Imagine walking out of the store and seeing a large dent or transferred paint on your car! Unfortunately, accidents like this happen. Coming outside to see your once blemish-free vehicle with a dent or scrape can be stressful. Luckily, if you have insurance, you won’t have to worry about the expense of getting it fixed.
However, what do you do in this situation? Below are four things to do if someone hits your parked vehicle.
Call the Police
If someone hits your parked car, you should treat it like any other accident. Call the police and don’t move anything. Have your proof of insurance, registration, and other relevant documents ready.
When the police arrive, they will document the incident and create an official report. This report is essential for filing a claim with your auto insurance company. Be sure to enter the police officer’s name and badge number as well.
Document Everything
You want to gather as much information as possible about the incident. Take pictures and videos to capture the entire scene, including the damage to your vehicle. When taking photos, remember to get some of the signage and landmarks around.
If there are tire marks, debris, or other damage, include that. Your document should also have the location, time, weather conditions, and any additional relevant information. You want to be as detailed as possible when filing a claim.
Locate Who Hit Your Car
Hopefully, the person who hit your car will stay at the scene. If so, exchange information with one another so you both can file and notify your insurance companies. However, if the driver who hit your car left the scene without communicating, this incident will be labeled a hit-and-run. You will need to team up with your local police to file a report and run any nearby cameras to help identify the person who hit your car.
Notify Your Insurance Company
After getting all the information you need, you should contact your insurer immediately. Calling them on the same day will help you remember all the necessary details. Your agent will walk you through the process of filing a claim. Remember to ask them for your policy details to see what coverages are available.
At Saferoad Insurance, we want our drivers to be safe, even if the car is parked. We offer affordable home and auto insurance in California that will protect you against collision damage and uninsured drivers. Contact our trusted agents for information on how we can help.