What to Do When Your Parked Car Gets Scratched?
2 Answers
If your car gets scratched while parked on the roadside, you should: 1. Call the police immediately and provide them with the approximate time, location, and details of the incident; 2. Let the traffic police find the responsible party for compensation; 3. If the traffic police cannot locate the responsible party, they should issue an accident liability determination form stating that the responsible party fled the scene, after which the car owner can file a claim with their own insurance company. To avoid the hassle of scratches, pay attention to the following when parking: 1. Try to park in a formal, supervised parking lot and keep the parking ticket safe; 2. Do not park illegally for extended periods; 3. Avoid parking in narrow or hard-to-access roadside spots; 4. Park within the marked lines, leaving enough space on both sides; 5. Park within the range of security personnel or surveillance cameras.
Yesterday my car got scratched on the roadside too, which was really annoying. I first carefully inspected the location and severity of the scratches around the car - fortunately it was just surface paint damage. Remember to immediately take multi-angle photos with your phone, including wide shots and close-ups, and capture the street location and parking signs too. I suggest asking nearby shops about surveillance footage - that's how I found the vehicle that hit mine. If you can't locate the person, remember to contact your insurance company to file a report within 24 hours, unlike my friend who waited three days and got denied coverage. Finally, make sure to get an assessment at a certified repair shop - they have professional equipment to check if there's any steel panel damage. Parking in monitored, official spaces is always the safest bet.
