What to Do When Your Car Is Scratched by Someone Who Can't Be Found?
2 Answers
If your car is scratched by someone who can't be found, you should immediately report it to the police, and let the traffic police handle the accident judgment. Do not impulsively chase the other vehicle. At the same time, you can retrieve the footage from your dashcam to prove the other party's illegal behavior. Subsequently, you should call your insurance company to send a specialist for damage assessment and claim settlement. Strictly speaking, you can file a lawsuit, but it depends on the situation. Some drivers may not realize they scratched someone else's car and drove away, while others may knowingly scratch your car and intentionally flee. In the first scenario, it does not constitute a hit-and-run because there is no intentional attempt to flee, so it cannot be classified as a hit-and-run. In the second scenario, you can sue the other party for a hit-and-run, as their departure is a deliberate attempt to evade responsibility. Whether it's a minor car scrape or any other form of traffic accident, if the driver is aware of the accident but neither reports it to the police nor negotiates a settlement and simply drives away from the scene, it constitutes a hit-and-run.
That day my car got scratched while parked on the roadside and I couldn't find the culprit. First, don't panic. Remember to take photos immediately, clearly capturing the scratch location and surrounding environment, especially looking for brake marks on the ground or paint fragments from the other vehicle. If you have a dashcam, check the footage right away, focusing on the collision moment and the other car's license plate. The second step is to check surveillance with property management or traffic police - go directly to the service desk if it's a mall parking lot. If you really can't find the responsible party, call your insurance company to report the claim within 24 hours, and take the accident certificate issued by police for damage assessment. Small scratches might be cheaper to fix yourself, but for major dents go through insurance - though your premium might increase slightly next year. Such incidents are really frustrating - next time remember to park away from surveillance blind spots.
