What to do if my parked car was hit by a man driving a rental car?
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What to do if my parked car was hit by a man driving a rental car?
He left a note with a phone number and promised to have the rental company’s insurer pay for the damage. However, it has been weeks and I seem to be getting the runaround. What are my rights? How do I proceed to get payment? Should I report the accident to the police?
Asked on October 22, 2012 under Accident Law, Washington
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You could try reporting it to the police, but it may be too late--I don't believe you can file an accident report weeks later. You could also send a demand letter to the rental car company requesting payment for the damage their driver did, and/or contact the man himself to seek payment. If neither will pay voluntarily, you would next need to file a lawsuit (including potentially in small claims court, where you could act as your own attorney) to recover the money. If you sue, you should sue both, to increase you odds of having at least one of them pay you.
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