Someone Hit My Parked Car – What Should I Do Next?
Check Steps To Take If Someone Hits Your Parked Car
If you have parked your car outside any shop or house and gone for work, and after returning to the spot, you discover there’s a dent in your car, what should you do then? This article deals with these circumstances and describes the further proceedings after the incident. Nowadays, these kinds of unfortunate accidents are happening more than often. Many car drivers are facing this problem. When you are a victim of this situation, numerous questions related to dealing with the situation will come to your mind.
A car is very precious to the car owners, and financial losses are attached to it. Any car owner must be frustrated and angry if they find that their car is damaged. The first thing they think about is how to repair the vehicle; here, an insurance policy can help you out. Knowing the actual steps of what to do and understanding the entire claim process is one of the major ways to get relief. You will learn all these things if you go through the article comprehensively. So, without further ado, let’s dive deep into the matter.
What To Do If Someone Hits My Parked Car?
As soon as the car owner sees that their car is damaged, most of them get puzzled instantly. However, they should hold their nerves and take proper action subsequently. Whether the damage is severe or just a scratch, as a smart card owner, you must take the following actions:
Assess the Situation
Accessing the situation is the basic thing one should do. Staying calm and composed will help to tackle the problem. Instead of panicking, check which part of the car is damaged, the place of occurrence, how severe the damage is, and if anyone else was hurt during the incident. Evaluating the situation with a relaxed mind is necessary.
Note Down The Details Of The Offender
The next thing the car owner should do is look for the offender. If the offender tries to run away from the place, you must immediately note the registration number of the vehicle. If the offender still stays there, you should take their name and the vehicle’s registration number without getting too angry. All these documents are essential for your future proceedings. In case the offender has already left the spot before you reach your vehicle, make sure to ask around and in any case report a case if required.
Find The Eyewitnesses
Eyewitnesses have a pivotal role in order to compensate for financial losses in case of any car accident or damage. There must be people who might have seen the accident. The victims should ask them to describe the accident and the whereabouts of the offender. Additionally, enquire with them if they agree to testify about these details or not. You must note the witnesses’ personal details, such as name and contact number.
Check For CCTV Cameras
CCTV cameras or any other security cameras are very significant in terms of the evidence of the mishap. In recent times, there have been CCTV cameras in almost every mall, apartment, and street. If the incident is recorded on any camera, then it helps to establish the facts of the accident along with the face of the culprit. You can also collect a copy of the record from the owner of the CCTV cameras. These processes are the efforts that someone has made to damage your car.
Click Picture of The Accident Spot
Taking a deep breath will help you in a lot of things, and one of those is taking a photograph of the accident scene. You can’t be in a hurry to click the picture, as this is valid evidence for your vehicle insurance claim. The image of your car is very important to prove the accident. These photographs will certainly accelerate the investigation process.
Call The Police
One of the most important actions is to inform the local police authorities immediately. Many car owners are afraid to involve the police in this issue, but you have no other way but to contact them as soon as possible. In addition to it, you must file an FIR (First Information Report) at the police station. Only then can the concerned police authorities start the investigation.
As an FIR procedure, the police will visit the incident place, record all the essential information, and prepare the FIR copy. This FIR copy is necessary, not only for the insurance claim but also to find out the lawbreaker.
Inform The Insurer
Contacting the respective insurance company is the most significant step after the accident. You have to inform them that someone damaged your car. There may be a timeline in the terms and conditions for the policyholder to get in touch with the insurer about the accident. It helps them to start further procedures promptly. That’s why any car rider who is a victim, too, can’t afford to miss this step.
Claim Process to be followed When Someone Hits Your Parked Car
Before filing the claims, you have to understand that there are two different ways by which you can get the claim for your damaged four-wheeler, and these are:
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Third-Party Insurance Claim: This claim is only possible if the offender is caught ultimately. As you should know, under this claim, if the policyholder's vehicle damages another vehicle, the insurance company will bear the financial cost. In this case, the offender’s insurer will give you the claim as per the legal obligations. That’s how third-party insurance is designed. So, it is compulsory to trace the culprit.
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Own Car Damage Insurance Claim: This own car damage insurance claim comes under the comprehensive insurance policy. Though a comprehensive policy is not mandatory in India, many car owners purchase this policy for total coverage. According to this policy, you can apply for car damage and theft claims. If you have this comprehensive policy, you need not have any headaches.
Steps of The Car Insurance Claim Process
Raising the car insurance claim is not too difficult. The following steps will help to raise the claim and get the approval of the claim, too.
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Step 1: After you intimate your motor insurance company, they will send their representative to examine the car. You must provide valid documents, such as CCTV footage, a picture of the damaged car, a witness statement, and an insurance copy.
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Step 2: You can send the car to a network or non-network garage. The mechanic repairs or replaces the spares.
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Step 3: After reviewing the documents, the insurer approves the claim. If you go into a network garage, the process is cashless; the insurer goes directly to the garage. Otherwise, you have to pay the bill in case of a non-network garage, and it is reimbursed.
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Step 4: As an insurance policyholder, you should track the claim and verify if it matches after the bill amount is paid to your bank account.
Generally, this entire process of getting the claim needs some time and varies according to the insurance company.
Documents Required For The Claim Process
Are you finding it hard to know which essential documents you have to furnish for making a car insurance claim? Many car insurance policyholders often send wrong documents or mistakenly send incorrect details while making a claim. As a result, their claim is naturally rejected by the insurance company. Go through these necessary documents you must require while submitting your four-wheeler damage claim. These are:
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Copy of the FIR (required for damage case)
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RC or Registration certificate’s copy
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A clear photograph of the damaged car
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Copy of your Car insurance
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Information receipt from RTO which showcases you have informed them about the accident/ damage if required
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Repair bills of the damaged car from the garage authority (only applicable for reimbursement claims)
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Driving licence of the driver of the insured four-wheeler
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Claim Form (filled up accurately) with duly signed
- If there is a medical injury, then produce the receipt for the expenses.
Bottom Line
Parked accidents can occur very often. Staying alert for any adverse situation is better than getting the shock of your life when your vehicle is destroyed in the parking lot. Since you do not foresee when you would be able to locate the attacker who hit your car it is better to buy a comprehensive policy so that your car insurance company can cover the damages.
FAQs
1. Can I get a claim if someone hits my car?
A: Yes, you can get the claim two ways: first, if you have a comprehensive insurance policy for your own car. Alternatively, if the offender has a third-party insurance policy for his/her vehicle.
2. What should I do when someone damages my car?
A: You have to do several things, which include clicking the picture of the damaged car, looking for an eyewitness, filing an FIR, collecting CCTV footage, and getting in touch with the insurer.
3. Which document should I submit to approve the claim?
A: All the essential documents, such as the FIR copy, insurance copy, driving license, repair bills, claim form, witness statement, car’s registration number, and photograph of the car, are needed.
4. Is filing an FIR necessary after my car is damaged?
A: It is mandatory to file a FIR at the local police station. The FIR copy is an important document in the claim process.
5. What is the claim process if someone hits my four-wheeler?
A: You submit the necessary documents with a duly signed claim form for your damaged car insurance claim. The insurer reviews the documents, processes, and approves the claim in a few days.
6. Do I have to inform the insurer about the damage to the car?
A: Yes, you must inform the motor insurance company. After the intimation, they send their representative and begin the claim process.
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