Car Hit While Parked Claims

How To Claim When My Car Is Hit While Parked

If your car is damaged whilst parked there is a process to follow which can help increase your chances of being able to claim the cost resulting from the accident. Claiming your vehicles repair cost or write off value without you sustaining further loss resulting from a potential claim on your car insurance is our priority. Car hit while parked car accident what to do. A car hit when parked claim, your rights and entitlement to claim after a parked car accident.

Information Required To Claim

There are few simple steps to take to achieve this, firstly you must obtain the at-fault vehicles registration number and ideally, the drivers name as well however the registration number is enough to obtain full insurance and vehicle owner details. A second step, take pictures at the accident scene, picture both vehicles if possible including the areas of damage. Next, we turn to available evidence, look around the accident location, are there any cameras or witnesses? If so request a copy of any available CCTV footage and take contact details of any witnesses. 

If the at-fault party leaves the scene or is not cooperative, report the incident to the police immediately. 

What You Can Claim For

You can claim for the vehicle damage and any other losses you may incur as a result of the accident, including the cost of a courtesy hire car, directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If your car was hit while parked you should not suffer any financial loss resulting from the incident. Under English ‘Tort Law’ you have the right to claim any loss incurred as a direct result of the accident from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. For immediate help contact a member of our team.

My Car Was Hit While Parked, Should I Report My Vehicle Damage To The Police?

Locating the vehicle or individual responsible for the vehicle damage is a priority. If this is not possible as they have left the scene you should immediately report the incident to the police. This is important as you may require a crime reference number. The police will also assist you with attempting to trace the at-fault party. Damaging someone’s property and leaving the scene of the incident are offences, the police will assist whenever possible. 

Trace The At-Fault Vehicle

It can often be a challenge to trace a vehicle once it has left the scene of the accident, however with the number of CCTV cameras ever-increasing there can be ways to trace vehicles even after the event. Often when cars collide, especially when parked, paint transfer between the vehicles occurs. There is often corresponding damage sustained to both vehicles involved in the accident. So even when a vehicle has left the scene, if the vehicle is traced, a claim can successfully be made relatively easily. This is because a combination of CCTV and the physical evidence found upon the two vehicles can make a strong foundation to make an insurance claim directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Often in these situations, vehicle engineers carry out forensic reports of both vehicles to produce an expert report of court standards. Even recent localised repairs intended to mask the damage can result in evidence.

If your car is hit and damaged whilst parked and the at-fault party has left the scene, this should be reported to the police as a crime to be investigated.

Will My Insurance Go Up If My Was Hit / Damaged While Parked?

If you claim against your insurance policy because your car has been hit whilst parked your insurance renewal can increase, however, this will depend upon the circumstances of the claim, the incident itself, and even the type of insurance cover you have.

For example, if your car is hit while parked and the at-fault party has left the scene and is untraceable, you can claim against your car comprehensive car insurance policy. However, when claiming against your policy with no traced at-fault party your insurance company have no way to recover their outlay. Therefore depending upon your policy type, and any relevant no claims protection, often your insurance premium will increase upon renewal. To be sure of this consult your policy or contact your insurer for clarification.

Cost-Free Ways To Claim If Your Car Was Hit While Parked

If your vehicle was hit whilst parked and you have a traced at-fault party, you have multiple options to claim without affecting your car insurance policy.

1.

Claim With An Independent Vehicle Claim Service. 

You only need the registration number of the at-fault party, we do the rest. We claim directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you have no cost or policy excess to pay. You also have full control over where your vehicle is repaired, or should your car be written off, you accepted the pre-accident value (write off value), not an insurance company. You will also receive a like for like courtesy hire car during the claim process.

2.

Claim directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance. 

If you can obtain the at-fault driver’s insurance details you can contact them directly to place a claim. This can be a complicated time-consuming exercise with many insurance companies, however, some do have dedicated third party direct claims teams who can provide an excellent efficient service. When personally claiming directly from the at-fault insurers your consumer writes remain, be sure to only accept services that meet your requirement and avoid any further financial loss. 

 3.

Claim through your car insurance.

 If you hold fully comprehensive insurance or have a suitable legal expenses product you can via these services. Just be sure to check the claim will not have an adverse effect upon your car insurance premium either immediately, or upon your policy renewal. Also check if the insurance company are going to do any of the following, request you pay a policy excess, dictate where your vehicle is repaired. Also, ensure they will provide a courtesy hire car whilst your vehicle is off the road.

What Can I Claim For If My Car Was Hit While Parked?

If your car has been hit and damaged by another vehicle while it was parked you can claim for you losses incurred. 

If your vehicle has been damaged by another party, they are responsible to reimburse you the full cost of the repairs and any others losses you may incur as a direct result of the accident. This will typically include; vehicle repair, vehicle recovery, vehicle write off value, the cost of a temporary courtesy hire car whilst your vehicle damage claim is resolved. You can also claim for loss of earnings or business and any other general losses you directly incurred as a result of the incident.