What To Do When Someone Hits Your Parked Car

Why It’s Important To Act Quickly After A Parked Car Collision

If someone has hit and caused damage to your parked vehicle, time is of the essence. Knowing what to do next and acting promptly will protect your compensation interests and give you peace of mind. This guide provides instructions on what to do.

What Should I Do If Someone Hits My Parked Car?

If you find that your parked car has been hit and damaged, never panic. The first thing you need to do is perform a thorough assessment of the vehicle’s damage and document as much of the surrounding scene as possible. Use your phone to take photos or video footage of:

• Vehicle damage
• Parking location
• Relevant traffic signs and signals
• Parking lines
• Entrances and exits

You should also take the opportunity to thoroughly scan the area for potential surveillance cameras that may have captured the accident because the more evidence you can find, the better. 

You are also obligated under Nevada jurisprudence to file a report with the authorities, and you should also report the accident to the business that owns the parking lot if appropriate. For example, if the accident occurred in the parking lot of a grocery store, notify store management of the crash. 

Am I Covered If Someone Hits My Car In A Parking Lot?

Can you sue someone for hitting your parked car? If your automobile is damaged by someone while it is stationary in a parking lot, the same rules and regulations of injury compensation apply as those that govern car accidents on the road, which are rules of fault. 

Fault requires negligent or otherwise unlawful motor vehicle drivers to pay for the property damage and injuries they cause. 

As a hit-and-run victim, you should be covered for an accident in a parking lot if the at-fault party has the proper liability automobile insurance. You may also find coverage under the parking lot owner’s liability insurance policy if the parking lot was deficient in some way, such as unreasonably sharp turns or parking spaces that are too small. 

If the at-fault driver is unknown, your uninsured motorist policy should kick in to cover the damages. 

What To Do If Someone Hits Your Parked Car And Leaves

Unfortunately, hit-and-runs with parked cars are not uncommon. Many drivers have gone out to parking lots only to find a damaged car and no immediate way of locating the responsible driver. 

If someone hits your parked car and leaves, you should take at least the following steps to ensure you get compensated:

• File an accident report
• Notify your uninsured motorist policy issuer
• Gather evidence as described above

All three of these steps should be accomplished as quickly as possible. Accident reports must be made within 10 days of an accident, or you could face a license suspension. Regarding evidence, you should take notes and photos of your car’s condition before it is moved or repaired. 

What To Do If Someone Hits Your Parked Car And Leaves A Note

If someone hits your parked car and leaves a note, you should reach out to the other driver using the contact information they have provided and never delay contacting them. However, you should be prepared to engage in a conversation with the other vehicle operator before you make contact.

Ultimately, you should seek the following information from your contact with the driver who hit your vehicle:

• The driver’s full name and insurance carrier
• A description of their car
• A description of the accident

In all accident cases, it pays to be forthright and courteous because situations involving damaged vehicles can turn aggressive quickly. As the victim wanting compensation for your damaged vehicle, your main objective is information. 

The fact that the driver left a note is a good sign that your exchange with them will be cordial. As you exchange information, pay close attention to the details and take notes. You may even consider asking if you may record the phone call. 

Remember that you should never admit fault or say that you are sorry because doing so can be used as evidence against your compensation claim, even when your “sorry” is not really an apology but a form of genuine commiseration. 

Will My Insurance Go Up If Someone Hits My Parked Car?

Unless you were the negligent party, your insurance should not go up if someone hits your parked car because Nevada law explicitly prohibits insurers from raising your rates for an accident that was not your fault. 

Sadly, some car accident victims are not aware that their rates should not increase due to an accident caused by someone else. If your rates increase for a parked car accident or any other car crash caused by someone else, consider speaking with an attorney.

What Should I Do If I Hit A Parked Car?

If you hit a parked car, the worst thing you can do is flee the scene because that is a crime that leaves victims in a lurch. 

The proper steps to take after hitting a parked car are:

• Reporting the accident to local authorities
• Snapping photos of the damage to both vehicles
• Determining whether the driver is present or not
• Gathering as many details about the vehicle as possible
• Contacting your insurance company

You may also want to consider leaving your contact information on the windshield of the car you have hit. 

Additional Resources

Related Articles

For more information on what to do if someone hit your parked car and the car accident claims process, refer to the following articles:

• How Do Car Insurance Deductibles Work?
• How to File an Auto Insurance Claim.

Need Help? Contact Us Today

If you are wondering what to do when someone hits your parked car, Adam S. Kutner, Injury Attorneys, can help. We offer free initial consultations to get you preliminary answers to your questions and discuss representation.