What to Do if Someone Hits Your Parked Car and Leaves in Texas?

The road is not the only place that is dangerous for cars: parking lots, car parks, and roadside parking can all be potentially dangerous. It can be frustrating to go to your parked car to find that there’s been a hit-and-run. Having to deal with the aftermath of damage to your car is only made worse when the person who caused it is nowhere to be found and left with no contact information. You want to know what steps to take if your car is ever damaged when you’re not around.

What You Should Do When Your parked Car Is Hit

If you witness the accident, it’s important to get contact and insurance information from the other driver. Hopefully, the person who caused the damage left a note if they’re no longer there. Unfortunately, there are many times when someone hits your car and leaves. There are still things you can do to receive compensation.

1. Take Photos and Search for Evidence: It’s important to remain calm and document the situation. Take photos of the car and the damage to it from many angles. Look to see if anyone around may have witnessed the accident. If you were in the parked car, take pictures of injuries you may have sustained. Depending on your location, there may even be security cameras. Photos, witnesses, and security footage are necessary evidence to find the driver at fault and provide information to insurance companies and a car accident attorney.
2. Get Medical Attention: If you were injured in an accident, it’s essential to receive medical care. Some injuries in car accidents aren’t apparent at first. Catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain damage can have a delayed impact.
3. File a Police Report: Whether the other driver is present or you happen upon your abandoned and damaged car, you should contact the police. An official accident report is important evidence for insurance claims and can help you significantly when claiming compensation.
4. File with an Insurance Provider: Once you are able, contact an insurance company. If you can file with the at-fault driver’s insurance, you should. However, if you have no information about them and they left no contact information, you will likely need to file with your own insurance provider. Determine whether filing with them is worth it. If your car doesn’t have significant damage, you may prefer to pay for the repair out-of-pocket. You may also be able to file under the uninsured driver policy, which covers unknown drivers.
5. Contact an Attorney: When you work with a Houston car accident attorney, you’re more likely to receive coverage for the accident. Your attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to locate the driver and may have the resources to access security footage and other information. An attorney will be well-equipped to protect your rights and help hold at-fault parties responsible. If the at-fault driver can’t be found, a car accident attorney will help you pursue other means of gaining compensation.

What Should I Do If I Hit a Parked Car?

If you hit a parked car, it’s important that you try to stay where you are. Find the owner of the vehicle if possible. If you have to, leave a note. Texas requires that this note includes your name, address, phone number, insurance provider information, and a description of the situation. The owner of the car will use this to file a claim with your insurance provider to cover the damage. Though you may worry about insurance premium changes, this is preferable to criminal charges for committing a hit-and-run.

If you hit a parked car, cause significant damage, and leave the scene willfully without providing that information, you could be charged with a misdemeanor. If no one was injured, but damage totaling less than $200 was caused, you could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. This may lead to a $500 fine. If the damage was more than $200, you would face a Class B misdemeanor, which could lead to six months in county jail and/or a fine of $2,000.

FAQs About Texas Parked Car Hit and Run Law

What Happens if You Hit a Parked Car and Leave in Texas?

Hitting a car, causing damage, and failing to leave contact information is considered a hit-and-run. Depending on the situation, a hit-and-run may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Felonies include situations where someone was seriously injured or killed. If you hit an unoccupied parked car and the damage was more than $200, you could face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,000 if convicted.

What Do You Do if Someone Hits Your Parked Car in Texas?

It’s important to document the situation and take pictures of the damage to your car. See if anyone witnessed the accident, and call the police. An accident report is essential to insurance claims, no matter how minor the damage is. If the driver who hit your car is still on the scene, be sure to get contact information and insurance information and take pictures of their car and license plate. If the driver isn’t present, check your car for a note with their contact information.

Can You Claim if Someone Hits Your Car in a Car Park?

If you know who the at-fault driver is, you can file a claim against them. Hitting a parked car is negligent behavior, and you can receive compensation for any damages to your property. If your parked car was hit by another driver, talk with a car accident attorney to see if your specific circumstances allow you to file for damages.

What Happens if Someone Hits Your Car and Drives Off?

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run, try to take note or document their car or license plate number, if possible. Your priority is to get medical attention and file a police report when you’re able. If the at-fault driver is unable to be found, an attorney can help you determine your next steps for receiving compensation for injuries and property damage.

Stevenson & Murray: Your Car Accident Attorneys

If your parked car was damaged, you want to hire an attorney to protect your interests. It can feel overwhelming if you were a victim of a hit-and-run, but know that there may be steps that an attorney can take to get you the compensation you need. Contact Stevenson & Murray, Attorneys at Law, today to see how we can help find the driver responsible and defend your rights.