MY BODY SHOP

It still surprises me how often this happens: someone hits a parked car in Michigan, and then just drives off without leaving a note or any contact information.

Unfortunately, it raises the question of what exactly you should do if this scenario occurs.

Someone hit my parked car, what do I do?

If someone hit your parked car in Michigan it is very important to call the police to report the accident and document the damage to your vehicle. If possible, get the at-fault driver’s name, address, e-mail, phone and auto insurance information. Use your cell phone to take pictures of the positioning of the vehicles as well as the vehicle damage. Make sure to take at least one picture of the vehicle’s license plate.

Someone hit my parked car and left, now what?

If someone hit your parked car and left, you will have to file a claim with your own insurance carrier. Depending on your policy, you may or may not have to pay the deductible.

Someone hit my parked car and left a note, now what?

If someone hit your parked car and left a note, hopefully they put enough information on it for the police to track down.

What if I was inside of it?

If someone crashed into your parked vehicle in Michigan while you were inside of it and if you were injured, then you can make a claim for No-Fault benefits to cover your medical bills and lost wages. You may also be able to sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering compensation and “excess” medical expenses and wage loss. To pay for any vehicle damage repair costs, you could sue the at-fault driver for up to $3,000 by filing a Michigan mini tort lawsuit or you could file a claim with your auto insurance company under your collision coverage.

Because you were inside of your vehicle when someone crashed into it and you were injured, your vehicle damage will not be covered by the at-fault driver’s “property protection insurance.” That only applies when a vehicle is unoccupied.

Do I have to pay a deductible?

If someone hit your parked, unoccupied car in Michigan, you will not have to pay a deductible if you file a vehicle damage claim through the driver’s “property protection insurance” coverage. However, if you make a claim through your own collision coverage, then the terms of your policy will determine whether you must pay a deductible.

Best case scenario, the driver will provide you his or her auto insurance information at the scene in the parking lot. Alternatively, the information may be provided if the driver leaves a note and/or files his or her own police report.

But if you do not know the identity of the other driver because he or she left the scene, then your only potential source of insurance coverage for the cost of repairing your vehicle damage is your own collision insurance – which may involve a deductible, depending on the type of coverage you purchased.

Someone hit my parked car will my insurance go up?

If someone hit your parked car in Michigan your auto insurance premiums could go up – even if you were 100% not at-fault. Michigan law does not prevent insurance companies from increasing their rates based on their insureds being involved in a non-at-fault vehicle crash.

Someone hit my parked car and I have no insurance, now what?

If someone hit your parked car in Michigan and you do not have insurance but you know the identity of the driver who crashed into your unoccupied vehicle then you can file a claim for “property protection insurance” benefits with his or her insurer. However, if the driver left, then you will have to pay out of pocket for your vehicle damage.