Hit-and-Run on Your Parked Car in Santa Clara: Next Steps

Document first

Photograph the damage, any paint transfer and the surroundings. Note the time you parked and when you found it.

Look for witnesses and cameras

Check for notes under wipers, nearby businesses with cameras and neighbors who might have seen it.

Police report

Ask police how to file a report. Insurers may require one for uninsured driver claims.

Insurance

Collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage may apply. Ask your insurer.

Repair

Paint transfer on the damaged area can help identify the vehicle. Keep it until the claim is handled. A shop can document it in the estimate.

What a police report adds

A report records the date, the location and the damage, and it can document paint transfer. Insurers often require one before paying a hit-and-run claim under uninsured motorist property damage coverage. It also gives you a record if you later learn who hit you.

Be specific. Describe where you parked, when you left and what you found. Photograph the area.

Which coverage may apply

Collision coverage pays for damage from a collision regardless of fault, less your deductible. Some policies include uninsured motorist property damage coverage, which can pay for damage caused by an unidentified driver, sometimes with a lower deductible. The rules vary by policy.

Call your insurer and ask. Get a free estimate first, so you know whether the repair costs more than the deductible. If it costs less, paying directly may be simpler.