{"id":22485,"date":"2024-11-07T11:04:16","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T19:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"\/wp-site\/?p=22485"},"modified":"2025-07-14T17:08:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T00:08:17","slug":"what-should-i-do-if-i-see-someone-ding-my-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/car-help\/what-should-i-do-if-i-see-someone-ding-my-car\/","title":{"rendered":"What Should I Do if Someone Dings My Car Door?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Question:<\/strong> I was in the Target parking lot the other day loading up my trunk, and the car that pulled up beside me flung open the door, and it dinged my door. The dent isn\u2019t huge, but it\u2019s more than noticeable. I didn\u2019t say anything then, but now I have a $500 car repair bill. What should I do if this happens again?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Answer:<\/strong> If the ding on your happened and you know who is responsible for the damage or witnessed the damage happen, there are several vital steps to take right away:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Advise the other driver of the damage and exchange insurance information. You\u2019ll want to get their key information such as name, insurance company, policy numbers, license plate, make and model of car, and any other relevant information on their insurance ID card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the other driver doesn\u2019t comply, take a picture of their license plate and car so you at least have some basic information to help authorities or insurance companies track them down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check with security to see if there is a video recording of the incident. Depending on the severity of the incident, this will help your case with either the police or insurance claim.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact your local police department and file a report. This is mainly to create a paper trail of the incident.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If there is enough damage to warrant a claim, contact your insurance company and file a comprehensive coverage claim.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"important-reminders\">Important Reminders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that if you\u2019re filing a comprehensive coverage claim, you\u2019ll have to pay your deductible before insurance will pay. That\u2019s why it\u2019s a good idea to check with a local repair shop to get an estimate of the cost of repairs before you contact your car insurance company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the cost of the repairs is less than your deductible, you should pay for the repairs out of pocket and avoid the potential subsequent increase in your insurance rates from filing a claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If someone dings your car door and you aren\u2019t able to see who caused the damage, here\u2019s what you\u2019ll want to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Take photos of the damage: You\u2019ll want to have documentation of the severity of the damage for the possibility of a police report or an insurance claim.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check with security and see if they have video footage of what happened. You may be able to collect the license plate to file a police report. If it happened on a residential street, you should check if any of the residences in the area have security cameras facing where your car was parked. Getting video footage of the incident is ideal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If there is enough damage to warrant a claim, contact your insurance company and file a comprehensive coverage claim, which generally covers damage to your vehicle caused by a wide range of non-collision situations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jerry-meet-experts\" data-wp-interactive=\"jerry\/meet-experts\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;modalVisible&quot;:false}\">\n  <div class=\"font-circular text-2xl font-extrabold text-slate-900\">Expert-driven. Built for you.<\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"my-3\">\n    <div class=\"flex justify-between items-center py-3 border-b border-neutral-200 cursor-pointer font-semibold text-gray-900\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.toggleModal\">\n  <button class=\"text-left text-base\" type=\"button\">\n    Why you can count on Jerry&#8217;s articles  <\/button>\n\n  <div class=\"transition data-[visible=true]:md:rotate-180 text-xs iconify i--chevron-down text-gray-500\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"modal-backdrop fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-50 overflow-hidden overscroll-contain bg-black\/70 font-body transition-transform delay-100 duration-0 md:relative md:z-auto [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:translate-y-full [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:bg-black\/0 [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:md:hidden\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onModalInit\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.hideModal\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\">\n  <div class=\"modal-view fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 flex max-h-[75%] w-full flex-col rounded-t-3xl bg-white pb-7 pl-7 pt-3.5 transition md:relative md:rounded-none md:pl-0 md:transition-none [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:translate-y-full [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:md:hidden\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\">\n    <div class=\"modal-header md:hidden flex justify-between items-center pb-1 mb-1 border-b border-zinc-200\">\n      <div class=\"modal-title text-base font-semibold\">Summary<\/div>\n\n      <div\n        class=\"modal-close-btn wp-block-group w-11 h-11 mr-2.5 content-center text-center\"\n        data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.hideModal\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"iconify i--close text-gray-500 cursor-pointer\"><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"modal-body pr-7 overflow-y-auto\"><div class=\"wp-block-template-part\"><div class=\"flex flex-row items-center gap-2.5 rounded-lg bg-gray-pink px-4 py-5\">\n  <span class=\"iconify mt-0.5 shrink-0 self-start text-xs text-primary i--shield-check\"><\/span>\n\n  <div>\n    <div class=\"font-body text-xs font-bold text-primary\">Our goal is clear, trustworthy information.<\/div>\n    <div class=\"mt-1 font-body text-xs text-gray-600\">\n      Our content is created, edited and fact checked by a team of licensed insurance agents, automotive pros and\n      experienced journalists who know the industry inside and out. Facts are thoroughly researched, verified and kept\n      current, and our editorial team is separate from our business partners, so our opinions &#038; tips are unbiased. All\n      insights drawn from Jerry\u2019s proprietary, aggregated customer auto insurance quotes data provide unique, real-world\n      guidance.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"text-base font-semibold text-gray-900\">Our experts<\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"my-8 flex flex-col gap-8 items-center justify-center\">\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Shannon-Martin.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Shannon-Martin.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Shannon-Martin-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Shannon-Martin-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Shannon-Martin-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Shannon Martin            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Shannon Martin is a licensed insurance agent and insurance writer with 18 years of experience in the industry. She specializes in car, homeowners, and umbrella insurance and ensures readers can trust content for accuracy and usefulness. Prior to joining Jerry\u2019s editorial team in 2021, Shannon was a founding member of Jerry\u2019s customer response team, building on her 14 years of experience as an insurance professional at GEICO and The Hartford.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Kevin Berry            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance\/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Giselle-Gomez.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Giselle-Gomez.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Giselle-Gomez-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Giselle-Gomez-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Giselle-Gomez-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Giselle Gomez            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Giselle Gomez is an editor with over a decade of experience editing content across personal finance, education, travel, and sports. In editing for Jerry, Giselle\u2019s focus is on making sure content is consumer and SEO-friendly and helping readers understand all things car ownership. In prior roles, she worked as a content strategist, syndication editor, and writer. Her work is featured in AP, NerdWallet.com, BestColleges.com, and more. Giselle holds a master\u2019s degree from Arizona State University.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are several steps you should take if your car is dinged by another driver and it depends on if you see the incident happen or not. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":64404,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-advice","format":"standard","meta":{"jerry_authors":"[{\"id\":\"281\",\"type\":\"main-author\"},{\"id\":\"187\",\"type\":\"main-author\"},{\"id\":\"119\",\"type\":\"editor\"}]","jerry_author_ids":[281,187],"jerry_idx_page_label":"","jerry_meta_desc":"There are several steps you should take if your car is dinged by another driver and it depends on if you see the incident happen or not. \r\n","jerry_related_posts":"[5856,7567,7065]","jerry_summary":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[628],"tags":[103,120,621,346],"class_list":["post-22485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-car-help","tag-car-insurance-claims","tag-car-repair","tag-resource_car_repair","tag-state-laws"],"modified_by":"harveen.sran@getjerry.com","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22485"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64405,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22485\/revisions\/64405"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}