if you are in a parking lot and see cameras its still beneficial to have your own documentation available.

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Do Insurance Companies Cover Hit And Runs

Your auto liability insurance does not cover your medical expenses or car repairs after a hit-and-run. If your car is hit by another vehicle, the at-fault drivers auto liability coverage typically helps pay for repairs. But a hit-and-run typically means that the at-fault driver flees the scene and is never caught.

Missouri And Illinoiss Hit

" Fender Benders: What to Do if You Hit a Parked Car ...

Missouri Revised Statute § 577.060 establishes that hit-and-run accidents are illegal and can result in felony or misdemeanor charges, depending on the nature of the collision. The same goes for Illinois. Per 625 ILCS 5/11-401, anybody who fails to pull over after an accident that hurts or kills someone could face criminal charges.

The criminal case against the other party will not award you compensation. Your civil case against them could, however. If a court convicts the other party of a crime, this could support your claim or lawsuit.

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Here’s What You Should Know

Vehicle collisions can be stressful when they occur, but it’s important to remember that your safety is always the number one priority. The following are a few tips to keep in mind immediately after involvement in a collision:

  • Shift your vehicle into “park.”
  • Check yourself and any passengers for injuries.
  • If you cannot move your vehicle, or if medical assistance is needed, dial “911” and follow the operator’s instructions.

If your vehicle is operable, and neither you nor any passengers with you have suffered any injuries, you should move to a secure location before exiting to assess the situation. Doing so will:

  • Protect you from oncoming traffic.
  • Allow safer passage for other motorists on the road.
  • Provide easier access for emergency responders to reach you, if necessary.

Should I Make A Claim On My Insurance

Though you need to tell your insurers when someones hit your parked car, its up to you as to whether you make a claim on your car insurance.

If you make a claim, you might have to pay your excess, and you might lose your no claims bonus. So get a quote on the price of repairs. In the long-term, it might prove less costly to pay for the repairs yourself than to claim on your insurance.

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What Should I Do If I Hit Someones Parked Car

Drivers who hit a parked car should:

  • locate the owner of the parked car,
  • show the cars owner their drivers license and vehicle registration, and
  • provide the owner with their contact information, including their current street address and phone number.

If the vehicle is unattended and the owner is not around, drivers should leave a note in a conspicuous place for the owner. The note should describe what happened and include the drivers contact information and address.

Stay Calm And Breathe

What Should You Do if You Hit a Parked Car

First, stop your car and take a breath. Make sure youre okay and that no one in your car is injured. If you or someone else is hurt, call 911 immediately. If possible, move your car off the road and to a safe place nearby. Turn on your flashers to warn others to be cautious as you will be getting out of your car.

Your health and safety is the number one priority.

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Will Hitting That Parked Car Increase My Insurance Premiums

Hitting a parked car is treated as if you hit a car while moving it is a collision.

The costs of repairs to your vehicle and the other vehicle will come out of the collision portion of your policy, minus any deductibles you owe. Therefore, if you have a deductible of $500, but the total damages are $2,000, insurance pays $1500 while you cover that $500 deductible.

It doesnt matter where the parked car is located either whether private property, parking lot, or on the city streets. Your insurer considers it a collision, and they will use liability and collision coverage for the damages. If you do not have liability coverage, however, you may not have ample insurance to pay for the damage done and some may come from your pocket.

What Should I Do If I Hit The Car But There Are No Damages

Even if you hit a car and you dont see any damages, its still technically a collision. This would mean that if you hit a parked car and left, the chances are you would still be charged for not leaving any contact information behind. When you do leave your information , and if the owner actually takes the time to call you, be friendly. If they are looking for a fix/compromise, you might consider shipping them a scratch removal product or using Paypal or Venmo to send them money for a car wash, both of which should be under $20 and dont require meeting face to face.

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Did The Crash Occur In A Parking Lot Or Garage

EHS Today reports more than 50,000 crashes occur when driving through a parking lot or garage every year, causing over 60,000 injuries. Reversing from parking spaces, parallel parking, and sideswiping are the most frequent parking lot accidents.

The same rule applies to parking lot collisions as on the roads: the moving vehicle holds 100% of the fault.

The reasoning is because the driver in the moving vehicle had a chance to see the stationary car. If the car is visible and could have been avoided, the driver is at fault for the accident.

S To Take If Your Car Gets Hit While Parked

What To Do If You Hit a Parked Car [8 STEPS]

It’s important to know what to do if someone hits your parked car, so you can take steps to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Here’s a checklist of actions to take immediately:

  • In a hit-and-run accident, it is important to call 911. If the police come to the scene, make sure to note the police department jurisdiction and the officer’s name to help obtain a police report later, if necessary.
  • Document the damage: You may want to take your own pictures of the accident, too. If it is safe to do so, use your smartphone to take pictures from all angles. Document each scratch, dent and any debris left behind at the scene.
  • Contact your insurance agent or Travelers representative: Let your insurance agent or insurance representative know what happened by providing the details of the accident. Your agent or representative can help you in the event you . If the person that hit your car left a note, your agent or representative will be able to guide you through the process of dealing with the other driver’s insurance provider.

Try to stay calm and follow these steps in this order. This may help you expedite your claim experience so you can get your car back on the road as soon as possible.

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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 every single minute 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.

Both Missouri And Illinois Require You To Carry Auto Insurance

Every motorist in these states is required to carry auto insurance. Even if youve never been in an accident before, having insurance gives you options if a crash severely injured you.

The Illinois Department of Insurance requires you to carry:

  • $25,000 in bodily injury for one person
  • $50,000 for all bodily injuries in one accident
  • $20,000 in property damage coverage

Alternatively, per the Missouri Department of Insurance, you must have:

  • $25,000 in bodily injury for one person
  • $50,000 for all bodily injuries in one accident
  • $25,000 in property damage coverage

The American Bar Association says that most auto accidents resolve through insurance claims. However, if you or the other party doesnt have insurance, this could hinder your ability to recover damages.

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