What to Do If Your Car Gets Scratched in a Parking Lot and the Culprit Can't Be Found?
4 Answers
If your car gets scratched in a parking lot and the culprit can't be found, here are some solutions: 1. Check surveillance footage: First, see if there are any surveillance cameras around the parking area. If you parked in a residential complex or a parking lot, you can ask the security guards if there is any footage available. If you parked on the roadside, the first thing to do is to contact the traffic police, provide them with clues, and then request to view the surveillance footage. 2. Property management compensation: If the parking lot in the residential complex falls under the property management's responsibility according to the property contract between both parties and charges parking fees, then the property management has the duty to safeguard and take care of the vehicles. If the property management neglects its duties, you can demand compensation from them for the losses.
In such situations, I usually start by carefully walking around the car to inspect it, taking clear photos of the scratched areas with my phone. It's best to include the surrounding environment in the photos, especially checking for nearby surveillance cameras. Then, I immediately go to the parking lot attendant to review the surveillance footage, as they can often help retrieve the recordings. If the cameras didn't capture the incident, I quickly call my insurance company to file a claim. Nowadays, there's a specific type of insurance called 'unidentified third-party coverage' designed for such cases. I remember last time my car got scratched, the insurance company covered 70% of the repair costs, and I had to pay the remaining amount out of pocket. Next time, I'll be more cautious when parking, trying to park directly under surveillance cameras whenever possible.
This is really frustrating, but getting upset won't help. My first step would definitely be taking photos for evidence - close-ups of the scratches and the vehicle's overall position. Then I'd head straight to the management office to check surveillance footage, as many new parking lots have high-definition cameras. If I can't find the culprit, I'll call 122 to file a police report and have traffic police issue an accident certificate. Next, I'll contact my insurance company to claim under the vehicle damage insurance, though premiums will increase next year. For minor scratches, I might consider buying a touch-up pen from Taobao to fix it myself, but for serious damage, I'd honestly go to the 4S shop for panel beating and repainting. From now on, I'll make it a habit to walk around the car and inspect it before locking up.
My approach is divided into three steps: First, gather evidence by taking photos of the scratches and parking position with my phone; second, seek help by promptly contacting the property management to check surveillance footage; third, handle the situation by deciding on a solution based on the severity of the scratches. For minor scratches, I usually buy polishing compound and buff them out myself. If the damage exposes the primer, I file an insurance claim. It's important to note that you must report to the police before filing an insurance claim, as insurance companies require a traffic police report for verification. Nowadays, many parking lots have liability insurance, so it's worth asking the property management if they can cover part of the repair costs. I recommend parking away from areas with a high risk of scratches to avoid such incidents.
