What to Do If Your Car Gets Scratched and the Culprit Can't Be Found?
2 Answers
Methods to handle a situation where your car gets scratched and the culprit can't be found: 1. Report to the police: First, you should report to the police immediately and provide them with the approximate time, location, and details of the incident. Also, check if there are any surveillance cameras nearby. If there are, note down their numbers and inform the police. The police will then assist in locating the responsible vehicle, and you will need to wait patiently for the results. 2. Insurance: If the scratch is minor, it is not recommended to file an insurance claim because the number of claims is closely tied to next year's insurance premium. Therefore, if it's just a small scratch that can be fixed for a few hundred dollars, it's better to handle it yourself. However, if the damage is severe, it's advisable to file an insurance claim and wait for the insurance adjuster to assess the damage. 3. Parking lot management or property management: If the responsible party cannot be found, the parking lot or property management may be liable for compensation. In the case of a scratched car, the parking lot management should cooperate by providing surveillance footage. They also bear direct responsibility for the safety and protection of the car.
Last time my car got a big scratch while parked in the neighborhood, and I couldn't find who did it, which was really frustrating. The first thing I did after calming down was to take photos - I used my phone to capture multiple angles of the scratch and the surrounding environment, especially if there were shops or residences nearby that might have surveillance. Then I checked the depth of the scratch - shallow ones can be temporarily treated with scratch wax, while deep ones need prompt repair to prevent rust. I immediately reported it to my car insurance - if you have comprehensive coverage, they might cover the repair costs, but when the deductible is high, paying out of pocket might be more economical. A dash cam is a great helper; setting it to parking mode can capture similar incidents. Afterwards, I asked in the neighborhood group chat if there were any witnesses - helping each other out. Take action early to prevent small issues from becoming big problems.
