Parking Damage: How to Fill Out an Accident Report

When you cause or discover parking damage, the first steps matter: - Stay calm and assess the situation - If you caused the damage: Stay and wait for the vehicle owner. In Austria, you should wait at least 20–30 minutes. - Photograph the damage on both vehicles from multiple angles - Leave your contact details visibly on the damaged vehicle - If the owner does not appear: Inform the police

The legal situation is clear: Leaving after causing parking damage without waiting a reasonable time and without informing the police constitutes hit-and-run (§ 4 StVO). Consequences can include fines up to 2,180 euros, possible license suspension, and insurance may reduce or refuse coverage. Important: A note on the car alone is not legally sufficient. You must wait a reasonable time (at least 20–30 minutes). Only then may you leave – and only after informing the police and leaving your contact details.

Thorough documentation is especially important for parking damage since there are often no witnesses: - Overview photos of both vehicles and their positions - Close-up photos of all damage - License plate of the other vehicle - Surrounding area, parking situation, signs - Your smartphone automatically records date and time in photo metadata

On unfallbericht.at you can document parking damage even without the other driver present. The single-report feature lets you capture all relevant data: - Accident location and time (automatic via GPS) - Your vehicle and insurance details - Other vehicle data (license plate, make, color) - Damage description and photos - Sketch of the parking situation The generated PDF can be sent directly to your insurance company.

Report parking damage to your insurance as soon as possible – ideally within one week. Your insurance needs: - Completed accident report (PDF from unfallbericht.at) - Photos of the damage - Police report number (if police were informed) - Repair cost estimate If you caused the damage, the at-fault party's liability insurance covers it. If your parked car was damaged by an unknown party, your comprehensive insurance (if available) covers it.

Avoid these mistakes: - Leaving without waiting: This is hit-and-run, even with a note. - No photos: Without documentation, claims processing becomes much harder. - Not reporting: Always inform insurance, even for small damage. - Not calling police: If the other party is not present, you must inform police. - Admitting fault: Don't say "it was my fault." Insurance determines liability.

Yes. With unfallbericht.at you can document parking damage directly on your smartphone – even without the other driver present. The single-report feature lets you capture all data, add photos and create a sketch. The PDF in CEA standard format can be sent directly to your insurance. Advantage over a note: The digital report is complete, legible and automatically includes date, time and GPS coordinates.