Should You Report a Door Ding or Dent to the Police?

When it comes to automobile accidents, most people don’t think about the small door dents that occur in parking lots everyday in America.

Many people around the country have had the experience of returning their car and seeing that someone has hit it while opening their door, leaving behind a scratch or dent. Most people tend to overlook this damage because they don’t want the hassle of dealing with police and insurance companies. However, there are certain instances in which contacting both police and insurance providers can be worth it.

Is It Worth the Hassle?

Let’s say that you discover that someone has dinged your parked car with their car door, leaving some damage or a dent on the exterior. If you want your insurance company to cover the cost of repairs, most insurance companies will recommend that you call the police and report the accident, depending on the extent of the damages. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), most people will be required to have a copy of the official accident report if they wish to file a claim with their insurance company.

So if you feel that repairing the damage to your car will be too expensive to cover by yourself, then you should report the door damage to the police. While reporting the incident, be sure to request that police document and file an official accident report for you.

In addition, there are situations when you should not file a claim at all. When you know you don’t have collision coverage, avoid filing for a dent from either minor or major incidents. If the repair cost is less than your deductible, avoid filing and save money by covering it yourself.

What Evidence is Required?

If you choose to report the dent or scratch to the police with the intention of filing a claim with your insurance company to cover the damages, then some evidence will be required by the police. The best kind of evidence in these situations would be security footage of the perpetrator hitting your car with their door. However, the most common type of evidence in these cases are eyewitness accounts to the accident. To build out the accident report, police will ask witnesses questions about the parts of the incident that they observed.

Are There Any Fines or Penalties For Perpetrators?

If you happen to be the culprit behind a dent or scratch left on someone else’s car by a door ding, then there is a chance that you might be subject to some fines or penalties. However, to avoid further punishment, don’t just leave the scene dinging someone’s car. Most states require you to leave a note or wait for the car’s owner. Follow through on one of these actions, or else the accident could potentially be considered a hit-and-run if the person reports it.

Being convicted of a hit-and-run can result in a misdemeanor charge and a large fine. In some states, more severe punishments can be served, such as community service, license suspension, or even possible jail time. Remember, the best choice is to wait for the person or to leave a note with your information on their car. Door dings and dents happen everyday all over the world and they can usually be resolved quickly and easily if both parties are willing to cooperate.