No one likes to think about getting in a car accident. But for teenagers, the prospect can be especially scary. According to the CDC, not only are teens more likely to be involved in an accident than any other age group, but they also tend to suffer more serious injuries when they do crash. Unfortunately, this is often due to a combination of factors. These including inexperience behind the wheel and a tendency to take risks. Click here to learn more about what to do in a serious accident.
But even minor fender benders are a scary and unfortunately elevated risk for new teen drivers. These small accidents can happen in the school parking lots, at the grocery store, or even in a friend’s driveway. In this article we are going to take a look at what to do if you hit a parked car, what to do if your parked car is hit, and what happens if you perform a hit and run on a parked car.
What to do if you hit a parked car
If you’re driving and you hit a parked vehicle, the first thing you should do is stop. If there’s no one around, you may be tempted to just drive away. But that is never the right thing to do. Even if there’s no significant damage, you should still leave a note with your contact information.
Contact information should include:
- Your name
- Phone number
- Insurance information.
If there is significant damage, you should call the police and file a report. In any case, it’s important to be honest and take responsibility for what happened. Just imagine how you would feel if someone hit your car and left you to pay for the repairs. Trying to cover it up or leaving the scene will only make things worse (and potentially get you into legal trouble) in the long run.
What to do if your car is hit while parked
If your car is hit in a parking lot while you’re not around, the first thing you should do is assess the damage. Is it just a minor fender bender? Then there’s no need to panic. If no one is around, look for a note that someone may have left with their information. If you do not see a note you can check whatever businesses are around for cameras to see if you can get a license plate number.
However, if the damage appears to be more significant, you’ll want to contact the police and file a report. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to get in touch with your insurance company and start the claims process. They’ll likely send an adjuster out to inspect the damage. Or send you to a shop and give you an estimate of what it will cost to repair. From there, it’s just a matter of working with your insurance company to get your car back on the road.
If you do go directly through your insurance company it’s good to note that you will have to pay your deductible to get the repairs done. If no information is found on the person who causes the damage you likely will not get reimbursed for your cost. However, if you have the information of the individual your insurance company will try and get your deductible reimbursed.
Click here to learn about car insurance for first time drivers.
Hit and Run Parked Car
If you’ve ever accidentally hit a parked car and driven off, you may have been tempted to just keep going. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? As it turns out, the consequences of a hit and run can be fairly severe.
According to the Kann California Defense Group, “As a misdemeanor, hit and run carries a possible sentence of up to six months in the county jail as well as a fine up to $1,000.00 dollars, or both. Penalties can also include 3 years of probation, restitution for the damage to property as well as 2 points on a California driving record.” That said, you need to think twice before you run from an accident.
Depending on the state you live in, you may be facing fines, jail time, and a suspended license. In addition, your insurance rates are likely to increase significantly. And if you’re caught, you’ll probably have to pay for the damage to the other vehicle out of your own pocket. So next time you’re tempted to flee the scene of an accident, remember that it’s not worth the risk.
Conclusion
No one wants to get in an accident and no one wants to be the victim of a hit and run. We hope you now know what to do if you hit a parked car, what to do if your parked car is hit, and why you should never leave the scene of an accident. Click the link here to learn the 6 things you should make sure your teen driver knows if they are in a car accident.