We explain what parking damage is and how to proceed depending on whether we caused it or were the injured party.

Parking damage – basic information

The term parking damage usually refers to an incident that occurs while one of the vehicles is parked. The most common examples of parking damage include scratching a vehicle, a broken wing mirror, a damaged bumper or fender, a cracked headlight, or even a damaged wheel rim or punctured tyre.

Parking damage is usually caused by distraction, recklessness or a driver’s incorrect assessment of the situation. It may occur when, while leaving a parking space, we fail to notice someone else’s car or misjudge the amount of free space between vehicles and scratch one of them while parking. Parking damage may also be caused by vandalism – that is, when someone deliberately damages our vehicle.

What to do when parking damage occurs?

The most important rule: if you caused the parking damage, never leave the scene. There is a high probability that witnesses saw you or that the entire situation was captured by surveillance cameras. Therefore, if you decide to drive away from the car park after damaging someone’s car, this may be viewed negatively by the insurer, the police or the injured party.

If you caused damage to someone else’s vehicle, you have two options:

  • if the owner of the damaged car is not nearby and you cannot remain in the car park any longer while waiting for their return, leave a note under the windscreen wiper with your details and telephone number. When the injured party contacts you, you can explain how the damage occurred and propose that the costs be covered under your third-party liability insurance;
  • if the car owner is present, you should complete a road-collision statement with them. Information on how to fill it in correctly can be found on the insurance comparison website Ocenapolis.pl.

When we are responsible for the accident, the injured party may be willing to settle the matter amicably. Usually, in such a situation, we give them a specified amount towards repairing the car. If the injured party does not agree to this, we must provide our third-party liability policy number. This way, our insurance company will cover the car repair costs.

Parking damage and the type of perpetrator

Parking damage can also occur when we become the injured party. How should we proceed when the person responsible is present at the scene? This situation is more favourable for you because, knowing who caused the damage, you can complete a collision statement and then report the damage under their third-party liability insurance. If their fault is obvious but they still refuse to admit it, the only appropriate solution is to call the police, who will establish how the incident occurred and resolve the dispute.

Unknown perpetrator

It is worth knowing how to proceed if our car is damaged in a car park but the person responsible has fled the scene or is unaware that they caused the damage. In this situation, the police should be called. If there is surveillance at the car park, it should be possible to quickly establish who caused the damage to your vehicle. It is also worth looking for any witnesses to the incident, who may prove very helpful in such a situation.

If the person responsible can be identified, you will be able to report the damage to their insurer. It is worth remembering that once you receive compensation, the perpetrator will have to reimburse the insurance company because they fled the scene.

Parking damage may also be settled under comprehensive motor insurance (AC). Unlike third-party liability insurance, having it is not mandatory, but it can prove very useful.