What to Do if You are Involved in a Parking Lot Hit and Run Accident

Parking lot accidents, besides being surprisingly common, also tend to result in potentially significant property damage and repair expenses. There are, for instance, an estimated 50,000 accidents that occur in parking lots and parking garages in the U.S. every year. Unfortunately, drivers who cause parking lot accidents often flee the scene of the crash in an effort to avoid paying for vehicle repairs. This can be extremely frustrating for vehicle owners who return to their cars to find them damaged and no sign of the at-fault driver. Fortunately, there are still steps that drivers who find themselves in this situation can take to recover compensation for their losses. Read on to learn more.

Document the Scene 

The first thing you should do after discovering that your vehicle was involved in a hit and run accident is to document the scene of the crash. This includes looking for potential witnesses, as well as taking photographs of the vehicle damage. It’s important at this point to take not only close-up photos of dents, scratches, and more serious damage, but also to take wide shots as well, which can be used as proof of where a car was parked at the time of the collision. It’s also a good idea to take note of any security cameras that may be mounted nearby and that could have footage of the crash.

File a Police Report 

Even if you can’t yet identify the driver who struck your vehicle, you should still file an official police report, a copy of which can then be submitted to your insurer. Law enforcement officers can also use the information you provide them to attempt to find the at-fault driver by looking through security camera footage. Be sure to give details about the accident, including when it likely occurred and a breakdown of the damage to your vehicle. You’ll also likely need your driver’s license and insurance information at hand.

Call Your Insurer 

Just because you don’t know the identity of the driver who caused your hit and run crash does not mean that you don’t have recovery options. This is why it’s important to contact your insurance company, so that you can initiate the claim filing process. These policies could end up covering the majority of the repairs for your vehicle.

Obtain a Damage Appraisal

As a part of the process of filing an insurance claim, you’ll need to get a damage appraisal for your vehicle. It’s a good idea to get two or three written estimates that detail not only the parts you’ll need, but also the cost of labor to repair the damage done to your vehicle. Keep copies of these records for your insurer, compare the estimates to find the best value, and move forward with dropping off your car for repairs. Be sure to save all repair documentation for your claim reimbursement form. If the driver of the car that struck your own vehicle is ever identified, you may be able to obtain compensation for any deductibles that you paid out as a part of your claim.

Call Anderson & Anderson Today for Legal Advice 

If your own vehicle was struck in a parking lot and the at-fault driver didn’t stick around, you are not without legal recourse. Call our experienced Tampa car accident lawyers at Anderson & Anderson to learn more.

Sources: 

cbsnews.com/news/parking-lot-accidents-distracted-drivers-national-safety-council/

forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/what-to-do-after-accident/