What to Do If Someone Hits Your Parked Car

Someone hit my car and drove off! According to CBS News¹, as many as 20% of accidents happen in parking lots. You may park your vehicle only to return to a sideswiped car with significant dents or scratches. Or maybe you were in the car when another driver accidentally bumped your vehicle after you parked.

Immediate Steps to Take When Someone Hits Your Parked Car

• Stay safe and keep the vehicle where it was struck unless it creates a hazard. This preserves evidence needed for your claim and police report.
• Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. In Florida, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) can cover initial medical treatment regardless of fault.
• Look for witnesses and nearby security cameras. Ask property owners or businesses to preserve footage.
• Document the scene thoroughly using multiple photos, including close‑ups, wide angles, and surroundings.

Florida requires reporting to police immediately if property damage appears to exceed $500.

Step-By-Step Guide To Parked Car Accident

So, what should you do if someone hits your parked car?

1. Don’t Move the Vehicle Right Away

If there’s no immediate hazard, don’t move your vehicle right away. You need to survey the scene and take photographs. There could be vital evidence pointing to the responsible party and proving their negligence.

How to Document the Damage Properly

• Take photographs from all angles: front, back, sides, and diagonal.
• Capture debris, tire marks, paint transfer, and the exact position of your parked vehicle.
• Photograph any note left on the windshield before removing it.
• Gather witness contact information and ask management to save any camera footage.

2. Call the Police

Florida law requires a driver to call the police if there is more than $500 in apparent property damage in the accident. In today’s reality, that’s almost any accident. The other driver should have called the police. However, with parking lot accidents, we know they don’t always do the right thing. Call the police to report the accident.

Should You File a Police Report in Florida?

The driver responsible may ask you not to call the police. They may have a host of reasons for not wanting to make the report, including the at-fault driver wants to pay out of pocket. However, it’s never a good idea to agree to that.

If an officer investigates, they must file a long‑form crash report within 10 days. This report is important for your insurance claim. The insurance provider needs the accident report, and you need documentation of what happened.

Additionally, a police investigation is a neutral third party who observes and makes a record of what happened. If the accident occurs in a private lot, the police may not respond, but you’ll have done your part by making the report.

If police do not respond on private property, you may file a self‑report with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). If the driver leaves without providing information, it becomes a hit‑and‑run incident and must be reported immediately. A car accident lawyer can help you fight for your rights as an accident victims.

3. Locate the Driver

Ideally, the driver will do the right thing and tell you they hit your parked car. If they contact you or leave a note, you should get their:

• Name
• Address
• License information
• Phone number
• Insurance policy details

Ask them what happened, but be careful if emotions are running high or they appear under the influence. Take photos of their vehicle if you can, especially any areas showing damage.

What to Do If the Driver Left a Note

• Keep the note; take a photo of it in place.
• Verify insurance information by contacting the insurer listed.
• Provide the note to police and to your insurance company during the claim.

If the note contains incomplete or false details, your collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage may apply.

4. Determine the Cause

It’s essential to know the cause of the accident. Of course, the cause is that a vehicle hit you. But beyond that, there may be a reason that the collision occurred. Here are some possibilities:

• Cramped spaces – Parking lots are notoriously cramped. A driver may have been trying to squeeze into a tight space where there isn’t room.
• Poor visibility – Ramps, posts, trash cans, and other barriers can make it difficult to see in a parking lot.
• Slippery conditions – Wet or sandy conditions can make a vehicle harder to control.
• Potholes, cracks, and debris – When a parking lot isn’t well maintained, potholes and other hazards can cause an accident.
• Driving too fast – People in a parking lot are often in a hurry. Moving too fast can result in an accident in a parking lot, just like it can be a factor on the roads.
• Not looking before moving – It’s up to a driver to ensure that they have a clear path before moving their vehicle. The driver must take the time to look before backing up.
• Illegal parking – Parking where there is no room or instructions not to park can increase the likelihood of an accident.
• Drunk driving and drugged driving – Driving under the influence decreases reaction time and judgment. In turn, that can cause an accident in a parking lot.

Common causes of parked cars getting hit include tight parking spaces, limited visibility, poor lighting, speeding in parking lots, slippery pavement, illegal parking, inattentive reversing, and impaired or distracted driving.

