This week alone, two of my friends’ parked cars have been hit by someone else. One in Portland Maine. The other in Westbrook, Maine. A responsible person would leave their contact information for the poor victim, but that doesn’t always happen. If you can’t identify who hit your car, you have little recourse but to use your own insurance. However, if you can identify the other party, this information may be helpful.
What To Do If Someone Hits Your Car in Maine
- If it’s safe to do so, get the person’s name, address, phone number and insurance company information – BEFORE the police arrive!
- Call the police if the total damage (both vehicles) appears to be more than $1,000. If there’s visible damage – even minor – it’s probably more than $1,000.
- Give your statement to the police. Don’t admit any fault to the other driver, or argue about whose fault the accident was.
- Report the accident to your Maine auto insurance agent.
Should I Use My Insurance or Theirs?
If the accident was clearly the other driver’s fault (e.g. you were legally parked), try their insurance first. Using their insurance avoids having to pay your collision deductible, allows you to keep your Maine car insurance discounts, and contains no daily limit on rental coverage. Of course, if you’re a victim of a hit-and-run accident, you have no choice but to use your own insurance. Your own local insurance agent can help you start the process.
Use their insurance if:
- You got their insurance information at the scene, or can quickly get the Maine police report (many police reports aren’t available for several days).
- Their insurance company accepts responsibility quickly (within 24 hours after you contact them).
- You did not buy collision coverage on your own policy.
The Other Company Isn’t Responding After the Accident
The other insurance company must confirm liability before they accept responsibility to fix your car. They do this in one of three ways:
- Their customer admits to them that they were clearly at fault (e.g. hit your parked car, rear-ended you at a stop light).
- The police report says the other driver was at fault (police reports may not be available for several days).
- After their own investigation, the insurance company determines that their customer was at fault.
If it’s taking too long for the insurance company to accept responsibility, you may choose to make a claim on your own policy. You’ll have to pay your collision deductible, but at least you’ll get your car fixed, and get on with your life.
Will I Get My Deductible Back if My Insurance Company Collects from the Other Insurance Company?
Yes. if they collect from the other insurance company (a process called “subrogation”), your Maine insurance company will reimburse your deductible, and wipe the accident off your record.
Who Will Help Me Deal With The Other Insurance Company?
That depends on where you bought your insurance. If you bought your car insurance or Maine commercial vehicle insurance from an independent local Maine insurance agent like Noyes Hall & Allen, they can help you report that claim to the other company. Your claim against the other insurance company should not affect your insurance company or your policy.
If you bought your Maine car insurance online, you’re probably on your own. One more reason to buy insurance from a local agency instead of a computer or 800 number.
Of course, if you have no insurance at all on your vehicle, you’re really on your own.
I was parked the other guy hit me now his insurance is playing around I am not able to drive the truck for work or get to school I got liability insurance and I have bills plus I have paid 200 dollars for rides to school and home from school
James, if someone hit your legally parked car, and they had valid insurance, they should pay for damage to your truck. They should also pay reasonable costs for your transportation while your truck is not driveable. Even though you didn’t have collision coverage on your truck, your local insurance agent might be able to help you deal with the other company. We hope you can resolve your issue soon and satisfactorily.
JUST PURCHASED A CAR. I HAD IT PARKED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE. NEIGHBOR BACKED INTO IT. SHOULD THEIR INSURANCE COVER IT ?
MY CAR DOESNT HAVE A PLATE OR INSURANCE :/
Jose, it doesn’t matter whether your car was registered or insured. If your car was legally parked and someone hit it, their insurance should pay for it.
My neighbor hit my parked car in the parking lot. I got his insurance information and just waiting for them to tell us what’s going to happen. My neighbor told me he wasn’t going to park next to me and that only lasted a week! He is parking next to me again…the owner said he would fix the problem but they don’t listen to him. What should I do? I’m so stressed about it. The police say they can’t do much since its on private property!
Angie, sorry to hear about your car being hit. Neighbor issues are always touchy. The police are correct: they don’t have any control about parking on private property. It’s really up to you, your landlord and your neighbor to work out. Once your neighbor’s insurance rates increase after his insurance company pays to fix your car, he may be more careful about parking.
My car was parked on the street.in Richmond CA,two cars were involved in an accident don’t know who was at fault,one car hit the other on the side in an intersection,then as a result the car spins and hits my car in the rear. ,I filed a claim against the insurance of the person who hit the car in the fist place,but they denied my claim because they said there insures did not file any loss against her car.
Giovanni, We’re sorry your car was hit while it was parked. The responsible driver’s insurance (if they had any) should pay for damage to your car, regardless of whether they had collision coverage on their own car. The liability portion of their policy is what pays for damage to your car.
my car was parked and i was sitting in it when a landscape truck drove by and took off my mirror with a leaf blower hanging on the side of the truck.
the driver spit at me and told me he was going to tell the police i was pulling ouT! now his insurance cmpany has said they are not paying because i was pulling out..which i was not! i was sitting there at 11:25 waiting to go into see a client at 11:30.
Someone backed into my wife’s car. Took it to their ins.co.( Progressive) they estimated about $1000.00 damage. I took it to a body shop my ins co recommended and got an estimate of over $2000.00. Progressive said they could cut me a check if I just wanted the money or I could take it to any body shop and get it fixed and they would cover the whole thing. Why would they not cut me a check for amount of my body shop estmate. Does this sound right?
Kathy,
The “his word against yours” cases are difficult. It’s always a good idea to call the police to an accident scene, because stories can change after the fact. If you have collision coverage on your car, your company could pay you and then go after the landscaper’s insurance company. Depending on the amount of damage, they may determine that it’s not worth pursuing.
Danel, Some people prefer to “take the money” and not repair the damage. If Progressive told you they’d pay for the body shop to fix it, I recommend getting the work done and letting them pay the shop directly. Sometimes, the insurance company can/will negotiate a better price for the same work, which is why they prefer to pay the shop directly. As long as the work is done to your satisfaction, this should work out OK for you.
My car was parked at work. A man running from the police crashed into it. He has no insurance and all I had was liability. I am now without a car. He is ordered to pay restitution but fair market value will not buy me a car. My question is since it was on private property does my employer have to help me out at all.
