What to Do When Someone Hits Your Parked Car
Going from enjoying a relaxing evening with friends to fretting over damage to your parked car is a truly unpleasant experience. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to treat it like any other type of accident.
In this article from the reliable collision repair professionals in Tucson, you’ll learn what to do when someone hits your parked car and flees the scene and what to do when they leave a note.
What to Do When Someone Hits Your Parked Car and Leaves the Scene
If someone hits your parked car and drives off before you get there, your focus should be on protecting your rights and preserving evidence. Here are some tips on what to do:
Stay There and Record Evidence
When you arrive at the scene, you may want to drive off as fast as possible to lodge a complaint or look for the perpetrator. However, you’ll lose evidence if you drive off too quickly.
Stay on the scene to gather as much evidence as possible. Make a note of the time and location of the accident. Take as many photos and videos of the accident as possible.
If you spot the perpetrating car driving away, grab the plate number.
Find Possible Witnesses
Did you park the vehicle near a busy area? Someone might have seen the perpetrating car. If you find anyone witnesses, get their name and contact information.
Check for a security camera around the area that may have recorded the incident. If you find one, ask the owner for a copy of the footage or ask them to preserve the video for your attorney’s use.
File a Police Report
A police report is the surest way to preserve any evidence you find at the accident scene. Whatever you think about the scope of the damage, calling the police can save you from potential legal issues.
Contact the Insurance Company
Notifying your insurance company about the accident early can help fast-track the claims process.
What to Do When Someone Hits Your Parked Car and Leaves a Note
If someone hits your parked car and leaves a note, you should still apply the tips above, including gathering as much evidence as possible, calling the police, taking photos, and looking for witnesses.
If the damage is minor, you can request price quotes from body shops and reach out to the other driver to see if they are willing to pay out of pocket for the cost of repairs.
You should get the insurance companies involved for more expensive damage if you have collision coverage.
Get Expert Repairs From Formula 1 Collision Center
We hope our article on “what to do when someone hits your parked car” has been educating. Are you looking for a company you can trust for evaluation and repairs following such accidents? Turn to Formula 1 Collision Center.
We’ll evaluate your vehicle, uncovering any hidden damage that may manifest down the line—and there are quite a few. Check this article for car problems after rear-end collisions.
Call us at Formula 1 Collision today at 520-369-4291 or visit our Tucson, AZ, shop.
