If you file a claim with your uninsured motorist coverage or collision insurance after someone hits your car while it’s parked, you can expect your insurance to go up.
Even if you are not at-fault for the car accident, most states permit insurers to raise rates to recoup some of the costs of a claim. If you live in California or Oklahoma, the law does not allow insurance companies to raise your insurance rates if you were not at-fault for the accident.
Also, you find that some insurance carriers do not raise rates when a minor claim is involved, a not-at-fault wreck, for instance.
If you identify the motorist who hit your parked car and they carry insurance, you could file a claim with their insurance – the property damage liability component – and this will not impact your insurance rates.
What to Do if Someone Hits My Parked Car
There are three simple steps you should take if you find someone has hit your parked car:
- Call the police
- Document the accident
- Notify your insurance company
Call the police
You will typically require an official accident report when you file a claim with your insurer. You obtain this by calling the police to document the incident and generate this report.
When you request a copy of this accident report, also ask for the name and the badge number of the assisting officer.
Document the accident
Ensure you gather all the following information about the accident and resultant damage:
- Location
- Time of day
- Weather conditions
Take photos and video to help identify the location, any damage to your vehicle and other property, and any tire marks or debris on the road.
Notify your insurance company
As soon as practical after the incident, inform your insurer.
You may be able to initiate a claim and upload documentation online.
If you were driving a company car that sustained damage while parked, you’ll need to contact the insurer of the business in question.
Occasionally, drivers will leave the scene without leaving a note or any contact details after hitting a parked car. This is classified as a hit-and-run. Your insurance company is liable to consider the fleeing driver as uninsured for the purposes of a claim.
This type of insurance claim should be straightforward, so there is no need to retain an accident attorney.
While the claims process might be simple, how about the impact of a claim like this on your insurance?
Will My Insurance Go Up?
Unfortunately, even if a car accident is not your fault, you could still find your insurance rates go up. This will vary from state to state and from insurer to insurer.
There is some good news, though. While data shows the average at-fault accident leads to a 45% increase in insurance rates, a not-at-fault incident typically triggers a rate increase of 12%.
Traditionally, insurance rates go up after not-at-fault accidents due to link between filing a claim now and filing future claims.
Bottom line, not-at-fault accidents can still cost insurance companies money. If this occurs, expect the insurer to pass on some of these costs in the form of a rate increase.
In all states other than California or Oklahoma expect someone hitting your parked car to cause an increase in insurance premiums. The amount of this increase will depend largely on the state and the insurer.
As an example, 2017 data shows that Allstate only increased rates by 4.8% in the event of not-at-fault accidents, Progressive levied more substantial increases of 16.6%, while State Farm did not increase rates after a not-at-fault accident.
At-Fault v No-Fault Laws
In most states in the US, one party is considered at-fault for an accident and must cover the cost of injuries to the other driver and any passengers in that vehicle.
A few states instead utilize the no-fault system of insurance. In these states, you make a claim with your insurer after an accident, even if you were not at-fault. All medical bills will be covered by the PIP (personal injury protection) component of your policy rather than by the insurance policy of the at-fault driver.
In states with the no-fault insurance system, the driver at-fault still pays for all property damage, including any damage to vehicles and parked vehicles. If another driver crashes into your parked car, they will be liable for your damages. They can meet these expenses either out of pocket or with insurance.
No-fault coverage refers explicitly to injuries, then.
Compensation Following a No-Fault Accident
Your insurance may help you recover the costs of repairing damage if someone crashes into your parked car. This will depend upon the specifics of your coverage.
Collision coverage will usually help meet the costs of vehicle repairs or replacement when the vehicle is hit by another car or object, regardless of the at-fault party.
In the event of a hit-and-run where you are unable to locate the other motorist, you could still file a claim with your own insurance under the collision coverage component.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
What is uninsured motorist property damage coverage?
This type of coverage can help meet the cost of repairs when your car is damaged by an insured motorist or a motorist who flees the accident scene. This type of coverage is usually optional, though, and is not available in all states.
If you file a claim with either collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage, you might need to pay a deductible. Beyond this, coverage will also depend on policy limits, the maximum amount your insurer will pay for any covered claim.
[LEARN MORE]: Do Insurance Companies Want To Settle Car Accident Cases Out Of Court?