Someone smashed my parked car - deal with insurance or call the cops?

Yeah, I used to just shrug off little scrapes, too. Then one time, the other driver totally changed their story when insurance called. Now I’m all about the “pics or it didn’t happen” approach. It’s a pain, but future-you will thank you.

Now I’m all about the “pics or it didn’t happen” approach. It’s a pain, but future-you will thank you.

That’s honestly the best advice. I had a minor fender bender in a parking lot last year, figured it was no big deal, and didn’t bother with photos. The other driver later claimed way more damage than what actually happened. Insurance was a nightmare to sort out. Ever since, I document everything, even if it feels excessive. It’s just not worth the risk anymore.

Ever since, I document everything, even if it feels excessive. It’s just not worth the risk anymore.

Totally get that. Last summer, someone sideswiped my car while I was on a road trip - didn’t leave a note or anything. I snapped a bunch of photos, including the parking lot layout and nearby cars. When insurance asked for details, having all those pics made things way smoother. It felt like overkill at the time, but honestly, it saved me a ton of hassle later. Now I always do a quick photo sweep, even for tiny scrapes.

Can’t blame you for being thorough. I’ve had a couple of close calls with my old Mustang - one time, someone dinged the door and just took off. Ever since, I do the same: photos from every angle, jot down the time, even if it feels like overkill. It’s a pain, but when you’re dealing with insurance or the police, every little detail helps. Better safe than sorry, especially with cars you care about.

I totally get where you’re coming from. It might feel like overkill to document every little thing, but honestly, it’s probably the smartest move. I’m still pretty new to driving, and my instructor keeps drilling into us that you can never be too careful - especially when it comes to stuff like accidents or even minor scrapes. It’s wild how quickly things can go sideways, and then you’re left trying to remember details you didn’t think would matter.

I’ve heard stories from friends who didn’t take photos or write down the time, and then when they tried to file a claim, it turned into this whole mess. Insurance companies seem to want proof for everything, and if you don’t have it, you’re kind of stuck. I guess it’s one of those things where being “paranoid” actually pays off in the long run.

That said, sometimes I wonder if there’s a line between being thorough and just making yourself anxious. Like, is it really necessary to take a picture every single time you park? Or is that just feeding into the worry? I haven’t figured that out yet. But after reading your post, I’m leaning toward being extra careful, at least until I get more comfortable.

It’s frustrating that people can just hit your car and leave without any consequences. Makes you feel like you have to be your own detective. Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience - it makes me feel a bit less weird about wanting to keep track of everything. Maybe it’s not overkill after all... just being smart about protecting what matters to you.