Your responsibilities in case of an accident—What to Do When You Hit a Parked Car
Every state has its own unique set of laws regarding a driver's duty and responsibilities after a collision. For example, failure to follow these duties in North Carolina may result in civil liability or criminal penalties such as a misdemeanor. It’s estimated that more than 50,000 accidents a year involve a parked car. Unfortunately, just because the car wasn’t moving doesn’t mean the accident won’t hit your driving record or raise your insurance rates. While any accident can be stressful, handling a minor auto collision doesn't need to be complicated. This article explains what to do if you hit a parked car.
Liability in General
Generally, the driver who was moving is liable for damages suffered by the owner or occupants of the parked car, as long as the non-moving vehicle was legally parked or stopped. If a parked car is easy to spot for drivers, anyone who strikes that car is responsible for the accident. However, if the parked car was parked illegally or on the borderlines, it may be held partly liable. If you have car insurance, chances are your liability coverage will pay for the damage to the parked car (up to policy limits).
Leave a Note
If you can't find the owner, leave a note on the car before you leave the scene of an accident. Provide the following details:
Up to six points can be added to your driver's record, and you could even face criminal charges. Although you may not see any witnesses to the collision, you can't be certain no one is watching.
If you've hit a parked vehicle, you can wait by the car for a reasonable amount of time so you can let the owner of the vehicle know what happened. If you are in a store or business parking lot, go inside and look for the owner.
When you speak with the car's owner, understand that they may be shocked or frustrated by the news. Stay calm. Let them know you take responsibility for the damage. Exchange information, including your phone numbers and driver's insurance information.
Take Pictures
Create a full record of the accident. Take pictures of the impact zone on each car and the license plate number(s). You should also take a few pictures of the area where the accident occurred.
Phones may get lost or damaged. So, it's a good idea to print out or back up these photos of the damage as soon as you can.
If your accident is near a storefront, ask the store owner if they have security cameras. If they do, ask for security footage of the parking lot, if any, and request that they preserve the footage or provide you with a copy.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You may believe that if the car owner doesn't call back, you don't need to contact your insurance provider. This is a bad idea. The owner of the damaged car has two to three years to make a property damage claim. If you fail to notify your own insurance company of an accident immediately, they can refuse the insurance claim.
Your insurance coverage and deductible rates shouldn't be affected just because you admitted to hitting another motor vehicle. Your auto insurance company can provide additional information regarding liability coverage, collision coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and whether an adjuster will be needed.
Call the Police
If there's significant damage to the other vehicle, many state laws require you to call the police. Since it's difficult for the average person to estimate damage, you may not know if law enforcement presence is needed. Play it safe. Call your local police department and ask. If police presence is required, you should obtain a police report or accident report to provide to the driver's insurance company if necessary.
Leave a Note
If you can't find the owner, leave a note on the car before you leave the scene of an accident. Provide the following details:
- Name
- Contact information
- Auto insurance policy information
- An explanation of what happened.
- You can now legally leave the area, and the owner can choose to contact you if they want compensation for the damage.
Up to six points can be added to your driver's record, and you could even face criminal charges. Although you may not see any witnesses to the collision, you can't be certain no one is watching.
If you've hit a parked vehicle, you can wait by the car for a reasonable amount of time so you can let the owner of the vehicle know what happened. If you are in a store or business parking lot, go inside and look for the owner.
When you speak with the car's owner, understand that they may be shocked or frustrated by the news. Stay calm. Let them know you take responsibility for the damage. Exchange information, including your phone numbers and driver's insurance information.
Take Pictures
Create a full record of the accident. Take pictures of the impact zone on each car and the license plate number(s). You should also take a few pictures of the area where the accident occurred.
Phones may get lost or damaged. So, it's a good idea to print out or back up these photos of the damage as soon as you can.
If your accident is near a storefront, ask the store owner if they have security cameras. If they do, ask for security footage of the parking lot, if any, and request that they preserve the footage or provide you with a copy.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You may believe that if the car owner doesn't call back, you don't need to contact your insurance provider. This is a bad idea. The owner of the damaged car has two to three years to make a property damage claim. If you fail to notify your own insurance company of an accident immediately, they can refuse the insurance claim.
Your insurance coverage and deductible rates shouldn't be affected just because you admitted to hitting another motor vehicle. Your auto insurance company can provide additional information regarding liability coverage, collision coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and whether an adjuster will be needed.
Call the Police
If there's significant damage to the other vehicle, many state laws require you to call the police. Since it's difficult for the average person to estimate damage, you may not know if law enforcement presence is needed. Play it safe. Call your local police department and ask. If police presence is required, you should obtain a police report or accident report to provide to the driver's insurance company if necessary.
Legal Help
Illegally Parked Car Accident | Morgan & Morgan Law Firm (forthepeople.com)
Insurance Departments by States (naic.org)
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