Auto Insurance Claims: door scratched at car park, underground carpark, car insurance company

Question
Dear sir,

This is what happened in full...

I parked my car overnight at the secure underground carpark in my apartment, the space I parked in was one of the 8 visitor car spaces on the same level, only because the car space dedicated to my unit was occupied by my friend's car at that night. The next morning I went back to my car then I saw the red color scratch (about 5cm long and was deep in like a dent) on my driver side door. I am confident that the scratch was caused by the red car parked next to mine that night, this car space is dedicated to one of units in the apartment and I knew this red car has been parking at that space all the time.

I had a look at that red car the next day and could see the paint at the edge of its passenger door was gone. The size of that spot was not big but I can tell this is how they opened the door and hit at my driver's door and caused the red paint to stick on mine.

I have already approached the owner of that car and he, as expected, did not admit it was his fault. My questions are if I lodge a claim to this case, how likely will it be successful and how would the car insurance company investigate into this, will they actually check on his car to match the paint and see if the scratch was caused by it?

If in the end, he still denies of his fault and the claim was not successful, will I be liable to any excess/fee?

Many thanks,
Tanja

Answer
Hi Tanja,

You should take a digital camera the next time you see the red car is parked there. Take seeral photos of the red car and the area where the red paint is scratched off. Also take a few photos of your car and the red paint on your car. Then you can try to make a claim to his insurance company. The insurance company should send a damage estimator/surveyor who will inspect the vehicles and also take photos. The insurance adjuster will also take a statement from the oowner of the other car and then they will make a liability decision.

Unfortunately, the fact that neither you nor anyone else actually saw this incident happen. So it is possible that they will deny liability because you can not prove that the other car actually hit yours. They may claim that any other red car may have hit yours. But it is worth giving it a shot. Even if they deny the claim there will be no charges assessed against you.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh