According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the frequency of occurrence of parked car related accidents is at least one in five all across in U.S., it means that there are around 50,000 car crashes every year and it is found out that there were 6,000 people were injured in parked car related accidents in same time frame.
Most of parked car accidents are unintentional, factors contributing for it to occur such as populated car lots, tight parking spaces, and obstructed vision can make a parked car accident to occur but that doesn’t mean when no one saw that accident, driver at-fault could flee freely. That’s when the at-fault driver could make an offense for himself even if nobody was harmed.
Here are some steps, when stumbled upon hitting a parked car in lots, to protect the driver from the fault he/she made:
- Remain in the with the car you’ve hit calmly
We all know that car accidents, even in the slightest degree, are stressful occurrences and people may tend to panic and easily get emotional and most of them swiftly get away from the scene if they get the chance to do so. In contrary to most practice, staying with the hatted car lightens one’s burden as well as the gravity of your offense as the notion suggests that you are willing to fix your mistake and take the liability.
- Try to find the Owner
If you really want to make up or pay direct compensation to settle it personally before it might end up involving lawyers and authorities, finding the owner of the car would be right choice.
- Document the Scene
It is imperative to all types of car accident to take picture or video on the scene, specifically on apparent damage, location, cars’ information, and positioning of the cars involved as a solid proof for a proper construction of a police report as well as a good determinant who is at fault.
- Look for Witnesses
Similar to documentation, witnesses are reliable source of truth as they can describe the damage on vehicles involved, how did it happened, and what actions did the at-fault took after crashing to one’s car. A witness statements can be used against the at-fault as well as to the victim too.
What if the owner is not present?
If you have been looking for the owner for a hefty amount of time and made rigorous effort and attempt to find one and still no findings, try to leave a note. That note should contain the whole explanation of the note, your name and your car details, home and work number or even email if applicable for the owner of the car being hit to reach you out and meet up for negotiation, time and date of the accident, as well as your address. If you’ve been driving a rented car or someone’s car, then you should include the name and address of the real owner of the car or where you have rented it.
Contact your Injury Lawyer
If ever one of your family members or closest friend has been involved in an accident who have sustained either minor or significant injuries and even a possible disability because of the driver that has shown apparent negligence and recklessness and caused an accident, you can always refer help from a professional experienced injury lawyer to smoothen things out as your hired lawyers can help you decide from their factual and legal advices.
Ryan Injury Lawyers is an Ohio based injury lawyer that represents victims of personal injury caused by car accidents, medical malpractice due to medical professional’s negligence, and even wrongful death against large companies, agencies and even individuals. We have 40 years of experience doing our service in this field and evidently successful with our civil litigations. Call our office now for free legal consultation.