What should I do if someone scratched my car and drove away?
4 Answers
If another vehicle scratches your car and flees the scene, you should promptly report it to the public security authorities, who will investigate and handle the matter. The hit-and-run driver will bear full responsibility. A hit-and-run in traffic refers to the act of a party involved in a road traffic accident driving away or abandoning their vehicle at the scene to evade legal consequences. For minor scratch accidents, the nature of the incident must be determined through investigation by the traffic police department. More details are as follows: 1. Fleeing after causing a traffic accident refers to the act of the perpetrator running away after the accident to evade legal responsibility. 2. Fleeing after causing a traffic accident that does not constitute a crime may result in a fine of 200-2000 yuan, 12 penalty points, and detention for up to 15 days. 3. Fleeing after causing a traffic accident that constitutes a crime will lead to criminal liability and permanent revocation of the driver's license. 4. The standard for a traffic accident to constitute a crime: being mainly or fully responsible for the accident, causing serious injury to one or more persons or being unable to compensate for damages exceeding 300,000 yuan; or causing the death of three or more persons with equal responsibility. Minor scratches should not meet the above conditions.
As a seasoned driver, I've got experience when it comes to a car being scratched and driven away. First, park your car properly—don't rush to chase after them, it's unsafe! I immediately took photos and videos, capturing the scratched areas, surrounding vehicles, and road markings. If there are shops or surveillance cameras nearby, quickly note their locations and inquire about the footage. Then, call 110 to report the incident in detail—getting an accident report is crucial. Contact your insurance company to file a claim; they’ll guide you through repairs based on your policy. A friend of mine had a similar case where the license plate was caught on camera, and the police handled it. I always recommend parking in areas with surveillance or having a dashcam to reduce risks. If this happens, stay calm—handling it coolly saves a lot of hassle. And don’t delay repairs to avoid secondary damage.
My car was also scratched and run away before, which made me really angry but I had to stay calm. Immediately get out of the car to take photos and videos as evidence, including the scratches and surrounding environment, especially license plate clues. If there are witnesses, try to contact them and don't let them leave. Call 110 to report to the police immediately without waiting - they will come to the scene to record details which can help with insurance claims. Then call your insurance company and follow their instructions to send the car for repairs - usually they advance the costs before pursuing liability. Later when I checked my dashcam, I found footage of the other car but it was too blurry for the police to identify, so I had to pay part of the cost myself. Now I park more carefully, choosing safe spots and avoiding blind areas. These things happen often - adjust your mindset and don't let it affect your mood. Just learn from it for next time.
Dealing with a hit-and-run scratch on your car, from my experience: Safely stop and don’t move around, take photos of the damage details including the location and surrounding conditions, seek surveillance footage if possible. Report to the police, explain the situation, and obtain an accident certificate. Contact your insurance to report the incident and arrange for repairs—they will handle the claim. If evidence is insufficient, you might have to cover some costs. Parking in areas with cameras or installing a dashcam is very helpful in reducing risks.
