Can I Still Claim Insurance After Leaving the Scene of a Scrape?
2 Answers
You can still claim insurance after leaving the scene of a scrape. However, you need to take on-site photos of the vehicle being scraped, and these photos must meet the insurance company's requirements for accident claims. The specific insurance involved is vehicle damage insurance. Below is a detailed introduction to vehicle damage insurance: Basic Concept of Vehicle Damage Insurance: Vehicle damage insurance is a type of commercial auto insurance where the insurance company compensates the policyholder or an authorized driver for damages to the insured vehicle caused by an accident within a reasonable scope. Vehicle damage insurance is a basic auto insurance that primarily covers the loss of the insured vehicle. Insurance Claims: As long as you have purchased insurance, you can request the insurance company to compensate for damages after your car is scraped. If you report the scrape accident to the insurance company within 48 hours, the company will send a specialized loss assessor to evaluate the damage. If more than 48 hours have passed, the car owner needs to bring their original ID to file a report and can truthfully explain the cause of the vehicle's scratches, which will not affect the compensation amount from the insurance company.
That day, my car got scratched in the supermarket parking lot, and I only noticed it when I got home. I immediately contacted the insurance company, and they said it was a single-vehicle accident with no third party involved, so they asked me to file a supplementary claim right away. But here’s the key point: reporting the claim after leaving the scene has a major prerequisite—it must be a non-intentional act. If you deliberately fled the scene, that would count as insurance fraud. The correct procedure is to first call 122 to file a police report for record, then upload photos of the scene and dashcam footage to the insurance app. Last time, I even pulled the supermarket surveillance footage as evidence. Filing a claim within 48 hours ensures normal compensation, but if you wait over three days, it becomes uncertain—the insurance company might suspect you of fabricating the scene.
