What Happens if a Valet Damages My Car?

When you have trusted someone else to park your car, you may be horrified to see the damage that they have caused when you get your vehicle back. If this is the case, you might be able to hold the valet liable for the damage. However, these claims are no guarantee, especially when the valet is not accepting responsibility for the car accident. You may need to take legal action to force them to pay. Here is what to do if you discover that a valet has damaged your car.

Learn More About What Happened from the Valet

Hopefully, you were able to notice the damage to your car when you picked it up from the valet. If so, you should have raised the issue with the valet and their manager as well. The hope is that the conversation may have revealed more information about what happened to your car, although the valet may take steps to cover their own tracks and protect themselves.

If you are not satisfied with the information you have received, you may need to do more work to obtain evidence about the damage to your car. Depending on where your car was parked, there may be security camera footage that could show what happened to your vehicle. When you file a claim, the valet’s insurance company may seek footage from their policyholder to determine whether they should pay you. However, the valet could take steps to delete or destroy the recordings, so it is essential that you act fast to get legal help if the valet is denied responsibility for the damage.

The Valet May Attempt to Avoid Responsibility for the Damage

When the valet took your car, they likely gave you a ticket that is your proof of ownership. These tickets often have small print on the back that attempts to absolve the valet of any responsibility for damage done to your car. However, this language is not always enforceable. There is a legal principle known as contracts of adhesion, which is when one party with superior bargaining power has drafted a contract and handed it to the other. Courts look at these contracts with a healthy degree of skepticism, and they may not allow the valet to disclaim all liability by simply handing you a ticket.

In addition, these contracts may also not completely let the valet off the hook because they might not cover situations in which they damage your car. In many cases, these contracts apply to circumstances in which someone other than the valet damages your car. For example, another driver could strike your car while the valet is in the process of parking it. No matter what, you should save your ticket and take a picture of the back of it, so you can closely review the language to determine what it covers.

If you are filing a claim, chances are you would be seeking money from the company that employs the valet. A company may contract with a third-party valet service, or they may employ the person themselves. Either way, you would have someone against whom you could file a claim. That party would likely have a minimum amount of insurance coverage to protect themselves from claims like yours.

Unfortunately, you may face additional challenges in filing a claim for these types of damages. First, you would need to prove that the damage occurred when the valet had possession of your car. Second, you would be dealing with an insurance company that may do everything in its power to avoid paying you for the damage. You may need to take legal action to force the valet or their insurance company to cover the damages.

Contact the Illinois Car Accident Lawyers at The Cates Law Firm for Help with Your Case

Reach out to the Illinois car accident lawyers at The Cates Law Firm for help with any type of motor vehicle accident claim. Our experienced car accident lawyers know how to deal with insurance companies and corporate defendants who may be giving you the runaround. To schedule a free initial consultation, call us today at 618-277-3644 or contact us online. Our office is located in Swansea, Illinois, and we serve clients in St. Louis, Belleville, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, Granite City, Waterloo, Chester, Carbondale, St. Clair County, Madison County, Monroe County, Randolph County, and other regions throughout Southern Illinois.