It can be so frustrating to go back to your car and see a dent in it after being parked for a while. When this happens and they didn’t leave an apologetic note with their information under your windshield, you may be thinking, what now? The first thing you need to do is stay calm. The worst thing you can do right now is to give up and drive away thinking why me? Anytime your car is involved in an accident, even if you weren’t there it’s important to take the necessary steps to document all the damage done and increase your chances of a successful outcome. Here is what you need to do if someone hits your parked car and leaves.

Steps To Take At The Accident Scene

Here are the steps you need to take when someone hits your parked car in the parking lot or on the street.

1. Call the Police

The first thing you need to do after the accident is to call the police. In the majority of vases, an officer will show up at the scene to document the damage and write an official accident report. This is very important to have when you file your insurance claim. You can request a copy of it. It’s also a good idea to write down the name and badge number of the officer who took the report.

If for any reason, the police can’t come to the accident scene, it’s still very important to file a report yourself online on your local police’s website.

2. Check for Security Cameras

If you parked your car on a busy street, or parking lot/garage, there’s a big chance the accident was captured on a security camera. This footage can help figure out exactly what happened and help the police find the car involved in the crash.

Even if you didn’t get to see any cameras, it’s still a good idea to ask the nearby business or building owners where they are, since they can be in tricky spots.

3. Document the Details

Before you leave the scene, write down as much information as you can. Write down where the accident happened, the time of day and date, as well as the weather conditions. It can be hard to remember all these details days or weeks after the incident, this is why is important to take all the necessary notes.

4. Take Pictures

If you can, take pictures of the car damage and the scene. Pictures can be important evidence and it can be the difference between an unsuccessful and a successful insurance claim. They can also help you remember everything when you talk to insurance companies.

If you can, take photographs of:

Vehicle and the damage in the vehicle
The position of your car on the street or parking space
Any other damages found at the scene, such as damages to other cars, skid marks on the road, etc.
Signage where the location of the accident can be seen
Weather conditions

Take pictures from all different distances and angles. If you have a wide variety of pictures it will help show the damage and the scene, if you can take videos too.

Will Insurance Cover My Car Repairs?

If you’re involved in a car accident, either a rear-end collision or a head-on collision, you always have to contact your insurance company as soon as you can. In a hit and run accident, it is not possible to identify the other driver, so you will need to rely only on your own insurance to cover the repair costs.

If you have collision coverage it will help cover the repair costs. But, you will have to pay a deductible.

Car Repair in Las Vegas

If you have been involved in a hit and run or any other crash that left your car with damage, Sudden Impact Auto is the place to come! We are the most reliable and trusted auto body collision repair shop in Las Vegas. We repair damaged vehicles and provide top-notch customer service. We even work with your insurance company!

Give us a call at 702-457-3002 for a free inspection.

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