Should I Report to the Police if My Car Gets Scratched in the Residential Area?
2 Answers
After the car is scratched, you can either negotiate privately or report to the police. While reporting to the police promptly, you also need to file a claim with your insurance company. The following are the relevant legal bases: 1. Article 1165 of the Civil Code: If a person infringes upon the civil rights and interests of others due to fault and causes damage, they shall bear tort liability. 2. If the law presumes that the person is at fault and they cannot prove that they are not at fault, they shall bear tort liability. Relevant requirements for road traffic accident handling: 1. If the parties jointly request mediation, the traffic police shall conduct mediation on the spot and record the mediation results on the road traffic accident confirmation form, which shall be signed by the parties and delivered to them. 2. In case of property damage accidents that can be handled through private negotiation, the parties can negotiate online via the internet; if the parties have disputes over the facts and causes, they can jointly apply online to the traffic management department of the public security organ to determine the liability of the parties.
If my car gets scratched in the residential area, I always stay calm and handle it properly: immediately take photos to document the scratch location, vehicle condition, and note the time. Then inquire with the property management to see if there's surveillance coverage and review the footage to identify the responsible vehicle. Reporting to the police is indeed helpful, especially in cases of significant damage or hit-and-run incidents, as the police can provide an accident report, making the insurance claim process smoother. For minor damages, you might skip reporting to save time, but filing a police report protects your rights and prevents the other party from shirking responsibility. Insurance claims often require official records, so don't overlook this step. It's advisable to regularly check if the residential parking surveillance is functioning properly to prevent similar incidents.
