After someone hits your parked car in Atlanta, you have opportunities for collecting compensation.
Before that point, though, there are things that will be important for you to do. These include taking photos of the damage to your car and searching for other cars in the area with damage that matches yours. Read on for more information.
You Have Options After Finding Damage to Your Parked Vehicle
Upon finding a scrape, dent, or significant damage to the exterior of your car, you might not know what to do. However, there are some things to keep in mind and our Atlanta Car Accident Attorney can help you.
Look for a Note Left by the Responsible Party
Sometimes, the negligent driver will leave a note with contact information. This can allow you to get this person’s insurance number and name. You can then discuss filing an insurance claim. The other driver might push for you to get your car repaired and then let them pay for the damage out of pocket.
This is not advisable, as a claim will provide you documentation if you decide to file a lawsuit against the responsible driver.
Check Vehicles Nearby for Damage
Other cars might have also been hit by the same driver. Their cars might have a note on their windshield if there is not one on yours. You can also check the scratches on your car to see what color the negligent driver’s vehicle is. Their car might still be in the parking lot.
For instance, if you have a silver car and notice blue paint in the scratches, you can look around for a blue car with damage to it that corresponds to the damage on your car. You could leave a note on this vehicle with your phone number.
You Can Report the Incident
You could contact the non-emergency police line to report a suspected hit-and-run and give them the other car’s description and plates (if you saw the vehicle or found it in the parking lot).
Another option is to inform any relevant authorities. This could be relevant if your car was parked on a commercial or residential property. You could file a report with the company that owns the parking lot or even request security footage from the exterior of the building or cameras in the lot.
Damages You Could Collect in Your Atlanta Parked Car Accident Case
Depending on the severity of your accident, you could have a lot of related costs to deal with—now and in the future. You might be suffering:
- Property damage or vehicle replacement
- Lost wages (if you had to take time off to deal with the collision)
- Medical bills (if you were sitting in your parked car at the time of the collision)
- Pain and suffering
Retain Legal Help to Handle the Case and Your Pursuit of Damages
OCGA §40-6-273 states that if a driver hits a car and causes damage worth $500 or more, they are legally obligated to stop and report the accident. OCGA §40-6-270 enforces the obligation of a responsible driver to leave their information with the owner of the car they hit. If a driver violated these statutes, they could face penalties. Criminal cases do not affect civil cases, either.
They could also be liable for your vehicle damage. You can pursue a compensatory award via an insurance claim or lawsuit, as Georgia is a fault state. This means you can pursue a claim from the at-fault party and not have to turn to your own policy first.
How a Lawyer from Our Team Can Help You
A lawyer from our team can help you by taking on your entire case for you. We can do the following:
- Analyze your losses and give you a case value
- Negotiate with the insurance company
- Stand with you in court
- Fill out paperwork
- Answer your questions
- Protect your rights
- Search for evidence that supports your testimony
- And more
Things Not to Do After Someone Hits Your Parked Car in Atlanta
We do not recommend waiting to speak to the vehicle’s owner after they return to the car. This is because the interaction could turn tense and violent. You can protect your safety by reporting the accident and retaining a lawyer from our team who can pursue compensation from the negligent driver.
Do not discuss the accident with family and friends or post about the collision on social media. This is because the insurance company may hunt for proof that your claims are invalid. Do not give them this opportunity by making statements that could be taken out of context.
Kaine Law is Ready to Take on Your Case
Call our team today for a free consultation at (404) 214-2001. You will not have to pay us upfront to start working on your case, either. We want to protect Georgians like yourself that have been victimized by other drivers’ carelessness.
You could collect compensation to cover your accident-related losses.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
