Getting to the parking lot to find out that your parked car has been dented can be really upsetting. But finding a note on your car in this situation is often an indication that the culprit means well and is willing to talk things through.
Therefore, if someone hit your parked car and left a note:
- Contact the police to file a complaint
- Take pictures of your car, where you parked, and a good view of the damage
- Check for witnesses or security footage
- Report to your insurance company
- Go to the repair shop for an estimate
- Expect a call from the culprit’s insurance company
The said note however should include the name, address, contact number, and insurance details. This can be used to get compensation for your property damage or a link to get across to the insurance company of the person that would help fix the damage on the car.
Can Someone Hit My Parked Car and Leave a Note?
Yes, it is possible for someone to hit your car and leave a note.
People have different schedules, and plans and might have important assignments to attend to and these factors come into play in cases of accidents.
A man on a 7 am appointment who hits your car by 6:45 is most likely not to wait and the only logical thing for such a person to do is to drop a note.
The note should include their name, address, contact number, and insurance policy as stated above, if the insurance company is not stated in the note, call the person for the insurance company’s name. This would allow you to pursue an injury claim for your damaged property.
But a lot of factors come into play here, like where your car is parked, how your car is parked, witnesses, or security footage to guarantee that all the damages claimed were caused by the person.
What Should I Do When Someone Hit My Parked Car and Left a Note?
When someone hits your parked car and leaves a note:
1. Call the Police
If someone hit your parked car, the first thing you should do is to call the police to file an official accident report and make sure they see the note left on your car and the damage caused.
2. Take Pictures
You need to take pictures of the damages done to your car, where your car was parked, and how it was parked. This will be helpful when you try to claim compensation for your property damage from the insurance company as it would be put into consideration if your car is well parked and where it was parked.
3. Check for Witnesses or Security Footage
Sometimes pictures might not be enough. Hence, the need for third-party witnesses or better still security footage, so check around for cameras, be it street cameras, or private cameras.
And ask around for witnesses, if you are, you might get accidental phone recordings capturing the moment.
4. Report to Your Insurance Company
Make a call to your insurance company, report the incident, and provide them with all the information you have gathered such as the pictures and the security footage or witness as the case may be.
Some insurance companies might even provide you with an application that allows you to file a claim and upload all the information you have gotten so far.
5. Take the Car to a Repair shop for an Estimate
Depending on the amount of damage incurred and the advice of your insurance officer you might need to take the car to a repair shop (if still drivable) for an estimated cost for repair.
This estimated cost for repair will be useful in your negotiation with the insurance company. But if the car is not repairable, you might be paid the fair cash value if damage exceeds the state’s limit and is considered a total loss.
6. Expect a Call from the Culprit’s Insurance Company
He is expected to have informed his insurance company and in return contact you to open negotiation with you and your insurance officer.
Here comes the tricky part: if the culprit insists on doing only part of the damage or claims your car is wrongly parked you might be paid less than you are supposed to or not paid at all so this is where the videos and witnesses come into play.
Consequences of Someone Hitting your Parked Car?
To leave the scene of an accident is a criminal offense and it’s punishable under the law. To leave the scene without dropping a note is even worse, if you get to your car to discover a hit with the culprit or note not in sight, contact the police and it will be regarded as a case of hit and run.
Imagine parking your car at the Walmart parking lot and someone hits it without leaving a note, that’s hit and run.
However, hitting your car does not automatically put you on the good side of the law as to where and how your car is parked will be put under consideration.
Parking in the wrong place can put you on the wrong side of the law even though your car got hit, and this could, in turn, lead to a decrease or no consolation prize.
Reasons Why People May Hit Your Parked Car
There are various reasons why people may hit your car, let’s take a look at some of them
Traffic
In situations where there’s traffic where your car is parked there’s a high probability of someone hitting your car in a bid of wanting to navigate to another route and carelessness of you not parking well.
Wrong Packing
Another reason people could hit your car is if you are not properly parked or packed in the wrong place such as a sharp corner, double parking, etc.
Not only would these things put your car in bad shape but they also pose a risk for your driver’s license and might cost you any consolation you would be getting, so always ensure you are well parked and not in the wrong spots.
Drunk Driving
Another possible reason for someone to hit your car is when the driver is drunk and it is highly frowned upon by the law as it poses a life-threatening risk for not just the driver but the populace of the environment.
Possible penalties for drinking and driving include
- Fines
- License suspension
- Community service and counseling
- Probation
- Insurance rates are increased up to high rates
Ways to Prevent People from Hitting Your Parked Car
- Avoid Parking on Busy Roads: When you want to park your car, look for the nearest car park or parking lot to park your car, this reduces the risk of you having a dented car
- Be Deliberate About How and Where You Park Your Car: Don’t just park your car anywhere, ensure that you are not parking in a sharp corner or double packing.