What to Do When Your Car Gets Hit in a Residential Parking Space?
2 Answers
If your vehicle is parked within your residential community, the first step is to contact the property management and try to have them assist in locating the responsible vehicle. If there are no witnesses and your car is covered by collision insurance, immediately call your insurance company. If the car is severely damaged, also call the police. If the issue remains unresolved and the vehicle is significantly damaged, the only option is to file a police report and wait for the investigation to resolve the matter. Secure evidence by taking photos or videos to preserve the proof.
Every time my car gets scratched, it really bothers me, but the key is not to panic when dealing with it. The first thing to do is to take photos with your phone to document all the damaged areas and the surrounding environment, including the license plate position, so you have evidence for follow-up accountability. Then, go to the property management's monitoring room to check the footage and see if you can identify the vehicle at fault. My residential complex has 24-hour surveillance, which is quite helpful. If you can't find the person, leave a note on the car or send a group message to contact neighbors—most of the time, someone will take responsibility. For prevention, I installed a parking mode on my dashcam that automatically records collisions. It doesn't cost much and saves a lot of trouble. When parking in the complex, choose spots near walls or in well-lit areas to reduce the risk of accidents, and maintain harmony with neighbors—don't act impulsively.