Joseph, Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Your employer really wasn’t at fault for the damage, any more than you were. We don’t see how they share any responsibility for the damage.
If the “bad guy” is actually paying the fair market value, that’s what your insurance company would have paid if you had collision coverage. That should be enough to replace your car with a similar one. Do you think the FMV was too low, or are there just no similar vehicles available in your area?
My car was parked on private property. Some guy nailed the back of it and I had to pay for towing and a car rental while it’s being fixed. His insurance company is not reimbursing me. I’m obviously at zero fault, what am I supposed to do?
A driver hit one vehicle then hit my vehicle then my vehicle was pushed into another vehicle. All vehicles that was hit was parked.. Will my insurance be liable for The vehicle my vehicle was pushed into.Thanks.
You should have no liability if your car was parked legally. The driver that hit you is responsible for all the damage from that point on. Another reason to pay attention to your “third number“.
Joe, is the driver’s insurance company paying for the repairs to your car? If so, they should also pay related expenses like towing and rental. Perhaps your insurance agent can make a call to the other company on your behalf. An agent can be your advocate in cases where the other company isn’t responding.
My car was parked legally in a parking lot some one hit my bumper smash my rail light screwed amogst other wire and socket damage no cameras no witnesses i came out to no info and a damaged truck what can i do short of pating for everything my self
Sorry to hear that Robert. Unfortunately if you can’t identify the person or vehicle that hit your car, you’re going to have to either pay for it yourself or put in a claim under the collision coverage of your auto policy.
I hit a parked car and exchanged insurance information. My car was a total loss but only minor damage on their car. My insurance is paying me for the value and I canceled my coverage after the car was totaled. Can the other person still use my insurance given that I was insured when the accident happened?
the signal was stop,so i waited the go signal but suddenly someone bumped my car and hit the back portion, the owner promise to pay for the damages, but can i request where i want my car to be fix?or just wait for them where they want my car fixed.
Two there was an accident outside my house involving two vehicles on the road. One car crashed into the other and that car hit my parked car and my parked car was pushed back into another parked car. The person who was at fault took responsibility of the accident but his insurance company is telling us that his policy might not cover everyone’s damages and that we might not get anything reimbursed for our rental since our car was not drivable. And they said they are not going to order the police report since they’d have to pay for it and wait up to six weeks. I am very disappointed in geico and am not sure what to do next.
Brooks, if you were insured when the accident happened, your insurance company will pay for damages, even if the policy is later canceled.
Alex, the insurance adjuster for the company should have that answer for you. In Maine, you are allowed to take your car wherever you want. I’m not sure about other states.
Sindy, The police report may not be needed if the at-fault driver and their insurance company have accepted responsibility.
Once they do, they should pay for your damage, including renting a replacement vehicle while yours is not driveable. It’s possible that the person didn’t have enough property damage liability insurance to pay for all the damage they caused. Once the policy limit is reached, the insurance company is no longer responsible, but the driver still is. That’s why it’s so important to choose adequate liability insurance limits.
i do have just liability insurance had my car legally parked outside my house and the insurance of the girl that hit my car dont want to pay me because the police report said that the fault was in another vehicle the other vehicle insurance dont want to pay because the driver was not included what i can do i do
Anacleto, since you didn’t buy collision coverage, your insurance company won’t be able to pay you or go after the responsible party. If the person who owns the car that caused the damage wasn’t the driver, damage would still usually be covered as long as the driver had the owner’s permission. Some insurance policies might have different wording. If you don’t have an agent to help you, and the responsible party’s insurance company isn’t giving you a satisfactory answer, you might contact your state’s insurance department.
If this answer has been helpful to you, perhaps you’d do us the favor of a positive review? Potential customers rely on reviews these days. If you’re willing to review us, it would help others to find us when searching for a local agent.
My car was hit I do not know when or where, it has a small dent in the back passanger panel, and a long deep scratch, with some scuff marks around the bumper. I did NOT notice it until today. I am trying to re-track my steps for the last few days, and the only conclusion I can come up with it must of happened when I was last a the store. I don’t know what to do, I want to put a claim into my insurance, but I am afraid my rates will go up and be on my record as it was my fault. If that is the case, I do not want to have my rates go up and my record marked for something I did not do or caused, but at the same time, I have only had my car for only 7 months, and want it fixed. Will it be considered my fault? Will my rates go up? What should I do?
Wendy, your local agent should be able to answer this question for you. The answer may depend upon which insurance company you have, how much the damage is, and what your driving/claim record looks like otherwise. This is a classic example of when a local agent’s advice is priceless!
I had my vehicle parked at a friend’s house in her driveway. Keep in mind my vehicle was parked in her driveway on private property. I went there because her ex boyfriend was threatening to kill her and she asked me to come over so I did. The following morning her ex boyfriend decided to come over and before he left he decided to smash into the back of my car and do $7000+ in damage. I am a Washington State resident and in the state of Washington I can’t go after my insurance for diminished value. I had a brand new car that was hit. Can I go after her homeowners insurance to pay for damages or at least go after her homeowners insurance for the diminished value and my deductible? The person that hit my car didn’t have insurance and he was arrested for Felony Malicious Mischief DV first degree. Also my insurance is trying to say that it is considered an accident and not a comprehensive claim. How is it considered a collision and not a comprehensive claim when my vehicle was parked and I was in the house?
Radek, that’s a most unfortunate situation! When someone hits your car and has no assets or insurance, your only option is to use your own auto insurance policy. If the person was convicted of a crime, they may be forced to pay restitution, but this can take a long time to collect, if ever.
Your friend’s homeowners policy probably won’t help: she would have to be legally liable for the damage to your car. It wasn’t her fault that the ex-boyfriend slammed into your car. Your accident IS considered a collision claim. Almost any moving object – and certainly any vehicle – that strikes your vehicle is considered collision.
The good news is that it sounds like you DO have collision coverage, which should pay the cost to repair your car. Good luck!
