What To Do If You Hit A Parked Car: 7 Key Steps (Apr 2025)

Steps to Take After Hitting a Parked Car

So what happens if you hit a car and leave? Depending on your state, you could face criminal charges for leaving the scene of an accident. The consequences of a conviction could include incarceration, a fine, and driver’s license suspension. Thus, knowing what to do if you hit a parked car is essential for safeguarding your rights.

Generally, you’ll want to take these key steps:

• Wait for the owner for as long as you can
• Leave a note with your contact information and insurance policy number
• Look for witnesses to corroborate what happened
• Take pictures of any property damage
• If there’s significant property damage, notify the police
• Contact your insurer
• Hire a car accident lawyer

It’s important not to wait too long to contact the police because there are timelines you have to follow. How long do you have to report an accident? It can vary from state to state, but the average is about 10 days.

Also important to note is that leaving after hitting a parked car could result in serious injuries or even deaths. The collision could injure anyone sitting or sleeping in the car you hit. Your own passengers might also suffer injuries. By leaving the scene, you might delay necessary medical care for all parties involved.

Your obligations after hitting a parked car depend on the following two factors:

• Was the car occupied?
• Was anyone injured or killed?

Generally, the driver has greater responsibilities and faces stricter punishment if the collision causes injury or death.

What to Do if You Hit a Parked Car and Injure Someone

If someone gets injured other than the driver, the law usually imposes the same requirements whether the car is moving or parked. Specifically, most states require drivers to:

• Stop at the scene
• Render assistance to those injured
• Exchange insurance information
• Report the accident to the police
• Remain at the scene until satisfying all these steps

In many states, these obligations apply even if the injured person is in the driver’s vehicle. For example, if a passenger gets injured in a collision with a parked vehicle, the driver must stop and call the police - otherwise, the passenger may have stronger grounds to sue for their injuries. Trying to drive the passenger to the hospital might violate at least some states’ laws.

What to Do if You Hit a Parked Car and Can’t Find the Owner

Drivers must also take steps to comply with the law after hitting unattended cars. Even if there are no injuries and no damage to the car, the driver must stop at the accident scene. Knowing what to do if you hit a car in a parking lot in these circumstances can save you from potential criminal charges.

In general, if you hit a parked car, you should always leave a note and notify the local police. Additionally, states may also require you to try to find the owner.

Some states, like Virginia, modify a driver’s duties if they suffered an injury in the collision. In this scenario, a driver is only required to make the required notifications “as soon as reasonably possible.” An uninjured passenger might also be required to notify the police if the driver cannot or will not do so.

What to Do if the Parked Car You Hit Is Illegally Parked

Although the car was illegally parked, you can still be at fault for the collision because drivers are expected to see any parked vehicles and do everything possible to prevent an accident.

Some states, however, have comparative negligence laws that allow a few parties to be responsible for an accident. These laws decrease their winnings based on the degree of fault they’re assigned.

In either case, you’ll want to follow the same general steps as you would if you’d hit a legally parked vehicle.

What to Write in a Note if You Hit a Parked Car

After car accidents, involved drivers generally exchange contact and insurance information. So when you leave a note at the scene of the accident, you should include the same information you would give the other driver if they were present.

Generally speaking, the note you leave should include the following:

• A brief explanation of what happened
• Your name
• Your contact information
• Your car insurance policy information

You should also be familiar with any other requirements your state may have. For instance, some states require you to immediately report these accidents (no matter how minor).

What Happens if You Hit a Parked Car and Leave the Scene?

If you hit a parked car and no one is around, you might be tempted to just drive off. However, this is a bad idea for a number of reasons. For one, it might look like no one is around — but there could be one or more witnesses you simply didn’t notice. You also may have been caught on surveillance cameras.

Leaving the scene isn’t just unfair to the other car’s owner — it’s also a crime in many jurisdictions. If you’re caught, you may face fines, jail time and even license suspension. Sometimes drivers don’t realize they’ve hit a parked car until later, but discovering the accident after the fact doesn’t eliminate legal responsibility. You’re still required to report it - and the other driver might hire a hit and run lawyer and pursue a lawsuit against you if you don’t.

You might be embarrassed or worried about the other driver’s reaction if you hit a parked car. However, the other driver’s reaction — and the penalties you face — are likely to be far worse if you drive off without taking responsibility.

The Role of Insurance

Property damage liability insurance is another key consideration in these accidents. Every state except New Hampshire requires such insurance. This coverage pays a vehicle owner for the damage you caused. This means your insurance company will probably handle any claims against you for hitting a parked car.

If you bought collision coverage in your auto insurance policy, it should cover the damage to your vehicle. Insurers pay benefits under collision coverage regardless of fault.

On the other hand, suppose your car was hit in a parking lot. You have several options, depending on the other driver’s insurance status. If the driver fails to leave a note, your insurer can consider them an uninsured driver, allowing you to file a claim under your uninsured motorist coverage.In these situations, it’s important to document the scene thoroughly, file a police report, and notify your insurer - especially if the other driver left without taking responsibility, as this may qualify as a hit-and-run under many state laws. Likewise, if the driver left a note but has no insurance, you can file an uninsured motorist claim.

If the other driver has insurance, you can file a claim under their property damage liability coverage. A lawyer can also file a car accident lawsuit against the other driver.

Effects of Hitting a Parked Car on Your License

If you live in one of the many states with driver’s license point systems, you might wonder how many points for hitting a parked car will be added to your license.

Hitting a parked car might not be as severe as causing an accident that resulted in some of the worst car crash injuries possible, but if you’ve already accumulated many points, you could be just a minor infraction away from suspension.

So how many points for hitting a parked car? That depends on the state and the severity of the crash, but you can have up to six points added to your record. Depending on your state’s laws, you may be able to attend a class or driver education course to remove some of the points from your license.

Should You Contact an Attorney After Hitting a Parked Car?

You may be able to resolve a minor collision with a parked car without needing to get lawyers involved. If the other person is looking for a car accident settlement, though, they might file a lawsuit against you. That typically means you need a lawyer.

Although it can be frustrating to have to worry about paying car accident lawyer fees, it’s always better to have experienced representation on your side so that you don’t get overwhelmed by the legal process or the other party’s counsel.

ConsumerShield Can Help After a Collision With a Parked Car

If you hit a parked car, it’s important to take steps to protect your rights. A criminal defense lawyer can help you tell your side of the story and, in some cases, negotiate a just resolution of your case.

If your vehicle was hit, you deserve fair compensation for your losses. Auto lawyers can help you track down the driver and pursue an insurance claim or car accident lawsuit against them.

ConsumerShield has extensive experience helping people find the lawyer they need. Contact us for a free case review and an attorney referral today.