Parking lot accidents: what to do if you hit a parked car or find yours damaged
Steps for both sides of a parking lot crash, and the 24 hour deadline to know
Parking lot crashes are often slow and small. That can make them feel like they do not count. But the law still applies, and what you do in the first day matters.
There are two sides to a parking lot crash. You may be the driver who hit a parked car. Or you may come back to find your own car damaged. This guide covers both.
Parking lot crashes are common
The National Safety Council has said more than 50,000 crashes a year happen in parking lots and garages. It reported more than 500 deaths and more than 60,000 injuries each year [1]. These figures come from 2016, and no newer national count was found.
If you hit a parked car
Hitting a parked car brings a clear legal duty, even on private property. California, for example, requires you to stop. You must find the owner or leave a note. The note must give your name and address, the owner’s name and address if different, and what happened. You must also tell the police without unnecessary delay [3]. Maryland’s law works the same way [4].
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Stop. Do not leave, even if you see no damage.
- Look for the owner. Ask the store to page them.
- Leave a note with your name, address and phone, the car owner’s name, and what happened.
- Take a photo of the note on the car.
- Report it to police. Use the non emergency line or file online, and write down the report number.
- Tell your insurer.
- Check your state’s crash report rules. California’s SR 1 report also applies to crashes on private property [5].
If you find your car damaged
If someone hit your car and left, act fast. Some uninsured motorist coverage for hit and run claims depends on a police report within 24 hours. California courts have enforced a 24 hour report rule for these claims [6]. New York’s rule asks for a report within 24 hours, or as soon as reasonably possible [7]. Many states also require that the other vehicle actually touched yours.
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Check for a note.
- Photograph the damage, the parking space and the lot.
- Look for witnesses and anyone still nearby.
- Ask the business or lot owner which cameras cover the area. Ask them to save the clip today.
- Report it to police the same day, especially if you may use uninsured motorist coverage.
- Call your insurer. Ask whether collision or uninsured motorist property damage coverage applies.
- Check whether your dash cam or your car’s own camera recorded it.
Do not wait until the weekend. A late report can cost you coverage you paid for. Business video can be recorded over too. In one court case, it was gone after 30 days [8]. If your own camera caught it, learn how to save your dashcam video before it is overwritten.
Police may not come to the lot
In many cities, police will not come to a private lot when no one is hurt. That is okay. You can still report it. Use the police non emergency line or the online report system. Call 911 only if someone is hurt or in danger.
To help prevent the next one, read our guide to parking lot, driveway and backing safety.
Questions to ask your insurer
Question checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Does my policy need a police report within a set time for a hit and run claim?
- Does my uninsured motorist coverage pay for damage to my car, or only for injuries?
- Would collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage cost me less here?
- What deductible applies to each one?
- Do you need photos or video before I get repairs?
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to leave a note if I hit a parked car?
If you cannot find the owner, yes, in many states. California requires a note with your name, address and what happened, plus a report to police [3]. Check the rules in your state.
Do police come to parking lot crashes?
Often not, if no one is hurt and the lot is private. You can still file a report by phone or online. Do it the same day.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
If you hit a parked car, stop, find the owner or leave a note, and report it. If your car was hit, report it to police the same day and ask for camera video right away. In a parking lot, the clock starts sooner than most people think.
Related articles
- When the other driver flees the crash scene
- Personal dash cameras: how to choose, mount and set one up the right way
- Making sense of your insurance coverage after a serious car crash
- What to do after a minor car accident, even with no visible damage
- What if the other driver refuses to cooperate after an accident?
Sources and further reading
- 1National Safety Council, via PR Newswire. 2 out of 3 drivers may be distracted while driving in parking lots. 2016. prnewswire.com/…/2-out-of-3-drivers-may-be-d…
- 2The Christian Science Monitor. Report on an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety survey of claim centers. December 1991. csmonitor.com/1991/1213/13085.html
- 3California Vehicle Code, section 20002. law.justia.com/…/20002
- 4Maryland Code, Transportation, section 20-105. law.justia.com/…/section-20-105
- 5California report of traffic accident (SR 1) instructions. formsworkflow.com/…/117777-california-report-of…
- 6Claims Journal. California court enforces 24 hour report rule in hit and run uninsured motorist claim. August 2014. claimsjournal.com/…/253841.htm
- 7New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division. 2013 decision on the hit and run report requirement. nycourts.gov/…/2013_07976.htm
- 8Marshall Dennehey. Rule of thumb vs. rule of law: preservation of video surveillance and spoliation. marshalldennehey.com/…/rule-thumb-vs-rule-law-pres…
This article reflects the safety priorities of crash response and protecting your insurance coverage. It offers general education, not medical, legal or insurance advice. Laws and policies differ by state, so check official sources where the crash happened. Reviewed November 2026.
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