If you witness a car accident that causes damage to a parked car
, you should do the right thing and report what you've seen. The driver who does the damage should stop and leave his or her contact information, but if they simply drive away, the person with the damaged car has virtually no recourse. He or she will have to foot the bill unless the damage is covered by comprehensive car insurance coverage.
By helping out, you’ll feel better about yourself for having done the right thing. One day you may walk over to your car to find that it was involved in a hit and run, and you'd be relieved to find out that someone else has helped you out.
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Leave a note on the damaged car
Don’t do anything until you are sure the hit-and-run driver isn’t going to. Then, after the driver is gone, step up and do the right thing.
Step 1: Write down your name and contact information. Your first name and phone number are enough, if you feel uncomfortable leaving your full name.
Step 2: Write a brief explanation of why you are leaving the note. Let the owner of the damaged car know that you witnessed the car collision
, have important information, and are willing to help. Step 3: Tuck the note under the windshield wiper on the damaged car. Make sure it is secure so that it doesn’t blow away before the driver finds it.
Put the note in a plastic baggie and seal it if there is any chance of bad weather. The note won’t do anyone any good if it gets wet and the driver can’t read what you wrote.
MORE: The worst car repair situations and how to avoid them
Make a record for yourself of what you witnessed
Write the information down right away
. Do it before you leave the scene, if you can. Human memory is prone to misremembering details. If the driver of the damaged car follows up with any questions, you’ll want to be clear and concise when you recount what happened.Step 1: Write down as much information as possible about the hit and run vehicle. List the make, model and color of the car. Get the license plate
number, too, if you can. Any details about the car that you noticed can be helpful. Step 2: Write down as much information about the driver as you can. Knowing whether the driver was a man or woman, their approximate age and even if he or she was alone in the car can help.
Step 3: Write down the date and time of the accident. These are very important details. If the driver of the damaged car pursues the matter, knowing the exact date and time of the accident will help the police
utilize any traffic cameras in the area. The driver of the damaged car might not return for hours or even days. He or she might have no other way of knowing when the damage occurred.
Step 4: Write down what you saw happen. Every detail can help. Make note if the driver hesitated or even seemed to notice that he or she inflicted damage, seemed to be driving erratically, was moving or parked, was driving too fast, or seemed to be distracted by something in the car.
Step 5: Put the note in your purse, wallet, or other safe place. Keep it handy so that you will be prepared when the owner of the damaged car calls.
Key Takeaway: It's important to give the driver as much information as possible about the nature of the accident so that they will be given the appropriate insurance coverage.
MORE: Does my car insurance cover me if my car is involved in a hit-and-run accident?
Make sure you have the right car insurance so that, if the same should happen to you, the damages will be covered. The right insurance makes sure you stay covered when you leave your car in another parking lot and risk becoming the victim of a hit-and-run accident.
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