What to Do If Your Parked Car Gets Scratched and the Culprit Can't Be Found?

[StJesse]

When encountering a situation where your car gets scratched and the other party flees, it's important to quickly identify the responsible party. Here are detailed steps to follow: 1. Check surrounding surveillance: If your car is scratched, first look around the parking area for any surveillance cameras, such as those at restaurants, shopping malls, or private properties. Generally, you can request to view the footage after explaining your situation. 2. Review your dashcam footage: If your car is equipped with a dashcam, check the recordings. If you capture the other party's license plate number, report it to the police. 3. Determine if the parking lot has liability: If your car was parked in a paid parking lot, communicate with the parking lot management to see if they should compensate you, even if it's a small amount. Most parking lots have surveillance, and if the incident occurred there, the management will usually assist in the investigation. 4. Report to the police for investigation: If your car is significantly scratched and the other party flees, report the incident to the police immediately. The police have the authority to access traffic surveillance footage, which you do not have the right to view yourself.