Are You a Victim of a Parked Car Crash?
If you’re the victim of a parked car crash, you’ll want to know the best steps to take to ensure that you’re taken care of. Regardless of the severity of the damage, if it’s your automobile, you’re likely to feel annoyed. It’s hardly a small issue when someone hits your parked automobile. Fixing a cracked mirror or busted tail light can become a tiring, stressful process that you shouldn’t have to deal with. So, what should you do, and when should you do it? Follow these procedures to get the best potential result for your situation.
Inform the authorities
When you discover that someone has hit your parked automobile, the first thing you should do is call the police. When they arrive, they’ll photograph the situation and document it in an official incident report. Request a copy of the report from the officer before they depart, since this can come in handy if you decide to file an insurance claim later.
Take pictures of the scene
While you’re waiting for the police to arrive, you can begin step two by photographing the incident as it is. Do not move your automobile or leave the area unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, because we always have access to our phone’s camera, capturing the damage to your car is considerably easier today. To document the scenario as exactly as possible, take images and videos of your automobile, the damage, and the entire scene of the parked car crash. When the cops arrive, make a note of the officer’s name as well as their badge number.
Also, keep an eye on your surroundings. Security or doorbell cameras are becoming increasingly widespread in both residential and commercial properties. If you come across any cameras while walking around, take down the business or residential location so that you or the cops can contact the owners and seek access to the film.
Inform your insurance company
Last but not least, tell your insurance company. After stages one and two, dealing with insurance is probably the last thing on your mind, but it’s critical to do so as quickly as possible. Your insurer will be able to tell you what information they will need to file your claim this way. If there’s anything else you need to document, you’ll have the opportunity to do so before departing the scene.
Have You Discovered a Message?
The second-best case scenario is if, after your parked car crash, the driver left a letter. The person’s contact and insurance details should be included in the note. Give your insurer and the police the information from the note so they can handle it correctly.
If the damage to your automobile isn’t severe—say, a scratch or a damaged fender—you might be able to avoid using insurance. Request estimates from repair shops as soon as you can. The person who hit your automobile may choose to pay for the repairs himself rather than paying the insurance deductible.
If you go this route, make sure to ask the repair business about any potential problems that aren’t immediately obvious. If your repairs are covered without insurance and problems occur as a result of the initial incident, your insurer may be less willing to cover such costs in the future.
Is my insurance going to pay for the damage?
Damage to your parked automobile may be covered under your insurance coverage, depending on your specific policy. There are two types of insurance that are commonly used to cover the damage to your vehicle if it is in a parked car crash.
Collision insurance will usually be used to cover the necessary service to your car. Even if it was a hit and run and the person who hit your car is never identified, collision insurance can often cover the damages.
However, if there was no note and no other information to go off of, collision insurance may not cover it. Your insurer may be able to cover it under uninsured motorist property damage insurance, although that’s typically a less commonly carried policy.
Stay Safe on and off the Road With All Star
It will almost certainly be a frustrating experience if you’re a victim of a parked car crash. However, having a plan of action and knowing what measures to do might be the first step toward reducing the stress. All Star’s objective as the Midwest’s leading driving school is to ensure that you are prepared for anything you may experience on or off the road.
All Star is the greatest resource for driver education, with 40+ locations across Michigan, and Ohio, Indiana. Every year, we deliver thousands of hours of in-vehicle training and classes. All Star has you covered whether you’re looking for teen programs for new drivers, adult programs, or remedial classes. Sign-up at www.allstardrivereducation.com