Parking on the street is a common occurrence in Australia. Whether you need to visit a busy shopping precinct and the car park is full, or live on a property with only one garage but have more than one vehicle, you could regularly find yourself parking in the street. But what happens when someone reverses out of their driveway and slams into your parked vehicle? Or if someone misjudges their distance to your car and sideswipes or rear-ends it?
My Parked Car Was Hit – What Happens Next?
When you park on the street, there are some rules that you need to follow. Always pay attention to the road signs and the time they specify you’re allowed to be parked in a space. If you’re parallel parking, your vehicle must face the same direction as moving traffic. If you’re angle parking, ensure your vehicle is at the correct angle to the kerb, as the signs or road markings indicate. Pay attention to no stopping and no parking signs and follow them.However, sometimes accidents happen even when you follow the rules. In areas where cars are parallel parked on both sides of the road, making the road narrow for passing cars, it’s easy to see how your parked car may be sideswiped, dented, or scratched. We’ve already taken you through how to determine fault in a parking lot accident, but if your vehicle is hit while parked on the street, more often than not, the driver who hit your car will be at fault.
What to Do When Someone Hits or Scratches Your Parked Car
So, what to do if someone scratches your car while it’s parked and left? If you’re in the vicinity of your vehicle and you see the driver who hit it, they legally need to stop and exchange information with you. Make sure you take down their personal and insurance details.
However, if the driver who hits your car doesn’t stop or your vehicle is hit while parked unattended, you’ll face a hit-and-run situation. In this instance, call the police so that they can attend to the accident scene and assist you.
Check if you can find any witnesses to the accident—perhaps a pedestrian or someone who saw what happened from one of the nearby shops or houses. Also, see if you can get CCTV footage of what happened.
What If the Driver Left a Note on Your Parked Car?
If your car was hit while parked unattended, the best outcome you can hope for is the at-fault driver leaving a note with their contact and insurance details on your windscreen. You may also be fortunate enough for a witness (perhaps a pedestrian or another driver) to have seen the accident and collected the at-fault driver’s details on your behalf. If you find a note on your windscreen, follow up with the at-fault driver and their insurer.
What if the Driver Didn’t Leave a Note or There Are No Witnesses?
If your car is hit or scratched and the responsible driver leaves without leaving a note, or there are no witnesses to the damage, here’s what you need to do:
- File a police report immediately.
- Provide detailed information about the damage and the location where the accident occurred.
- Gather evidence from the parking lot and surrounding areas. Retrieve CCTV footage and take pictures of the damage caused by the car accident.
- Contact your insurance company to report the claim and file an insurance claim.
- Consider legal help to expedite the claims process.
- Document everything: the police report number, repair estimates, photos of the crash site, insurance information, and details of other drivers or parties involved.
Parking Lot Hit and Run – Who’s Liable?
In a parking lot hit-and-run case, the driver who hit the parked car and sped away without exchanging information is the liable party because it’s their legal responsibility to stop, exchange details, and offer assistance.
If you can identify the responsible driver through the license plate or other information, you can report them to the police and claim insurance coverage. Your insurance company’s comprehensive car insurance would cover the repair charges for an unknown driver damaging your vehicle.
No Insurance? What Are Your Options If Your Parked Car Was Hit
If your parked car has been damaged and requires repairs, you may be left without a way to get around through no fault of your own. As long as you’re eligible, Right2Drive may be able to assist you with a like-for-like accident replacement vehicle for the entire duration of your repairs. This is still the case even if you don’t have insurance, as long as you meet our eligibility criteria.
Should I Report a Parking Lot Scratch to the Police?
Whether you should report a parking lot scratch to the police will depend on factors such as:
- The severity of the damage
- You know the driver
- A hit-and-run case
- A comprehensive coverage
Reporting may not be necessary in case of minor damages or if the driver is unknown. However, significant damage by a known driver must be reported to the police.
Can I Get a Replacement Car After a Parking Hit and Run?
No, you might not get a replacement car after a parking hit-and-run. Still, you can claim coverage from the insurance provider to cover repair or replacement costs, depending on the cover type and the severity of the damage. Also, if you are a comprehensive insurance holder, your policy will cover the damages even when the driver is unknown.
Protecting Yourself After a Parked Car Accident
If you have hit a parked car:
- Stop immediately and activate the hazard lights.
- Assess the situation and look for visible damage.
- Take pictures and videos to document the accident.
- If the other driver is not around, leave a note with your name, contact information, and insurance details.
- Stay until the other driver comes to the site or sees the note.
If your car is hit:
- Assess the situation and check for injuries and the extent of damage.
- Gather information about the offender, witnesses, and the location.
- Report the accident to the nearby police station.
- Inform the insurer to file a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is It Worth Reporting a Minor Scratch on My Parked Car in Australia?
It is generally advised to report damages and accidents to avoid legal liabilities and insurance issues. Consider filing a report for documentation and potential future claims.
What’s the Penalty for a Hit and Run In a Parking Lot in Victoria?
In Victoria, the penalty for a hit-and-run parking lot case can include loss of licence, up to 20 penalty units (approximately $3,300), and even imprisonment for up to 2 years.
Can I Get CCTV Footage if Someone Hit My Parked Car?
You can contact the local security office or the parking lot’s facilities department to obtain CCTV footage of the responsible party and their car details, especially in severe damage situations.
How Long Do I Have to Report a Hit and Run in Australia?
Ideally, you should report a hit-and-run case within 24 hours. However, some Australian states, like South Australia, have a 90-minute timeframe for reporting such accidents.