Hello. I spent hours replacing my bumper and fixing my bumper cover. Less than three hours later I went outside and someone had backed into my truck. They didn’t leave any info just left. I have liability but I have uninsured under insured motorist coverage. However my insurance is refusing to pay unless I can find the other person, how should I proceed? In the meanwhile I have put up a flyer asking for info and offering a reward. Distraught in Rhode Island
Matt – people can be cold, can’t they? In Maine, you need to have collision coverage for the insurance company to repair your car. Uninsured/underinsured Motorist is only a bodily injury coverage in Maine. I know some states feature UM coverage for Property Damage as well. My understanding is that UMPD covers damage to your car by an uninsured driver, but not a hit-and-run. I think that’s why your insurance company is saying you need to find the culprit. If they had no insurance, your UMPD might pay.
You might want to check into collision coverage for the truck. It might be more affordable than you think, especially if you choose a higher deductible.
My car was parked outside my girlfriends job. Her jobs company vehicle hit my car and does not want to give me their information of their insurance. What steps can I take to resolve this??
Awkward! It might strain your girlfriend’s relationship with her employer, but they really should pay for damage they caused to your car. If they don’t respond to your request, you could always ask the police if they might help. Even just a phone call from the cops can shake loose some information. If you don’t want to push the issue, and bought collision coverage, you could put a claim in under your policy and let your insurance company do the dirty work. You would have to pay your collision deductible until they collected back from the at-fault driver or their insurance company.
I hit a car when i was parking but i only scraped it and it didnt dent she didn’t report it we just trade #s do I still have to pay even tho she didn’t report it.
Jesus, you would still be responsible for damage you caused even if it wasn’t reported to police. If you have liability insurance, they will pay for it if you report it to them. You can also choose to pay for the damage yourself without involving the insurance company. Just a warning: even a little scratch can be more expensive than you think. Almost any repair job costs more than $1,000.
My mom’s car was hit overnight while parked, we didn’t know what happened. No one left a note or anything. Two weeks later she gets a call from her insurance company (geico) saying they’d like to inspect the car for damages from the accident. Apparently two cars were involved in a Collison and hit my mother’s car also. All three cars are insured with geico, no police report but both drivers reported it to geico. My mom has Collison coverage, geico says of course my mom isn’t at fault, total damages are around $1700,my question is does she have to pay a deductible?
Shirin, your mom’s a lucky woman in an unlucky situation.
Because her insurance company insured all 3 cars involved, they should be able to identify the at-fault party. Many people aren’t so lucky: they just come out in the morning to damage and never know who caused it.
Your mom shouldn’t have to pay her deductible. The insurance company should charge all damages against the at-fault party’s insurance – from dollar one. If she needs a rental car while hers is in the shop being repaired, she should also be able to get that and charge it to the at-fault party’s policy.
I was parked near a driveway and the guy who hit my car is blaming be because I was parked” too close” to his drive way. I parked close to his drive way but no where near in blocking his driveway. I have pictures, but is that enough to validate it wasn’t my fault?
Patty, this is probably going to be an argument between your insurance company and the other guy’s. If you have collision coverage, I suggest reporting it to you company, since the other guy isn’t readily admitting fault.
You were smart to take pictures at the scene. It’s hard to say whether you’ll be judged to have parked too close to his driveway. You might check with your city or town to see what the allowable distance is for parking from a driveway. If you were beyond that, you can point that out to the other guy’s insurance company.
Good luck!
My car was parked outside my apartment when this girl hit my car and fled. A witness saw it and informed me. I tracked down her car got her tag number and gave it to the officer doing my accident report.. He found the vehicle and traced evidence off it and informed me that vehicle hit my car. Now I don’t kno what to do because I paid 200$ out of pocket and my insurance paid 1,006$ and to addn rental for 11 days. The officer tells me that if convicted she will get a misdemeanor. What can I do to get her insurance information or for her to refund me and my insurance company. I dont kno what to do.. Any advice
Mesha, if the police gave you the other driver’s information or the accident report number, pass it along to your insurance company. If the other driver had insurance, they may try to collect from her insurance company. If your insurance company collects, they’ll reimburse your $200 deductible. Good luck!
My boyfriends car and 3 other cars were hit in front of our house at 3:00 am by our neighbor. She told the police when they arrived that her vehicle was stolen, the weird thing is she was going towards her house and not away from her house, the insurance company is claiming they may not accept liability and we have not heard back from the insurance company for over a month now. What should my next step be?
Desiree, fortunately, we don’t see many car thefts here in Maine. Normally, the person whose car is stolen isn’t liable for damage that the thief causes while driving it. That’s why the other insurance company is not accepting liability. Hopefully your boyfriend purchased collision coverage on his car. If he did, he should report the claim to his insurance company.
My car was hit in my employers parking lot while I was working the girl that hit me did stay and called police they responded as well as the security officers of my employer, I filled a claim with her insurance company and they set me up with a rental car however after they decided to declare it totaled.They told me I had to return the rental car. Now I have no wheels to get to work and have to wait on them to send me a check in the mail. I’m the victim and out a car with no cash for my loss and soon to be fired.
Jackie, that doesn’t sound right. Insurance companies we work with would pay for the rental until you had the check – and sometimes for a day or two after to allow you time to find another vehicle. I’d appeal to the adjuster and ask to speak with their supervisor if you don’t get satisfaction.
I Have liability and some girl was coming down the street and hit the car behind me into my bumper I don’t know what to do
Luke, if you have “liability only” insurance, you’re going to have to go against the driver who was at-fault. Hopefully you got her info at the scene. If so, her insurance company should pay for your damage as well as the car that was between hers and yours.
Thank you I only got her phone number
My daughters car was parked on the street in front of our house when a drunk driver hit it and totaled it. Cops were on scene and took him to jail but he has no insurance. Our insurance kicked in but it isn’t compensating very much especially after our $500.00 deductible is taken out. I believe our insurance will go after him but we are still out a car and the money that we are getting doesn’t cover any car that we have found in the area that is in approx the same condition. I am so frustrated. Is there anything I can do?
Ramona, We’re sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with your claim.
If you purchased your insurance from an agent, ask them for help. You bought collision coverage, which should pay you the fair market value of your car (less your deductible). If you can’t buy a comparable car with like mileage and condition at that price, your agent can work with the adjuster to show you where their numbers come from, or adjust your settlement.
