What to Do if Someone Hits Your Parked Car?
Finding your parked car damaged is the last thing you would expect whenRead more
Steps to Take After a Parked Car Accident
If your parked car has met with an accident, a car insurance policy plays an important role to pay for the damages caused to the insured four wheeler. Here are the steps you need to follow after a parked car accident:
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Note the Offender's Details
If you find your car damaged in the parking lot and have the offender's details, you will need to get in touch with the person at fault to get your car repaired. In case you see the vehicle that damaged your parked car fleeing the accident spot, you should note down that vehicle's registration number and its model to file a police complaint against the offender.
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Find Witness to the Accident
If you did not see the vehicle that damaged your car, you should look for witnesses to the accident. Try to find the people who were present at the accident spot and had seen the particular incident. When you find any witnesses, ask them about the description or details of the vehicle that damaged your car. Also, check if the witnesses are willing to testify against the offender. In case they do, note down their contact details.
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Call the Police and File an FIR
As soon as you see your parked car damaged, immediately call the police and report the incident. You will also need to file an FIR or First Information Report with the Police. Once registered, the police will begin the investigation and try to find the driver who damaged your car. Besides, motor insurance providers also require policyholders to submit a copy of the FIR to raise a claim against a third-party car insurance.
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Inform your Insurer
Besides calling the police, you should also notify your car insurance company about your parked car accident at the earliest. Once you inform your motor insurance company, you will be able to raise a car insurance claim to get the damage to your car covered.
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Wait for the Damage Inspection
If your insurer needs your car to be inspected at the site, wait for the surveyor to come and do not move your vehicle from the accident spot. Once the survey has been done, you can take your car to a network or non-network garage for repairs.
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Look for Any Security Cameras
Check for any security cameras that may have captured the accident. Most markets and mall parking lots have security cameras, which may help you to find the details of the car that hit yours. If it is a parking space without any security cameras, look for any shops or residences nearby with security cameras that may have recorded the incident. If you do find the accident recorded in a security camera, take a copy of the footage.
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Take Photographs of the Accident Spot and Your Damaged Car
No matter how much in a hurry you may be in, do not forget to take pictures of the accident spot as well as your damaged car. The pictures will act as evidence of the accident and the damages caused to your car. These pictures will help you to get your claim approved by your motor insurance company and will also aid in the police investigation.
What Happens During Parked Car Accidents?
Let's say you parked your car outside a supermarket with several other vehicles and came back to see a big dent on its bumper. It would be nothing less than heartbreak to see your car damaged out of nowhere.
In case someone has hit your car while it was parked somewhere, one of the following scenarios may occur:
Scenario 1: Offender Is Identified
A vehicle accidentally hits your parked car, and the driver either waits for you or leaves their contact details. This shows that the at-fault driver is willing to take responsibility for the damage. In such cases, you can contact the person and raise a third-party car insurance claim under their motor insurance to get your repair costs covered.
Scenario 2: Hit-and-Run Accident
A vehicle hits your parked car, and the driver leaves the spot without sharing any details. This is known as a hit-and-run case. Here, identifying the offender can be difficult. If you manage to trace the driver, you may file a third-party claim against their insurance policy. However, if the offender cannot be found, you may have to rely on your own comprehensive car insurance policy or bear the repair costs yourself.
How to Get Your Parked Car Damages Covered?
There are two ways of getting your parked car damages covered. You can either get the offender to pay for the damages by filing a third-party car insurance claim or raise an own damage claim with your insurer.
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Third Party Car Insurance Claim
Under the third-party insurance claim, the insurer of the policyholder who has hit your vehicle will be legally bound to pay for the damages caused to your car. All you need to do is file a third-party accidental claim against the offender. A third-party car insurance claim is only possible if you are aware of the person who damaged your parked car.
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Own Damage Car Insurance Claim
In case you could not find the person responsible for damaging your parked car, you can still get the damages covered only if you have an own damage car insurance policy. It provides coverage for any accidental loss or damages caused to your car due to fire, theft, manmade or natural calamities.
However, this type of insurance is not mandatory in India and you need to have a comprehensive car insurance policy or a separate standalone own damage cover to get your motor insurance company to pay for the repair of your car.
How to Raise a Claim for Parked Car Accidents?
To raise a claim for a parked car accident under your comprehensive car insurance, you need to first inform your motor insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. Your insurer may send a surveyor to inspect the damages to the car after which you can send the vehicle for repair at a network or non-network garage of your insurer. You will also have to submit all the required documents to your motor insurance company to get your claim approved.
In case you send your car for repair at a network garage, your repair bill will be paid by your insurer on a cashless basis. On the other hand, if you send your car for repair to a non-network garage, you will have to pay the bill yourself and file a reimbursement claim with your insurer later.
In a Nutshell
Parked accidents are for real and happen quite often. It is better to stay prepared for any adverse situation than to get the shock of your life on seeing your car damaged in the parking lot. Since you cannot predict if you will be able to find the offender who hit your car, it is better to buy a comprehensive policy instead of third party car insurance so that your motor insurance company can cover the damages. You can also get car insurance online after comparing different insurance companies on Policybazaar.com.
