You should inform the police if someone hits your parked car in Arizona. Make sure that you document the crash and tell your insurer. You may also want to contact a Phoenix car accident lawyer to discuss your options to secure compensation for the damage.
If someone else’s carelessness causes damage to your parked vehicle, you may be able to collect damages from their insurance company.
Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage and collision insurance may help cover repair costs if you are involved in an accident and can’t determine who was at fault or if the other driver does not have insurance.
Steps to Take if Someone Hit Your Parked Car
It’s natural to wonder what to do when someone hits your parked car. Legal professionals recommend that drivers in this situation:
Contact the Police
If someone strikes your parked car, you often need a copy of the official police report written after the incident to file a claim with your insurance company. You can notify the police so they can come to the accident location, review what happened, and file an accident report.
A lawyer can explain how to get a police report for a car accident in Phoenix.
Document the Accident
You must collect as much data as possible on the incident and its aftermath. Write down:
- Where you were
- What time of day it was
- The driver’s license plates, if you saw them
You should also photograph the site of the accident, including any debris or tire marks, damage to your car, and any identifying landmarks or signs. Local businesses may have security cameras that captured the crash. A lawyer could request this footage for you.
Call Your Insurance Company
Get in touch with your insurer as soon as you can after an accident. Your representative will brief you on the mechanics of submitting a claim and what to expect from the claims process.
Some insurers could also provide mobile applications that let policyholders file claims and include pictures of the damage. Remember that you’ll likely need to contact your company’s insurance provider if you use a corporate car.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
If someone strikes your parked car, an attorney can help you through the insurance claim process. Lawyers understand the legal system in Arizona and can answer any questions you have.
Depending on your circumstances, you may hire a lawyer or let the insurance company handle your car accident claims in Phoenix.
Where do Parked Car Accidents Happen in Arizona?
Many accidents involving parked cars happen in parking lots. Arizona’s parking lot accident law offers a helpful foundation for resolving disputes from vehicle accidents in parking lots. Nonfatal accidents may nonetheless significantly affect one’s health and financial security.
Most Arizona parking lots adhere to conventional norms of right-of-way traffic:
- Vehicles traveling in primary traffic lanes get priority. Vehicles leaving a parking spot in reverse must always give way to traffic in the main lanes.
- Don’t ignore the signs. Drivers are responsible if a crash occurs because they disregard a traffic light.
- It is your responsibility to avoid hitting parked cars. You’re liable for damages if you strike a parked automobile unless the driver acted unlawfully.
- Damage to another car caused by opening your door is your responsibility.
Someone who strikes a parked vehicle may have to pay to repair vehicle damage. An attorney can help you find the person responsible and tell you what to do when someone hits your parked car.
What Happens When the Party Responsible for Your Accident Runs?
A hit-and-run collision occurs when the at-fault driver’s car leaves without exchanging any identifying information. You may need a lawyer after a Phoenix hit-and-run accident.
The severity of the penalties for hit-and-run drivers varies from state to state and may increase in cases of injuries or property damage. However, even when no one was wounded, hit-and-run events are considered crimes in places with significant property damage.
An attorney can help if someone engaged in a hit-and-run with your parked car. A lawyer will explain what to do when someone hits your parked car.
Arizona Penalties for Hitting a Parked Vehicle
Of course, striking a parked car may have serious legal repercussions, usually fines. If motorists continue driving after striking a parked car, they will face increased penalties.
Leaving the scene after hitting a parked vehicle is a class three misdemeanor. A category three misdemeanor carries a maximum 30-day prison sentence. Additionally, drivers may face a year of probation, fines, and penalties of up to $500.
Even though it’s unlikely that a driver will go to jail, they still have to pay the fine, and each of these infractions will result in six points added to their license.
Charge: Misdemeanor Hit and Run – ARS 28-662
In Arizona, vehicles must stop and remain at the scene of an accident if no one is wounded, or they must leave as soon as it is safe. Then, drivers must exchange pertinent information with one another.
Charge: Misdemeanor Hit and Run – ARS 28-664
Drivers who strike a parked automobile must either find the owner and give them information or leave a message in a visible location.
The driver must also mention the name and address of the car owner if they aren’t the vehicle owner. As a class three misdemeanor, breaking this law can have significant consequences.
Charge: Misdemeanor Hit and Run – ARS 28-665
Some individuals bump into mailboxes, fences, or signs. Drivers must contact the owner of the damaged property and provide contact information and their vehicle identification number. If the company owner requests it, drivers must also show their ID.
Charge: Refusal to Exchange Contact Information – ARS 28-663
Refusing or failing to communicate information with the other driver after an accident is considered a class 3 misdemeanor. Upon request, motorists must reveal their full names, addresses, vehicle identification numbers, and driver’s license numbers.
Charge: Felony Hit and Run – ARS 28-661 – Leaving the Scene of an Accident that Results in Injury or Death.
Drivers who cause collisions that result in significant physical injury or fatalities must remain at the scene or return immediately. The motorist must provide their identification, including name, address, VIN, and driver’s license.
The driver must also provide necessary assistance regarding the injuries, help arrange a medical transfer, and call the police. Whether a hit-and-run is regarded as a crime depends on the severity of the incident.
The Role of Insurance in a Hit-and-Run Accident Case
Your auto insurance may pay for repairs to your damaged parked vehicle, depending on the specifics of your policy’s coverages. If someone strikes your parked automobile, the following insurance policies may help:
Collision Coverage
If your car is damaged in an accident when neither you nor the other driver was at fault, this should assist cover the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle. If you can’t identify the other motorist, your car insurance’s collision coverage will kick in and pay for the damages.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
If an uninsured motorist or a motorist who flees the scene of an accident causes damage to your vehicle, uninsured/underinsured policies may cover the cost of repairs. However, this protection is usually extra and not mandated in Arizona.
Insurance providers could ask you to cover a deductible up front before they start paying for expenses related to the accident and uninsured motorist property damage. The amount your insurer will pay for any particular claim covered by your policy may also be subject to a limit.
A Phoenix uninsured motorist lawyer may help in this situation.
Find Out What to Do if Someone Hit Your Parked Car
Wondering what to do when someone hits your parked car? You should contact the police, notify your insurance, take pictures of the damage, and contact an attorney for help with your insurance claim.
While you focus on healing, Zanes Law may conduct an investigation and seek a resolution on your behalf. If someone hits your parked car, contact our car accident attorneys for legal representation.
