Parked cars can cause problems

You probably know that poor driving habits can result in a poor driving record, which can negatively affect auto insurance costs. But did you know that parked cars can present problems that can also result in insurance headaches? Here’s how:


•     Risky/illegal parking — Stop only in places that are designated for standing still or parking — you’re less likely to get hit by another vehicle.

•     Hitting parked cars — If you hit a parked car, stop and call the police. It’s not a good idea to just leave a note on the windshield without calling the police. If the note blows away, then it’s just as if you drove off without stopping, which turns a minor encounter into a more serious hit-and-run incident.

•     Hitting an illegally parked car — If you hit an “illegally” parked car, the question typically becomes one of negligence. Generally, when a moving vehicle hits a stationary vehicle, the operator of the moving vehicle is at fault. A person backing up has a duty to make sure that the way is clear. But this issue can get confusing and sometimes a “percentage of fault” may be assigned to each driver. However, because your moving vehicle hit a stationary vehicle you would likely be assigned most, if not all, of the fault.

Call the police and your insurance company

Remember: Always call the police and complete an accident report and be sure to report the incident to your insurance company. Which hopefully is with me :-)

Courtesy: Farmers Friendly Voice, an e-news update from your Farmers agent June 2012