My Parked Car Was Hit, What Do I Do?

Few things are as disappointing than leaving an event or other activity and walking up to your car to discover it has been hit by another vehicle. Damage to side panels, front and rear bumpers, headlights and taillights, and smashed windshields are all common damage to discover in such a situation.

This type of hit-and-run accident occurs when someone leaves the accident scene without stopping as required by law. When a driver hits a parked car, they are required by law to make a reasonable effort to identify the owner of the vehicle and leave a written notice. If you’re lucky the driver that hit your car has left information to contact them and exchange insurance information. However, often times you are simply left with a damaged vehicle and no sign of the driver that hit your car.

Here are a few things to help in this situation:

• Don’t get in your car and drive off. Call the police. It’s important to file a police report for the accident (some states require this) to help catalog and preserve any evidence at the scene.
• Look around for any witnesses. Additionally, if you are in a garage or event parking lot, or even on the street there may be security cameras from nearby businesses. If you notice any, ask the property owner to preserve the video until your attorney can request it.
• Take accident photos. Get as many angles of the damage as possible including close-ups. Take photos of the overall scene and location from multiple angles.
• Contact your insurance company as soon as possible and notify them that you’ve been in an accident.

If you are unable to determine who hit your vehicle you will need to file a claim with your insurance company to get your vehicle repaired. Most auto insurance policies have uninsured or under insured coverage. However not all states require this coverage, so it is a good idea to review your auto insurance policy and check what coverages you have, and what amounts are covered.

Once you have filed a claim with your insurance company, they will likely make recommendations on what auto body repair shop to take your vehicle. It’s important to understand that you are not obligated to use the auto body shop the insurance company recommends. Read our article “Should you use the auto body repair shop your insurance company recommends?” for more insights into this situation.

At Marksman Auto Body we have excellent relationships with most major insurance providers, and our ASE and I-CAR certified technicians can handle any collision repair services. However, what truly sets Marksman Auto Body apart from other auto body repair services is our unmatched commitment to customer service. As an independent auto body repair facility, we have come to nurture all of our customer relationships and approach the repairs we perform as if we were doing them for a friend or family member.

Call us today at 330-225-5560 or fill out the repair estimate form and we will follow up with you right away.