Someone hit my parked car and my insurance company will not pay. What can I do?

Car insuranceDeniedChecked Nov 6, 2026

From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-06 · Source: Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Settling claims View original ↗

In short

If the other driver's insurer will not pay, you can claim on your own policy.
Tell your insurer about the crash now. Ask why it said no.
Still stuck? You can file a written complaint with your state.

What this means

These sources come from Texas, so your state may differ. If the other driver was at fault but that driver's insurer will not pay, you can file a claim with your own insurer. You need collision coverage to do this [1]. You will have to pay your deductible [2]. Your insurer will probably try to get its money back from the other driver's company [1].

Tell your own insurer about the crash as soon as you can [3]. Most companies have deadlines for filing claims [4]. If your own insurer pays too little or says no, tell it why you disagree [5]. Send photos, repair bids and the police report if you have one.

If talking does not work, you can complain to the state insurance department. In Texas the complaint must be in writing [6]. The department may not be able to help with some points. It cannot decide who was at fault or how much the damage is worth [7].

Your next step

Call your insurer today and report the crash. Ask it in writing why it will not pay, and send your photos and repair bids. The sources give no single deadline; check your policy for its claim deadline.

Check it yourself

Open your policy and read the collision section and the claim notice section. Read the insurer's letter for the reason it gave. These sources are from Texas; your state may have other rules. Whether your policy has collision coverage, and what your deductible is, is "Don't know yet" until you read your declarations page.

Where this comes from (7)

[1] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Settling claims · checked 2026-11-06
If you believe the other driver was at fault, but his or her insurance company won’t pay your claim, file a claim with your own insurance company.
[2] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Settling claims · checked 2026-11-06
Be aware that if you file a claim with your own company, you’ll have to pay a deductible.
[3] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Auto claims · checked 2026-11-06
Tell your company about the accident as soon as possible.
[4] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Auto claims · checked 2026-11-06
Most companies have deadlines for filing claims.
[5] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Resolving problems · checked 2026-11-06
If you disagree with the adjuster’s estimate or the amount the company is offering to pay you, tell the insurance company why.
[6] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Resolving problems · checked 2026-11-06
Complain to us. Your complaint must be in writing.
[7] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Resolving problems · checked 2026-11-06
we can’t decide who was at fault in an accident or determine damage amounts.

How we found this

We matched your question to 7 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-06.

What we don’t know yet

Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.

Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.

Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.

This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.

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