Someone hit my parked car with a bicycle. Can I sue for damages?

Get the compensation you deserve. We've helped 285 clients find attorneys today.

There was a problem with the submission. Please refresh the page and try again
Full Name is required
Email is required
Please add a valid Email
Phone Number is required
Please enter a valid Phone Number
Zip Code is required
Please add a valid Zip Code
Description is required
By clicking "Find a Lawyer", you agree to the Martindale-Nolo Texting Terms. Martindale-Nolo and up to 5 participating attorneys may contact you on the number you provided for marketing purposes, discuss available services, etc. Messages may be sent using pre-recorded messages, auto-dialer or other automated technology. You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Your number will be held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

Question

Someone hit my parked car with a bicycle. Can I sue for damages?

Answer

If a bicycle rider (or anyone else for that matter) damages your vehicle, you have a legal right to hold that person financially responsible for the cost of getting the car fixed. In many instances, vehicles are damaged as a result of a traffic accident, but damage can occur just as easily in a parking lot or anywhere else where you have left your vehicle unattended.

In your situation, you may run into difficulty trying to hold the bicyclist accountable for the damage to your car. First, since your vehicle was parked and unattended, chances are you weren't around to witness what happened. So, unless the bicyclist left a note or you've got some other method of identifying him or her, you may need to bite the bullet and pay to get your car repaired, or file a claim under the collision coverage provision of your own car insurance policy. (Learn more about using collision coverage for vehicle damage.)

Even if you know the identity of the bicyclist and can file a small claims lawsuit against him or her, since most bicyclists don't carry liability insurance, any judgment you're awarded by the court will need to be paid by the bicyclist directly. And as any small claims court claimant will tell you, getting a judgment in your favor is one thing, and actually seeing any money is a different story. Still, going to small claims court and proving your damages shouldn't be too difficult or time-consuming, and you'll likely feel satisfaction for having stood up for your rights, regardless of whether you end up collecting on the judgment.

Car Accident Claim Tool

Have you been in a car accident?

Take our free car accident quiz to find out if you're likely to get a settlement.

Make the Most of Your Claim
Get the compensation you deserve.
We've helped 285 clients find attorneys today.
There was a problem with the submission. Please refresh the page and try again
Full Name is required
Email is required
Please add a valid Email
Phone Number is required
Please enter a valid Phone Number
Zip Code is required
Please add a valid Zip Code
Description is required
By clicking "Find a Lawyer", you agree to the Martindale-Nolo Texting Terms. Martindale-Nolo and up to 5 participating attorneys may contact you on the number you provided for marketing purposes, discuss available services, etc. Messages may be sent using pre-recorded messages, auto-dialer or other automated technology. You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Your number will be held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

How It Works

  1. Briefly tell us about your case
  2. Provide your contact information
  3. Choose attorneys to contact you