My car was intentionally rammed while I was inside my apartment — now it's on MY record??

Oh my gosh, I went through something so similar — not intentional damage, but my parked car got totaled by a hit-and-run and my insurer tried to ding me for it too. I had to file a formal dispute with my insurance company in writing, citing the police report number and the footage, and it took about six weeks but they reversed the at-fault designation. Document EVERYTHING and be relentless about escalating. Don't just call — put it all in writing so there's a paper trail.

Former adjuster here. The reason this gets coded as at-fault sometimes is honestly just lazy or automated claim handling — the system sees your insurance paid out and flags it. But intentional acts by a third party should be categorized differently, and a lot of states have consumer protection rules around exactly this. Call your state's Department of Insurance and ask about the process for disputing a claim classification. That call alone sometimes lights a fire under the insurer.

A few things worth knowing: First, yes, you can typically file in small claims court against the person who damaged your vehicle — you'd be suing for the repair cost, any rate increase impact, and potentially the newly discovered damage if you can get a written estimate. Second, the security footage is gold — preserve it, back it up, and get a copy certified if you can. Third, the newly found damage is trickier but not impossible to claim; the key is getting a shop to document in writing that it's consistent with the same impact event. Not legal advice, just process stuff I've picked up.

Not legal advice, but — the intentional act exclusion the other driver's insurer used is standard, but that doesn't mean you're without options. You may have a direct civil claim against the individual who did this, separate from any insurance. Small claims is one path if the amount falls within your state's limit; otherwise a personal injury or property damage attorney might take it on contingency if there's a clear paper trail. The video footage makes this unusually strong from an evidentiary standpoint. Definitely worth at least a free consultation somewhere.

Not a legal thing, but — were you checked out after? Sometimes the stress of something like this (especially if it feels targeted or threatening) can manifest physically. Just make sure you're taking care of yourself through all this. The anxiety of fighting an insurance company on top of feeling like someone deliberately messed with your property is a lot.

Three moves, in order: (1) Send a written dispute to your insurer this week — cite the police report and the footage, and specifically ask them to reclassify the claim. (2) Get a second shop to inspect and document that new rear quarter damage ASAP before anything changes. (3) Look up your state's small claims limit and see if the total damage falls under it. If so, you can sue the driver yourself without a lawyer. This is winnable, but you have to be the one pushing it.

Quick question — did your insurer actually see the footage before they classified it, or did they just go off the claim form? Because if they never reviewed the video, that changes things. Also, does the person who did this actually have any assets? Winning in small claims is one thing, collecting is another.

I know this feels like a nightmare right now, but honestly? You have more going for you than most people in disputes like this. You have video. You have a police report. You have documentation. Most people fighting wrongful at-fault designations are doing it with almost nothing. This is genuinely a strong position to be in — it's just going to take some persistence to get the outcome you deserve.