Good luck!
I was driving down the road and lost control on black ice and went into someone’s yard and got stuck due to the snow. I got out to see how stuck I was and to see if I could get out. As I was out of my vehicle that’s in Park and turned off another vehicle lost control and smashed into mine. The persons yard this occurred in was the person that called the police. We exchanged info, made police report, etc. I go to file the claim under his insurance and he’s claiming to his insurance that he didn’t do the damages. Claiming he barely hit me due to no marks on his vehicle. He had a brush guard on front and back of his vehicle. The claim is being passed to special investigations unit bc of it. What do I do
What if your car is the one that got hit however you dont have insurance and your registration is expired? However it was a hit and run?
I was at a friends house, we were leaving in her vehicle and she backed up into my vehicle. She doesn’t want to go through her insurance and doesn’t want to file a police report. She told me that I can go through my insurance and say that i was parked and it was a hit and run. Is this a good idea?
Aaron, if the police responded, the officer should have made a report. Hopefully that backs up your story. If it doesn’t, you may be out of luck (your word vs. his). If it does, then you should press the issue with the other driver’s insurance company. Your local agent can help you with this process.
Dajah, if you have no insurance on your vehicle and can’t identify who hit you, you’re not going to have any recourse against anyone. Sorry about that!
Laurie,
Friends…they’re the worst! Some days, there’s a fine line between being a relationship counselor and an insurance agent. : )
I think you know the answer to this one. It’s a bad idea for a couple reasons. It’s never a good idea to lie, especially to your insurance company. In Maine, that’s called fraud. You’d have to say it was parked somewhere else, and then the lies just build up.
Even if you did lie about it and got away with it, you’re going to have an accident on your record (not-at-fault, but still on your record), and you’re going to have to pay your collision deductible. If your friend uses her insurance, you’ll have no deductible.
Good luck!
My car was parked and was totalled by someone under the influence they were caught after trying to flee and gave insurance info that said valid ins. But after trying to locate this imaginary ins CO. All attempts have failed to find out who this person is issued with in order to file my claim…..WHAT TO DO????
Bee, we’re sorry to hear about your trouble. It’s difficult when you can’t identify the other peoples’ insurance company. If the person was charged, you can try to seek restitution through the courts.
If you purchased collision coverage on your auto insurance policy, your insurer will pay the repair costs (minus your deductible). If you didn’t have collision insurance, you’re going to be on your own.
I just bought a car yesterday morning and put about 40 miles on it to go from dealership to my sisters. I parked my new mini cooper 4 door and when I came out at night my car was hit when parked and was moved at least 6 ft back! The alignment is def off and worried about the brakes as this was moved with the e-brake engaged. The front is smashed but car is def not totaled. What can I do? This is a new car. I called my insurance company and they can just repair it. The person left there all there info (insurance, drivers license) and a note saying they hit my car. Is there anyway to get a brand new mini cooper instead since this was fresh of the lot that morning. The car is going to depreciate more than then the repairs done. With the repairs about to be done, I still don’t feel whole again. Please advise.
Raj, this is like the “worst case scenario”. What a shame! One good thing is that the other person left their insurance info. At least you (or your insurance company) can go back after them. Unfortunately for you, they’re only responsible for the damage they caused. As you know, a vehicle does depreciate heavily in the first few months. If you went to sell it or trade it in, it would be worth less than it was just a few days (or hours) before. The at-fault party is only responsible for that reduced value.
There IS a product that some insurers sell called “new car replacement“. You can buy it to protect your own vehicle. In that case, you’d use your own insurance policy, and get a brand new replacement vehicle if it’s damaged beyond the depreciated value. That would only help you if you totaled your car. Otherwise, the insurance company just pays to fix it. It sounds like your damage is significant, but your car won’t be totaled. In that case, you’d only be paid for the cost to repair it, whether you go against the other insurance company or use your own policy.
Sorry about your new Mini Cooper…they’re such cool vehicles!
My car was legally parked on the street and someone hit it. The guy left a note with no name and a number with no area code. I tried our local area code but number is disconnected. Luckily a witness took down license plate number. Police won’t file a report because a note was left. My insurance says its a total loss and aren’t doing much to find the person responsible. Shouldn’t my insurance company be actively looking for this guy that hit my car and left a bogus note?
My car was parked in front of my house overnight of course and there was nothing wrong with it cause I had just washed it the previous day. So I come outside the next morning and the front end of my bumper is crack….I do have full coverage,but do you think when I report the accident to my insurance will it go up? And would I be responsible to pay anything seeing that I’m a have to file a claim with my own insurance company?
Franco, We agree. Your insurance company should pay your claim and track down the responsible party to collect damages. If your insurance company successfully collects from the “other guy”, they should refund your deductible. Your local agent should advocate for you with your insurance company.
Marterio, Since you have collision coverage, your insurance company will pay to fix your car. You’ll be responsible for whatever deductible you chose when you purchased your policy – $500 is a common number, although yours may be more or less.
Some insurance companies surcharge your insurance for accidents like this. Others don’t. Some also have “1st accident forgiveness”, meaning they don’t charge you for the first claim. Check with the agent you bought the policy from to find out how your insurance company will treat your situation. Good luck!
We bought a new used truck on saturday. On wednesday, a semi truck backed into it, slicing driver side cab, bed, and door like a tin can. The trucking company is acceptin responsibility, but they do not have actual insurance. They consider themselves “self-insured” and will cut me a check for the damages and rental. We got w estimates for repairs that were under $3500, they seemed like patch jobs. We took it to actual toyota dealer/body shop & they estimated almost $7000 and a lot more complex repairs. I’ve already missed 2 days of work and, with my husband going into a major depression regarding this whole process, he also saw the whole accident happen.we will be without our new truck for 3 wks. Do I have the right to ask for monetary compensation for lost wages, time it’s taking for all this, and mental anguish/suffering? Also, the company is based in Canada.
My car was hit lastnight by a person who works for the owner of this trailer park. He was driving the owners truck at the time of the hit. I assume the truck is a company truck. What should i do?
My daughter hit a parked car next to her. The owner was adamant about not involving police or insurance company. He got her driver’s license information but only gave her his number. And then he left? His car had a 3 foot scratch and our van had a busted front light and dentist.
