What to Do If Your Car Gets Scratched in a Parking Lot?
2 Answers
If it is a commercial parking lot, whether underground or open-air, the responsible unit of the parking lot should bear the corresponding damage compensation. Here is relevant information about what to do if your car gets scratched in a parking lot: 1. Commercial parking lot scratches: Negotiate with the parking lot. For commercial parking lots, whether underground or open-air, as long as they charge a fee, they should take responsibility for vehicle care. There is no reason to charge without taking responsibility. If your car is scratched and the perpetrator cannot be found, in principle, the responsible unit of the parking lot needs to bear the corresponding compensation for the vehicle damage. 2. Residential parking lot scratches: Negotiate with the property management. Unlike commercial parking lots, the parking fees collected by residential property management are not necessarily vehicle storage fees but more like space rental fees. Therefore, it is important to clarify whether the residential area has signed a parking service management contract with the property management. If there is such a contract, according to the law, the property management is required to provide corresponding services as stipulated in the contract. Therefore, if a resident's car gets scratched or property is damaged, the property management needs to compensate. 3. Free parking lot scratches: Contact your insurance company. Free parking lots do not take responsibility for any vehicle damage. In such cases, you should promptly report the incident to your insurance company. If the perpetrator cannot be found, the insurance company generally has a 30% deductible rate. This means the insurance company will only cover 70% of the assessed damage amount, and the remaining 30% will be borne by the car owner.
When accidentally scratching someone else's car in a parking lot, my first reaction is to immediately stop the car safely, turn on the hazard lights to ensure my own safety, and not rush out of the car to avoid mistakes in panic. After getting out, first check if anyone is injured—if so, call an ambulance or seek help from passersby immediately. If no one is hurt, carefully examine the location of the scratch and the extent of damage to the other car. Quickly take out your phone to take photos, capturing the positional relationship between the two cars, details of the scratches, license plate numbers, and parking lot signs or surveillance cameras—these pieces of evidence can prevent disputes later. Record the time and specific location, such as which parking spot in which zone. It’s best to wait for the owner to arrive and communicate directly—apologize sincerely and discuss repair costs: settle minor damages on the spot, or exchange contact details for major damages to let the 4S shop handle it. If the owner can’t be found, leave a note on the windshield with your phone number and an apology. Finally, don’t forget to contact your insurance company to report the incident—they have professionals to guide you. Driving slower and paying more attention to the reversing radar can help reduce such incidents in the future.
