Carrying car insurance in Texas pays for accidents under certain conditions, but not necessarily always. Part of it has to do with who was at fault, which can be complicated if you lack sufficient evidence. A parking lot accident is one such event that may require more than just a coverage in place to qualify you for recovering losses from your insurer.
About 20% of all car accidents across the country occur in parking lots. Distracted driving, limited visibility while backing into the parking space, or speeding are reasons why your parking lot may not be ‘not the safest’ of all driving spaces.
Here's a look at different scenarios involving parked cars and how far insurance will cover them.
For your car insurance to cover an accident that occurs while your car is parked on the street, you need to prove the collision was the other driver's fault. In many cases, it may be difficult to prove unless there were witnesses or a video of the incident.
If you cannot prove who was at fault, your insurer might still cover the damage under an uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) plan. You are not mandatorily required to carry UMPD insurance in Texas. Though the state law requires car insurance companies to provide UMPD coverage worth $25000, you can still reject it. Instead, you can opt for collision coverage to pay for the damage. Nonetheless, if you lack either type of coverage or proof of fault, you could be paying for the damage out of your pocket.
If you see a driver hit your parked car, remain at the scene and don't move your car until you file a police report. Take photos of the damage to your vehicle as well as the vehicle of the at-fault driver. If the driver stays at the scene, try to exchange contact information.
Leaving the scene of a hit-and-run accident is a crime, as it should be reported to the police to file a report. Try to provide as much information as possible about the getaway car to the officer. Sometimes people leave a note with their contact information on the windshield when they accidentally hit a parked car. Ask people in the vicinity if they witnessed the crash.
Let's say you accidentally hit a parked car, then what? It's important to remain at the scene to avoid being charged with a hit-and-run crime. If the owner of the damaged vehicle doesn't show up, leave a note on the car with your contact and insurance information, along with an explanation of the incident. Then report the incident to your insurance agent.
If you are able to collect information about the at-fault driver's insurance company, you may not see a hike in your insurance rate. Nonetheless, if your auto insurance provider pays for the damage, it could increase your rate.
We know that accidents can never be predicted, so we help you stay prepared for the worst. From reckless drivers to inexperienced teens, Texas drivers have a lot to worry about and parking lot accidents needn’t be one of them. At Reata Insurance Group, our personalized policies will cover you and your prized vehicle in the event of an parking lot mishap. Contact our experts today to get started on cost-effective car insurance in Texas.