Trecie, the other vehicle’s owner has no control over whether or not you report this claim to your insurance company. I’m not sure where you’re located, but in Maine, if the other driver is looking for reimbursement, and you don’t want to pay it yourself, you can submit a claim, and your insurer will pay for his repairs. If you purchased collision coverage on your van, you could also have your insurer fix your vehicle. Just know that they will likely surcharge your rates because of the accident. Good luck!
My car was parked near my house on road and hit by someone who ran away .car has been damaged badly . I transferred my car to Victoria yesterday and I had an insurance which does not work in other state so I cancelled it yesterday.what should I do
Tracie, We’re sorry to hear about your new truck. It sounds like a complicated situation, and it might not be easy to get them to pay what you deserve. If you have collision coverage on the truck, you can put a claim under your policy. Your insurer will pay the amount to properly fix it, and, if you bought rental coverage, will pay to rent a car while your truck is in the shop for repairs. Your insurance company will go after the at-fault party and reimburse your deductible to you if they are successful in collecting.
“Pain & suffering” is usually connected with injuries, not damage to property.
Michael, contact the owner of the vehicle. Insurance follows the vehicle first, then the driver if the owner has no insurance.
Asad, if you canceled your insurance, and you don’t know who hit your car, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. You would have to pay to fix your own car. I’m sorry!
My car was parked legally at a visters parking spot at an.apartment complex. I had no insurance, but the car was being financed and i was payimg monthly notes.my car was smashed from behind intenualy several times,causimg the car too become totaled. Police arrives and keeps me in police car. The police report has no information on the criminals iinsurance. Therefore, i am waitimg for the prosecutors office to receive paperwork in order for me to get ahold of the.responsible driver insurance. I am with no car. Is there a way too speed up the process so i can get the money i am owed to buy a new car? I did have gap insurance which pays my car off. How do i get a rental car without insurance and having to not pay out of pocket? ?
Marcus, We’re sorry to year about your car. I’m afraid there’s more bad news. First, since you didn’t insure your car, there’s no one to help you with the car payments, repairs or rental car expenses. Second, even if the driver has insurance, his liability insurance won’t pay for intentional damage. Every liability policy excludes criminal activity and intentional damage. So, your only recourse is to go against them personally. That’s going to be a slow process, probably with a low chance of success. Sorry we don’t have better news for you.
A box truck hit my parked car and there was a police report w the driver’s info. My car is a 2003 galant worth maybe $2000. Is the driver’s insurance company responsible to pay all the damages to my car even if it is more than $2000? Cause I want the car to be fixed the way it was before the idiot hit it.
I drove my boyfriends car to work the other day and someone hit his car while it was parked on the street and took off. I was not operating the vehicle at the time of the accident and we do not know who it was. They left no contact information and there is no way to find out who it is. Since he and I are on different car insurance plans, should we go through his insurance? The car in on his plan but I’m not sure how to go about this. We know we will be paying a deductible because the person who hit the car took off but I’m unsure how to go about this. Any help would be great. Thank you.
Hi my car that was parked my garage in the alley way was hit by a van, because he avoid another car that was baked up and hit my car and did damages to my fence too. My car does not have insurance because I was fixing it and my husband was inside the car putting the diagnostic computer when he here and feel the hit.The van guy states that my husband was baking up but he was not. he was also speeding in a alley, police came and took are information but my husband does not have a license he told the police that he was inside the car.
My car was parked at a friends and the whole side was hit and has damage my car is finaced and I have know insurance there were three cars in the accident insurance is still deciding who’s at fault am I responsible for anything since it was parked and I was not in the car and I’m not insured
Bee, if your car was legally parked, you were not at fault. If the at-fault party is known, their insurance should pay for your damage. If your car is financed, you really should have insurance. It’s usually a requirement for any car loan or lease. You could find yourself making payments for a car that you don’t own and can’t drive!
Geraldine, your situation sounds a bit complicated to try to answer here. You mention that your car didn’t have insurance because it was off the road. Hopefully you have insurance on another vehicle, in which case we suggest that you contact your insurance company for advice. Even though they’re not going to pay for your damage, they may be able to give you advice.
Mia,
Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Car insurance follows the car, not the driver. So, your boyfriend would put the claim in under his policy.
Cheryl, the insurance company will “total” your car if the cost to fix it is more than its value. You may have the option to take the money and buy the “salvage”, and try to have it fixed (or not). You can talk to the adjuster about that.
A person drove into my car and neighbor’s car that were parked on the street outisde my house, neither of us have insurance. I immediately called 911 since I heard the crash. The driver that hit us left, but it continued to hit several cars so the police stopped him/her. I made a police report and have the case number. The police did not give me any information about the other driver that crashed into us but they know who it is.Who do I call since I do not have auto insurance?
Elizabeth, you should contact the police. They have the name of the at-fault driver. If they had insurance, their insurance company should pay for your damages. If they did not, you may have to file a civil suit to claim damages. Good luck!
my car was legally parked when I shopped my grocery in plaza somebody hit my car I realized when I reached home, I did not report and thought I will repair from my pocket after w few weeks I asked a body shop for repair , they told my need to repaint the whole back door and also there is a dent need to be fix and cost me almost $ 2000 . I never have any claim , is that ok to claim this after a month and do I need to pay $500 deductible.please help me what should I do?Thx
Peter, this would be a collision claim. If you bought collision coverage, it should be covered subject to your policy deductible. Many companies do consider this a “chargeable” accident, meaning it could increase your insurance cost. You might want to ask your agent what the cost effect would be before deciding whether or not to submit it.
My son car was wreak park in our driveway my a landscape company that got my address and my neighbor’s address confused.We did file a police report. The police talk to my neighbor’s and completed there report. When my agent sent the report to the owner of the landscape services he filed a claim with his insurance company. His investigation agent is refusing to accept libility. What is my options to get my son car repaired
Sheila, If your son’s car was parked in a driveway and a vehicle pulled in and smashed it, we don’t understand how that vehicle’s driver wouldn’t be liable. What reason are they giving?