5. Take Photos

Before you even move your vehicle, take pictures. Photograph where the car was when the accident occurred, the damage to your vehicle, and the car parked next to you. Capture images of the larger scene and the other vehicle if it is still nearby. Your smartphone camera is sufficient to take pictures of the accident scene.

6. Report the Accident and Ask for Video Footage

You should report the accident to the owner of the parking lot. If it happens at the store, report the accident to the store. If it’s a privately owned or government lot, you should find the party responsible for managing it and let them know.

Ask them if they have video or security footage of the incident. Many parking lots are under surveillance, and it may help identify the driver by looking at the video. Ask the owner to produce a copy of the video for you to keep.

How to File Your Insurance Claim Effectively

• Report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible. Many insurance companies require notification within 24–72 hours.
• Provide photos, witness statements, police or FLHSMV reports, and any available security footage.
• Ask your insurer about rental car coverage and whether diminished value is covered.
• Filing an insurance claim does not extend any legal deadlines if a liability dispute later requires legal action.

7. Find Witnesses

What if someone hit my parked car and left? There are still ways to identify the guilty party. If there are any witnesses to the accident, gather their contact information. Ask them what they observed, and take notes of their comments.

8. Contact Your Insurance Company

Someone hit my car – whose insurance do I call? Let your insurance company know about the accident as soon as possible. You may know that Florida is a no-fault state. That’s true for medical benefits. However, the property damage insurance that you’re required to have is property damage liability. The party responsible for causing the accident is the person whose insurance should cover the property damages.

Will Insurance Pay if Someone Hits My Parked Car?

• If the at‑fault driver is identified, their Property Damage Liability (PDL) should cover your vehicle repairs. Florida drivers are required to have at least $10,000 in PDL coverage.
• If it is a hit‑and‑run and the driver cannot be identified, your insurer usually treats the other driver as uninsured. Collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage (if included) may pay for the repairs, minus your deductible.
• If you are not at fault, your insurance premium typically does not increase, although practices vary by carrier.
• PIP covers medical treatment but does not cover property damage. Property damage must be handled through PDL or your own collision/UM property damage coverage.

If you cannot locate the responsible party, or if they do not have the insurance they’re supposed to have, your own uninsured, underinsured, or even collision coverage may apply. Our lawyers can help you examine your policy to determine coverage.

In addition, reporting what happened to the insurance company prevents you from any kind of questioning about the cause of the damage later. This can be important if your vehicle sustains additional damage in a separate incident.

9. Make a Claim Through the Other Driver’s Insurance Policy

If someone hits your parked car, in most cases, you can make a claim through their insurance. Because of Florida’s laws for mandatory insurance, the other party should have at least $10,000 in liability coverage. They may have more. Making a claim involves reporting the accident and getting estimates for the cost of the repairs.

The information you gathered at the scene can be critical to knowing who is responsible, how to file the claim, and proving that you deserve compensation. Remember, if you can’t find the driver, you may be able to make a claim through your own insurance policy. In addition, the parking lot owner or even another party may be responsible for a dangerous condition that caused the accident.

Legal Consequences When a Driver Hits Your Parked Car and Leaves

In Florida, a driver must stop, make reasonable efforts to locate the vehicle owner, and leave a note if the owner cannot be found. Leaving without doing so is a hit‑and‑run offense. Penalties can include fines, license suspension, and even jail depending on the severity of damage.

Do I Need an Attorney for a Parked Car Accident?

You may want legal help if:

• The driver fled and you need assistance securing camera footage or witness statements.
• The insurer disputes fault or coverage (collision vs. uninsured motorist).
• Your damages are significant, you are claiming diminished value, or you suffered injuries.
• You need help navigating deadlines or dealing with insurance company delays.

Miami Car Accident Lawyers for Parked Car Accidents

Our experienced car accident attorneys represent victims throughout Florida to help them get the compensation they deserve. If you’ve been hurt or sustained property damage due to a parked car accident, contact us today for a free consultation regarding your claim. We can fight for justice and ensure the responsible party is held accountable.

Frequently Asked Questions