What to Do If Your Car Is Hit While Parked on the Roadside and the Culprit Cannot Be Found?
2 Answers
If your car is parked outside and gets scratched by another vehicle, you can check the dashcam to identify the other party's license plate number and then report it to the police. If there is no dashcam, you can also look for nearby surveillance cameras and request to review the footage. Ask around at nearby stores, businesses, or residences to see if anyone witnessed the incident. If you discover that your car has been scratched and the other party denies responsibility or refuses to compensate after communication, there is no need to continue negotiating—simply report the incident to the police.
Last time my car was hit while parked on the roadside and the culprit couldn't be found, which made me stomp my feet in anger. After calming down, I first reported it to the police. The officers came to take photos and document the incident. Although there's no guarantee of finding the responsible party, having a police report is essential for insurance claims. Then I immediately contacted my insurance company, who sent an adjuster to assess the damage. I made sure to remind myself to take thorough photos of the scene, including collision marks and the surrounding environment, as these are crucial for insurance claims. In the end, I had to pay for the repairs out of pocket first. Fortunately, I had purchased 'unidentified third-party coverage' with my auto insurance, so the insurer fully reimbursed the repair costs. After this incident, I always park in areas with surveillance cameras now - a real lesson learned.