Assuming that your son didn’t have collision coverage, the only option is to file a suit if the landscapers’ insurance company has denied liability.
My car was parked and an older gentlemen backed up into it gave me his information. I called the cops but they said they weren’t available for another 3 hours or so, and to just take it up with the insurance company. My questions are 1) will my insurance go up? 2) and can I deal directly with their insurance and not mines. They guy also admitted it was his fault please help
Tony, did the other driver give you his insurance policy info? If so, you should be able to report it directly to them and not have to use your insurance at all. If you don’t, we suggest contacting the agent that you bought your auto insurance from. They can tell you how your insurance company will treat the situation. Normally, if you do use your insurance company, they’ll pay to fix your car and try to collect from the other driver’s insurance. If they’re successful, your insurance probably won’t increase.
Our car got backed over in a friends driveway. It was their fault we did accident report. Who is responsible for turning accident report in to insurance that is to pay for damages?
Desiree, Usually the person who’s “at fault” will report the accident to their insurance company first. If they don’t you can report it to their insurer if you know their policy number. Otherwise, you can report to your own insurance company and let them go after the other company. You’d have to pay your collision deductible. Your insurer would reimburse your deductible to you if they collected from the other insurance company. Let us know how it goes!
My car was parked and it was hit by another car (car b) which I later realize doesn’t have insurance. The car that hit my car was hit by another car (car a) which caused it to hit my car. The car A was deemed at fault by the police report but the insurance company did their own investigation and says car B is at fault. Car B doesn’t have insurance and I don’t have collision or full coverage on my car. I only have liability. How do I go about getting my car fixed.
Flynn, If Car B was at fault, your only recourse is to contact them to see if they’ll pay out of pocket. We wouldn’t count on it, though. If they didn’t buy insurance, they aren’t likely to pony up for damage. Sorry for the bad news.
My parked car was hit and the other insurance accepted full responsibility but their coverage isn’t high enough to cover my car. Would I be forced to take them to court to get the full amount?
Jonathan, If the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance, that doesn’t remove their liability. They are responsible for the damage they caused. You may have to take them to court to get them to pay. Incidentally, that’s why it’s so important to choose adequate property damage liability limits.
I was picking up my daughter from school and there was no parking. I parked in a no parking are for about 3 minites. When I returned my drivers side door had scrapes and a bumb. The person who hit my car said she didn’t see my car and that it was my fault because i was parked in a no parking place. Could her insurance had paid for the damages or was it my fault for parking in a no parking area. If the incident past by one day would i still be able to make the report ir is it too late? Does it matter if my car is not insured?
Julie, whether you have insurance or not doesn’t affect the other person’s liability. If they were at fault, their insurance should pay for your damages. Your case is certainly weaker because you parked in a “no parking” zone. It’s hard for us to say without knowing the area. Some “no parking” areas are because it’s not a safe place to park. The road might be narrow, or the lines of sight can be restricted. We really can’t tell in your case.
My car was parked, hit and totaled out. Called their insurance, the car was reported stolen. I lost my car and have to come out of my pocket to purchase another car. What can I do?
Shawna,
We’re sorry to hear about your car. That’s terrible luck! Unfortunately, the owner isn’t responsible for the damage a thief causes with their car. You could go after the thief for damages, but that doesn’t seem likely to be fruitful. If you didn’t buy collision coverage on your car, we’re afraid you have to pay to replace it. Wish we had better news.
My car was hit, while I was inside my parked car. The next day I woke up my back was aching with sharpe pain. If I go to the emergency room will I give them the persons at fault information?
My car was parked someone turned too soon and swiped the side of my car the lady gave me all her information do I still have to call the police? Do I even have to let the person or the police know what insurance I have?
Lisa, If you don’t live in a “no fault” state, your auto insurance has Medical Payments coverage, which should pay for your ER visit. We recommend reporting the claim to your insurance company and letting them go after the at-fault party.
Shawn, We suggest reporting the claim to the lady’s insurance company, using the information she gave to you. If she had valid insurance, they should pay to fix your car. In Maine, any accident with more than $1,000 damage should be reported to the police. The law may be different in your area.
Hi, any advice for my situation…
My car was parked all day when at work on a side street. When walking to my car, noticed the car behind me was almost hanging into the alley and super close to my car. Checked my bumper and there was a little damage from what was obvious the car that was there tapping my car. (I took a picture of their plate and the damage on scene… It was lined up perfectly with the screws on her license plate and her car was 0.5-1 inch from my bumper) It is really small, but it was also a brand new car (2 weeks old) and it angered me! I left a note on the other car. I took it to my dealership and the little damaged she caused is actually $350 to fix. The girl called me back and we played phone tag all week, when finally talked to her, she claims she did not hit my car. I have her license plate, first name, and phone number, but nothing else. How do I get her to pay for the damage she obviously caused but claims she didn’t?
My parked car was backed into by a family friend (on accident) and he has PLPD. His company won’t pay out until he files a claim per their internal policy. My personal policy is their client caused damage so they need to pay for my repairs regardless. I am considering court because it has been 3 weeks and my car is still broken. Any suggestions?
Steve, It sounds like you’ve reported the claim to their insurer, but they have not. Some insurers won’t process a claim on their client’s policy without their permission. Insurance doesn’t change responsibility or legal liability. If the other driver is at fault, they’re responsible for your damage, whether or not they use insurance. They have the right to pay for damages out of pocket instead of using insurance. Of course, you have the right to take legal action if they aren’t forthcoming.
Hi Laura,
We’re sorry to hear about your new car. It’s frustrating and aggravating when a brand new vehicle gets its first scratch.
In Maine, the police won’t get involved in any damage less than $1,000. We’re not sure about your area. It’s hard to prove damage in a “he said/she said” situation. You’ve asked her to pay for the damage, and she’s refused, saying she’s not responsible. Honestly, we don’t see much chance that she’d be forced to pay without admitting that she hit your car – even in small claims court.
If you believe in karma, you can hope that if she’s lying about not hitting your car that she may be on the other end of that situation some day.
