Someone Hit My Parked Car. Now What?

It’s an awful feeling: You’ve returned to your parked car to discover a giant scratch and a dent in your bumper, but there’s nobody around. Someone obviously hit your parked car and left and didn’t even leave a note. What should you do now?

Being in a hit-and-run parked car situation can be exasperating and demoralizing — especially if you don’t know how your insurance might cover the incident — but stay calm. Once you’ve absorbed the situation, you can start to act. Here are tips for what to do if someone hits your parked car and leaves.

Contact the Authorities

In a hit-and-run parked car situation, first contact the police. They will review the accident and create an official accident report. You’ll want to have a copy of that accident report, because it will be helpful when you file an insurance claim, so be sure to ask for a copy of the report for your records. You should also jot down the name of the officer, as well as their badge number, so that you can contact them if further questions arise. 

Document the Scene

When you’re upset, you can miss details that will be helpful in the future. So, take out your notebook or phone and start recording what you see. Make notes about as many of the accident specifics as possible. What time of day did the hit-and-run occur, as best you can tell? Where was your car parked? What were the weather conditions around the time of the accident?

Use the camera on your phone to take photos of the damage, and (if possible) landmarks that would help you identify the location in the future. Look for debris and tire marks around the scene of the parking lot accident that could give you clues about the driver that left the scene. The more you record now, the more you’ll remember later.

Talk to Witnesses

If you are lucky, someone may have witnessed the accident and stuck around to tell you about it. If you can, ask that they stay until the police arrive to give their statement to the authorities. 

But what if nobody was around to see it? You may still have an option, because many businesses have security cameras that record parking lots. If you see a camera that might have caught your accident, jot down its location and share it with the police when they arrive. The officer will be able to request camera footage and get a better idea of the driver and the vehicle they are looking for.

File an Insurance Claim

Once you’ve spoken with the police and bystanders and documented the scene, your insurance agent is your next call. Contact your Farm Bureau agent to file your insurance claim. Your agent (or the claims representative) will be able to begin the process of filing a claim, share information about an auto body shop for repair work and walk you through the claims process. They’ll help you know what to expect and what to do next. And those photos you took? Your agent may ask for copies for their records.

Protect Yourself Even When You’re Not There

If you ever find yourself with a hit-and-run parked car situation, leave the investigative work to the authorities and trust that you have the right insurance coverage to handle the damage to your car. If your policy has provisions for collision and uninsured and underinsured motorists, you’re in luck! Talk to your Farm Bureau agent about the coverage you need and protecting yourself from accidents you can’t prevent.