Auto Insurance Claims: liability, parking lot incident


Question
Someone accidentally lets their shopping cart hit
your vehicle.  The innocent driver of the vehicle,
that is hit, is not in the area at the time.
The person leaves no note about insurance.
They just leave the area.  If the owner
of the vehicle has the license number or the name
of the person that did this...is this person liable
to contact their insurance to pay for this?..is this
considered a hit and run?..is this collision or
comprehensive coverage to the innocent driver who
wasn't there and has to have it paid by their own
insurance?
Thank you for your time.

Answer
J,

  It would be considered a hit and run, and the victim would generally use comprehensive coverage.  Technically, this type of claim could be considered collision or comprehensive.  There is no law that forces a person to give up insurance information after an accident on private property where no law enforcement officer is present.

  The problem with pursuing the hit and run individual is that you need to be able to identify the party driving to get any criminal charges to stick.  Otherwise, the best you can do with plates is possibly sue in small claims court for damages, then hope the other party finds the judgment compelling enough to pay you.

I hope this helps!

Justin