Being in a hit-and-run is a frustrating and tiring situation. Even more so if you have an expensive vehicle and you aren’t sure what to do because the other driver took off. If your Mercedes (or other expensive cars) was hit in a parking lot and the other driver fled the scene, then here are a few tips for what to do.
Even in a parking lot, a vehicle collision can be a serious accident. Depending on the type of vehicle that hits your car and who is responsible, you may have more or less damage and there may be more than one way to recover compensation for the damage that was caused.
Check the Extent of the Damage
If you weren’t in the vehicle when it was damaged, then you likely won’t have any injuries. However, if you were in the vehicle when it was hit, you’ll want to first make sure you are ok. Remember that sometimes injuries can take a few days to manifest and even in a minor collision things like whiplash can be common.
Once you know you are ok the next step is to assess the extent of the damage to your vehicle. Go around the entire vehicle and take pictures if possible of all potential damage related to the crash. This will help build your case for compensation. Depending upon the model and year of your vehicle and the extent of the damage, the costs to repair it may be significant.
You may also want to contact your own insurance company to begin the claims process so that the repairs can be made.
Hire Legal Representation
Once you know how badly your Mercedes has been damaged, the next step is to hire a lawyer to help with your case. Regardless of whether the at-fault party has fled the scene, a lawyer will be able to help you with your case in a number of ways.
For one, a lawyer can help you determine what your case may be worth including all damages like vehicle damage, time away from work, a replacement vehicle, travel expenses, and medical bills if necessary.
A lawyer can also advise you as to the next steps you should take in regards to your case, such as whether to go ahead and file a claim with your personal insurance company, how to go about finding the culprit of the accident and whether any other parties may be held responsible for your accident, up to and including paying for damages to your vehicle.
Gather Evidence
It may feel like you’re out of options if the person flees the scene after an accident, but that isn’t always the case. Most parking lots have security cameras of some kind. A good idea is to try and get the footage to identify the vehicle that hit your car and possibly even the driver.
Some parking lots even have attendants that record every vehicle that enters and leaves and may have important information to help identify and locate the at-fault driver, such as paid parking stubs or other means.
One other thing to consider is whether or not you can get witness testimony if there were other individuals in the parking lot. They may be able to provide additional information beyond security cameras and check-in stations.
All of these steps will help improve the odds that you can make a recovery after your accident. A hit and run is something no one should have to experience, but that doesn’t mean you are out of options.