Here are the solutions if your car gets scratched in the residential area: 1. Report the incident promptly: The car owner should call the police immediately, and the traffic police will try to identify the responsible party. At the same time, take comprehensive photos of the accident scene, including the location of the incident, the full view of the vehicle with a clear license plate, and close-ups of the damaged areas. If the traffic police find the responsible party, it's straightforward—they will compensate for the damage. If the traffic police cannot identify the responsible party, they should issue an "Accident Liability Determination Form," noting that the responsible party fled the scene. Then, the car owner can file a claim with their own insurance company. 2. Provide complete documentation and submit the claim documents promptly: After reporting the incident, the car owner should provide all necessary proofs or documents to the insurance company. Once the accident is resolved, the claim documents should be submitted within the specified time frame. According to Article 16 of the "Road Traffic Accident Handling Procedures," when the public security authorities and their traffic management departments receive a report, they should accept it, create a case registration form, and record the following details: 1. The method and time of the report, the name and contact information of the reporter, and for telephone reports, the phone number should also be recorded; 2. The time and location of the road traffic accident occurrence or discovery; 3. The extent of injuries or fatalities; 4. The type of vehicle, license plate number, whether it carries hazardous materials and their type, and whether there is any leakage; 5. In cases of suspected hit-and-run, additional details should be recorded, such as the model, color, and features of the fleeing vehicle, the direction of escape, and the physical characteristics of the fleeing driver.