Hi there, someone hit and run my bmw when it was parked in legal street spot, she fleet the scene , one good Samaritan took pics, license plate pic enhanced with 6 digits and alphabet, I report it to police, they are working on that, I don’t have collision nor property because I just bought the car few days ago, I had no time to go to insurance for edit my coverage but I do have liability though,
I had some friends in Dmw they didn’t give me the name or address but we found last digit based on the vehicle discriptuon, I said to cops , they told me that also have possible match, what can be happened here ? If the other person ignore involvement due to borrowing truck to someone or so? What’s is my options ?thanks
Hi I need advice on how to proceed…
My car was parked outside near where I live. In the morning I discover that my car was hit badly and looted. I find a notification from the police stating they made a police report of the collision. How should I proceed?
Hello, i would like to get your advice on this. I parked my car on the street right in front of my house. Around evening time, i was in my house, when i heard a knock on my door by a lady who told me thats she accidentally hit my car while backing out from the house opposite mine. Well she gave me her name and phone number. Another man was there who witnessed it. The lady told me that she gonna contact her insurance to let them know about the accident. My question are: do i need to contact the police and report it..? Do i need to let my insurance company know about the incident? What are the right steps to follow to ensure that the lady insurance fix my car..? She only damage the driver’s side front door with a dent and scratches. Looking forward for your feedback.
I was comming out the store when a guy backed into my car.I then got in the the car to call 911. He then backed into to the front of my car again. my police report says he hit my car and he admitted it. Even though officer didnt report me in the vehicle.the store has cameras how do i pursue my claim?
Arjang, if the police have identified the person who hit your car, you can see if they captured their insurance information. Then perhaps you can report a claim.
Jaime, if you have collision coverage, report the claim to your insurance company. They’ll payto fix your car (minus the deductible).
If the police captured the driver’s insurance info, your insurer may recover from them and reimburse your deductible.
If you didn’t purchase collision coverage, you’ll have to do that on your own.
Gilead,
As long as the woman reported the accident to her insurer, and gave them your contact info, you shouldn’t need to involve the police or your insurance company.
The woman’s insurer should contact you within 48 hours after the woman reports it.
Lessa, that sounds like double bad luck! If the police came, and their report puts the other driver at fault, you should have no trouble having their insurer pay to fix your car.
If you got their insurance info, you can contact their insurer to start the claim. If not, you can report it to your insurer (assuming you bought collision coverage). They can pay to fix your car and try to recover from the other driver’s insurer.
My boyfriend’s van was parked in front of my house, and a young lady hit and caused damage to his axle. Her insurance had lapsed at the time of the accident. What can he do to get her to pay for damages.
Cheryl, if she had no insurance, the best your boyfriend could do is try to get her to pay the damages “out of pocket”. The odds probably aren’t high. He could sue in small claims court to put the force of law behind the obligation. If your boyfriend had insurance, it may be better just to put the claim in and bite the bullet.
I had my car parked in a space on a studio lot right in front of a security booth. Someone hit my car and scratched some paint off. The security witnessed it and they held the guy while I got his information. He wanted to go around insurance and pay after getting the estimate. Everything seemed totally fine and we were working it out. We’ve been playing phone tag and he’s been out of work and paying child support etc. so has had trouble getting the money and it’s now been a year and he hasn’t answered me for a couple months. I have voicemails, messages, texts, witnesses and pictures of him admitting guilt, offering to pay me and everything. Is it now too late to use any of that stuff to get him to pay me? What recourse do I have at this point?
Jeff, I think small claims court might be your only recourse now – or you could put a claim under your own collision insurance, and let them try to go after him.
So my car was parked on the street and got hit. This person hit a car parked behind me and pushed it over my car, so there was one car on top of the other both were total losts. Now they admit guilt police report done claims done but its been a month and no solution. Since my car is a 92 honda only had liability insurance and my car was towed because it couldnt stay parked on public st. The tow truck has been calling me to pay and take out the car. The other insurance adjuster has not paid the towing nor solve any situation regarding my car. I would think if its a total lost they would now deal with the car and damages. I called her and she says shes only paying some days and i have to pay the rest and that i deal with the car on taking it to a junk. She also told me she wasnt sure if she was going to be able to pay the car and towing because she had a certain limit of money and disnt know if she had enough budget. So what should i do pay the towing and bring out the car? Do they have to pay legally all damages including all the days at the towing place?
Hi question a landscaper hit my car with the weedwacker causing 2779.00 worth if damage he wants to go thru there general contracting insurance. ..does the i surance pay me myself or a body shop…please let me know
Hi okay I was reversing. In my aunts drive way and I got my uncles car a dent and offered to fix it or pay the deductible because my dads car I was front had no insurance my uncle said no he wants insurance so what if he called the next day and said he was in the car he wasn’t even present when the accident happened and only two people were and saw everything what can we do and the name of the owner says another name and it isn’t the guys that has insurance for it
Mary,
It sounds like the person who was at-fault may have had very low liability insurance limits. If there’s not enough insurance to pay for all the damages, the insurer might pay a pro-rated percentage of everyone’s damage. Even then, the at-fault person is still legally responsible for the remainder. Of course, you might have to sue them to get the damages paid.
Oriana, you’ll want to ask the landscaper’s claim adjuster about that. They’ll likely pay the body shop directly if you have an agreed figure.
Crystal, that’s one confusing situation! I think you’re going to have to try to work that out between your relatives. The police don’t usually get involved in accidents on private property.
I parked my car on a private property, not driving it because the insurance had expired because I travelled to Africa. When I returned and was about to renew and start using it for my runs, a u haul backed up into it and destroyed the entire front. The police got me the owner of the business number. I called him and he said he was filing a claim. Is there any way they aren’t going to compensate me because my insurance has expired, or they have to pay everything including car that I would rent for all my commute. Am confused here, please help me.
Sammy, it doesn’t matter whether your car was insured or not. The other driver is responsible for repairing the damage, or the value of the vehicle, whichever is less. If the car was registered and insurance is not required in your state, they should pay for the rental, since the car was available for you to use. If it wasn’t “road legal”, they may argue about paying for the rental, since you couldn’t legally drive it.
When you DO fix the car and insure it, we recommend using a local agent. They can give you the personal advice you need. If our response was helpful, would you mind reviewing our service here? That way, local people who are looking for an agent can see it when they do their research. Thank you!
