Someone hit my car - need help

[morningworries]

I took my son to a restaurant chain last weekend & when we came out there was a dent in the back of my car. I looks like someone hit my wheel as they reverse parked.

I spoke to the manager & took photos. He didn’t think the cctv caught the area but told me to phone back. I’ve tried & tried but just get their automated service & can’t get through. They are about an hour away.

There was also one of those car park signs for the company that own it & he suggested I phone them as well. Will try today.

What else should I do? I’m not v good with car stuff. Do I take it to garage & claim on my insurance?

I’m so annoyed. I have ASD and suffer with it at the best of times, and now this.

Could someone help me with this, please?

Contact your insurance. They will advise you

Phone your insurance- they’ll deal with it.

Your insurance company will

Well, I'd always try and see if you can get the details of the other vehicle, but realistically even if there's CCTV the chances of you being able to make out the registration plate on grainy CCTV is pretty low sadly.

Assuming you are fully comp insurance you can still claim, but it may well cost you more in excess and increased premiums over the next few years than just paying for the repairs yourself (or just living with the dent).

Thanks all. Will call insurance company. I’m not getting far with restaurant at all, can’t get through. Ok cool, great.

This happened to me in a restaurant carpark a few months ago, a witness saw it and provided a statement, even took a video of the other car immediately after and photos. You could literally see the woman in her £90,000 Mercedes making her mind up over what to do before driving off. Was left with about £1000 worth of damage. Had CCTV from the carpark too.

Police not remotely interested so I’m afraid even if you to get CCTV I don’t think anything will come of it.

My insurance wanted way more than my excess to cover the repairs so I just ended up covering the cost of the damages myself. It’s really wrong that people get away with it, was an expensive lunch!

I think private car parks are a bit of a grey area in terms of bumps. Those signs usually say that you park there at your own risk and the shop/retail park/pub/leisure centre or whatever the car park is attached to bears no liability for any incidents. So don’t bank on the CCTV.

As others say, you have 2 choices.

1. Pay for the dent in your car to be fixed out of your own pocket.

2. Contact your insurance company and follow their instructions. They will likely pay for the repair (with you paying whatever excess first) and may try to pursue the other driver’s insurer. Be aware that even if they do manage to find the other driver, it could still go down as a ‘knock for knock’ where you both essentially call it quits and go through your own insurer. Any claims may increase your premium when you next renew, unless you have ‘protected no claims’ on your policy.