What Should I Do If I Find My Parked Car Damaged?

The law requires that drivers leave a note with name, address and contact information in a visible location if they hit and damage a parked car. It is considered a hit and run if one damages another’s property and leave without providing identifying information.  Unfortunately, in New York it is not usually the case that someone will leave a note after leaving an unattended parked car damaged.

If you find that your parked car is damaged, you have a choice whether or not to report the property damage to your insurance company.  If the damage is minor, you might decide to repair it yourself. This would allow you to avoid paying a deductible and decrease the possibility of your rates going up.  Should you decide to report the damage to your parked car, follow these steps:

1. Call the police to file a report – If you decide to go through insurance to fix your car, they will ask for it. Calling the police is also beneficial because they may know of surveillance cameras in the area that could’ve captured the incident. Make sure to request the accident report and get the name and badge number of the officer.
2. Take pictures of the damage – Note the location and time
3. Look for any possible witnesses – Look around for any possible witnesses. Maybe there’s someone who saw what happened and could provide you with more information about the incident
4. Call your insurance company to report the accident