Someone hit my 2 month old truck while it was parked outside my home. I called my insurance and theirs so see what the next move was. I want to tow the truck to a shop but the Chevy dealer said to wait for the adjuster to contact me. Does me paying for the GAP insurance help me at all because I’ve heard various things about it.
I had my car involved in a hit and run .The man was caught, owned up to it, and gave me his insurance. My question is if his insurance totals my car do I still have to buy it hack from the company or do they just pay for the market value and I get to keep my car?
My car was parked at my neighbor street and someone drove a new car, not used from a dealer (no license plate, but the Dealer logal plate) and hit my car (ball joint broke). My driver side was damaged! They failed to drive off because their car axle broke and person ran off (eye witness on scene). I got the vin# and called my insurance but they weren’t able to get the car identification to my claim. What should I do since my car can’t be driven?
Cesar,
Gap insurance can vary by insurance company. The basic concept is that it pays the difference between what you vehicle’s market value is and what you owe on the loan or lease. It’s only relevant in the case of a total loss. You should check with your agent to find out how yours works.
Sean,
If you want to buy your car back from the insurance company, they’ll tell you how to do that. You generally have to pay the salvage value of the vehicle.
Hunter, First, hopefully you had collision coverage on your vehicle. That way your insurance company can work on tracking down the responsible party while your vehicle is being fixed. If not, you’re going to have to do that on your own. Do you know what dealership the car was from? The dealer should have a record of the vehicle being taken for a test drive (again, hopefully they knew about it!). When someone test-drives on a dealer plate, they’re using the dealer’s insurance. That’s who will likely pay for your damage. Good luck!
I parked my car at a Payless parking facility next to an airport in Pennsylvania for vacation. When I returned, there was damage to my rear bumper. I immediately noticed, took pictures, and filed a claim with the company before leaving. Now the company is offering to repair the car, but only through their service provider. I don’t trust Payless to repair the car and would prefer to use my own bodyshop. Are they required to pay me to have it fixed elsewhere?
Hi,
A woman hit my car and damage my front and two second she run away . I couldn’t find chance to see her plate number. I call 911 and made police report. I had two withnees just the call module and make and color we told police .can police find her?
I live in a apt complex when a vehicle hit 4 cars and two of them were mine. The men insurance has $10,000 liability, and his insurance says he can’t give rentals because of the rest of the cars so he wants me to settle for $7,000 for both cars and the rest to other people. My two cars are 2014,2004 and the rest of the the others are 1999 and below. What can I do in my position without filling a claim from my insurance.
My car was parked and hit. I was able to get the owners DL and license plate but he did not have his insurance card on him. He stated which company he had a policy with but did not have the card to give me the policy #. Can I call his insurance and file a claim without his policy #? I have everything else like his phone #, address, pictures, etc
He will not answer my calls now so that I can get his insurance details.
Kristen, you should be able to have your car fixed where you want. If Payless gives you a hard time, submit a claim to your own insurance company. Before committing to that route, make sure they’ll go after Payless so that you get your deductible back.
Nematullah, the chances of the police finding the car by the make and model alone are not good. We hope you had collision insurance on your car, so you can get it repaired. .
Rosa,
We’re sorry to hear about your cars. This doesn’t sound like it will end well with the other driver’s insurance company.
We’re not sure where you are located, but most insurers in Maine do not surcharge you for a claim due to a crash when your car was legally parked. We recommend contacting your insurance agent or company to make sure you can get your car repaired.
Elsie,
This sounds sketchy. In our experience, the other driver probably doesn’t have valid insurance. But, we might be surprised. You could try to report it to the insurance company he gave you, using his name and address. If you have an agent, they may be able to help you.
If that fails, we suggest reporting the accident to the police with the information you have. For future reference, we recommend ALWAYS calling the police when you have an accident. They’ll gather information and take statements at the scene, which become a permanent record. It can be inconvenient in the case of a minor accident, but it could save a case of “he said/she said”, or a driver who turns uncooperative like this guy has.
Hi I need some input,
My car was parked in a parking garage somewhat crooked in a spot and it seems as though the truck next to it hit it causing extensive damage and took off. Though I was crooked can I still file a claim if the parking garage security cameras can make out the license plate and I report it?
Meghan, it’s worth trying. The other driver should have owned up to hitting it. How crooked you were in the space might affect how the police and/or the two insurance companies might assign fault. If you have video showing the whole thing, it may be worth reporting to the police.
This guy ran the stop sign and hit my car in 20 mile Lane he doesn’t think that he should pay for my damages he hit my Fender and busted my tire and the front light I called the police and have a report he fixed my car so now he thinks that I should pay him for fixing my car what should I do in a situation
Monic, if the police report shows that the other driver was at fault, they should pay to fix your car, not the other way around. If he or his insurance company paid to fix your car, that should be the end of the story. You shouldn’t owe anything if he was 100% at fault.
My daughter bought a car and I am the co-signer. Her and her boyfriend got hit from behind. They total the car. The other party only had liability. If there insurance dosn’t pay the rest of the car off would mine. I have full coverage that covers up too 100.000 to 300.000 because I have motorhome. Would the collision on my insurance pay it the rest of the way off.
They hit my car while its was parking. The guy give all his info and insurance ,but my problem is why his insurance don’t answer ..
Larry, if the at-fault party had liability coverage, it should pay for the damage to your daughter’s vehicle. If they didn’t buy high enough liability limits, the collision coverage on a policy that lists that vehicle would pay for the car.
Humberto, hopefully you’ve connected with the other driver’s company by now. Insurance companies usually want to start the process as soon as they can.
Hi, I have a cleaning business and was parked in a clients driveway . We were in the house cleaning , came out my front bumper was hit tore my license plate off really needs new bumper .. my client hit it.. but started screaming at us and refused to pay us and refused to give us her insurance .. what do I do?
Hi Darcel, It’s always uncomfortable when there’s an adversarial condition with a customer. If you put a claim in on your auto policy, your insurer will pay (less the deductible), but they will likely go after your client’s insurance company for reimbursement. If they collect from your client’s insurer, your insurance company will reimburse your deductible as well.
Good luck!