Getting in a car accident can be stressful and scary, but having someone hit your parked car is often just annoying. Now you have to deal with the repairs, and you haven't been able to talk to the person who did it. Parked car accidents are unfortunately somewhat common, so it's important that you know what to do if someone damages your car.
Check your car for a note
Hopefully, the person who hit your car has left a note with his or her insurance information, but some people don't feel comfortable leaving personal information on a car. The culprit might have just left a name or just a phone number. If it's just a name, don't panic. The person might have gotten flustered and forgotten that you wouldn't be able to reach him or her without a phone number.
Thankfully, now you can with Go Look Up. With this site, you're able to look up public records. If the person who hit your car left only a phone number, you can search for him or her by the number so you know exactly who you're calling before you dial. Go Look Up is an easy way to obtain contact information and can make the process of dealing with your car's damage much simpler.
What if there's no note?
Unfortunately, not everyone who hits someone's car will leave a note. Maybe they didn't realize they hit your car, or they simply don't want to deal with the consequences of their actions. What can you do if you don't know who hit your car? You should start by looking for witnesses. If you think you might have just missed the accident happening, look around for people walking or other drivers. Stop people and point out your car to ask whether they saw anything. Sometimes if a witness sees that a culprit has not left a note after damaging a car, the witness will write down the car's license plate.
If you're in a public parking lot at a mall or in front of a business, ask the stores whether they have security cameras. Mall security can help you find video of the accident, and then you can use the images to find the perpetrator. While you're doing all this, make sure you note the time, date, and place of the accident (even if you think it might have happened earlier, write down when you discovered the damage). Take pictures of your car at the scene and contact your insurance company right away.
Should you call a lawyer?
If the person who hit your car didn't leave a note but you were able to find him or her, you may want to contact a car accident lawyer. Leaving the scene of a crime is illegal, even if no one was injured and it was a parked car. The person who hit your car may be hoping to get away with what they've done, so you don't want to approach him or her by yourself. Find a lawyer who can help you get remuneration for the damages done to your vehicle. You don't want to track down the culprit and go to his or her house. This might put you in danger and ultimately, you shouldn't be discussing the accident with the other people involved. Make sure you're following the correct procedures and contact a lawyer who can help you sort everything out.
It can be extremely frustrating when someone hits your parked car, but if you make sure you find the person responsible and see that he or she is held accountable, you might receive the compensation you deserve.
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