Help, I think I messed up-car accident

[Philagoofy]

Driving home from work today, I was on a residential street, parking on both sides, one lane going each way, rowhouses (townhouses) all along the block. There was a car double parked on the side coming toward me & 2 vehicles behind him. It looked as if the second vehicle was letting me go & just as I proceeded, the 3rd vehicle started to pull around but saw me coming and stopped. I continued on but swerved a little to my right because that 3rd vehicle was sticking out a little in my lane. I then heard a loud noise and knew I'd hit something on my right - a parked car. BTW, I know it was my fault, not trying to put the blame on anyone else.

I then double parked, got out, looked around, saw that I had knocked off the cover for the sideview mirror. I picked it up, put it back on & noticed what looked like a small piece missing. I looked around & didn't know where to start knocking on doors. The street was full of cars & not everyone will always get a spot in front of their house.

I suppose I should have knocked on doors but I didn't, I got in my car and started slowly driving down the street. Yes, I know, wrong. In my rearview mirror I see a big guy walking down the middle of the street, no coat, just indoor clothes (it's 36 degrees & snowing). I figure it's his car so I get to the end of the street where I can park & walk back up to him. Turns out it's his neighbors' car, he knocks on her door & she finally comes out.

Here's where I probably screwed up even more. We exchanged name, address, phone #. I said I'd get my insurance card, she asks if that's the way I want to go. Thinking that it probably won't cost all that much, I ask her to fax an estimate to me & maybe I can pay out of pocket. Now I'm wondering if I should have done more. I've never had to handle something like this by myself. What if she comes back with a big estimate because this that & the other thing was damaged. The neighbor guy, when showing her the damage, also pointed out what he thought might have been damage from the cover hitting the car.

I haven't told my husband yet, not that he'd be very mad but he'll probably ask all kinds of questions about what info I should have gotten, what else I should have done, etc. I feel stupid enough without having to say, gee I didn't know I should have done that. I'm glad no one was hurt & it seems like a minor thing but what else should I have done? I didn't have a camera or cell phone with me to take a picture of it.

 

[bumbershoot]

First, tell your husband.

I was hit (while parked) and the lady came to find me (which was very nice). We both had the same insurance company, and I got home, called the insurance company. Insurance called their phone number, and in that way, the husband found out before the wife even got home. NOT the way you want a spouse to find out.

Since you didn't give her your insurance info, that probably won't happen, but you still want him to know asap.


Then I guess just wait for her fax?

 

[Luv2Camp]

I definitely agree that you should tell your husband. But, other than that, you're ok. You can have her get the estimate, and then you can decide if you want to pay it out of pocket or turn it into insurance. It's a liability coverage, so no deductible will apply. If it's not too much, you may want to pay it out of your pocket so it's not on your insurance record. But, if it comes back more than you expect, you can always turn it into insurance. Take a deep breath and try to have a nice evening!

 

[Imzadi]

If it's not too much, you may want to pay out of pocket becasue if the insurance comany pays for it, they WILL raise your insurance for the next several years. You end up "paying" for it anyway.

If it dies seem like she or the place she got the estimate from jacked up the price, as in they are adding extra side door damage you don't believe is real, that's when the insurance company comes in handy. They send their own guy out to look at the damage. If they can assertain that the door damage is old and not caused by you, the price gets knocked down.

I know you were rattled. Next time, leave a note with your phone number, saying, "Sorry I hit your mirror. Call me," on the windshield, held down by the wiper blade, before leaving.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

I know you were rattled. Next time, leave a note with your phone number, saying, "Sorry I hit your mirror. Call me," on the windshield, held down by the wiper blade, before leaving.

I would never ever do that with out taking pictures of the damage (even though the op did not have a camera- I would have called someone to bring one over before leaving the note so you would have proof of the damage) This guy can go on to say the door of his car was also damaged etc. (or worse he could go damage his door to get more money if they do not go through insurance). The honest people always get burned the most, which is sad.

 

[Imzadi]

I would never ever do that with out taking pictures of the damage (even though the op did not have a camera- I would have called someone to bring one over before leaving the note so you would have proof of the damage) This guy can go on to say the door of his car was also damaged etc. (or worse he could go damage his door to get more money if they do not go through insurance). The honest people always get burned the most, which is sad.

A hit & run is a felony. The reason it is a felony is to stop people from just leaving because they don't want to pay or be responsible for what they've done. The neighbor could have gotten her license plate number. If she hadn't seen him in her rear view mirror and was able to go back, he could have reported it to the police. The OP would be in worse trouble than the money she'd have to pay out for the damage.


http://public.findlaw.com/traffic-ticket-violation-law/traffic-ticket-a-z/hit-and-run.html

Leaving the Scene of an Accident/Hit and Run

When any kind of motor vehicle accident occurs, state traffic laws require the drivers involved to follow certain procedures immediately after the incident. In most states, the specific procedure that must be followed depends on whether the accident:

* Caused damage to property only (i.e. hitting a parked vehicle); or
* Caused injuries to others (i.e. another driver, a passenger, or a pedestrian); or
* Resulted in a person's death (i.e. another driver, a passenger, or a pedestrian).

Typically, state traffic laws require that any driver involved in an accident stop his or her vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so, and exchange identification and contact information with any other driver involved in the incident.

If a driver collides with an unattended vehicle or other stationary property, most states mandate that he or she make a reasonable effort to identify the property owner and alert them as to what happened by, for example:

* Taking down the vehicle's license number if a parked car is damaged, or
* Leaving a written notice at the scene (with the driver's identifying information) if other property is damaged.

After an accident involving injuries, drivers usually have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to help any injured person -- including calling for assistance from emergency medical services -- and to report the accident to local law enforcement.

Any driver who fails to fulfill their duties after being involved in an accident can receive a traffic ticket, at a minimum. In some cases, especially when an accident causes injury or death, a driver who leaves the scene of an accident can be subject to serious criminal charges such as "felony hit and run."

Also: http://***************************/article/614679/if_you_hit_a_parked_car_leave_a_note.html

If You Hit a Parked Car, Leave a Note: Legal Penalties for Not Leaving Information Can Include Suspension of License

If you damage someone's car, leave a note. Not only is this a civilized and righteous thing to do, it can save you from legal trouble too.

I currently am driving around with a big dent in my rear quarter panel and no door handle because someone damaged my car while it was parked. I don't know who did it, but let me tell you, just the door handle assembly
is a $150 bill sitting at my feet for something someone else did.

However, what prompted me to write is after tonight when someone did a number on this poor fellow's Jaguar. Perhaps he's not poor, but he sure was ticked.

Nobody took responsibility.

Common consensus says that if you damage a parked car, you always leave a note. However, personal integrity aside, not leaving identification can put you in hot water legally.

What you just did by dinging and leaving is a hit-and-run in most jurisdictions. That's what multiple responses at Metafilter say.

If a witness reports it with your license plate taken down -- a high probability as a parked car incident usually is at low speeds -- the police can easily track you down as the car owner. Not the one driving? Too bad -- you own the car and are liable.

In today's surveillance society, all the dinged car's owner needs to do is find a parking lot camera and see the tape.

Harsh penalties

No matter if the damage is small or large, the penalties are higher than you might expect.

In Arizona, for example, a hit-and-run like this will cause a suspension of your license. More state laws can be found here.

Dinging a car means losing your ability to drive on the roads? If you don't leave a note, believe it.

Leaving a note is, by common consensus, the appropriate and moral thing to do. It might hurt to take responsibility, but it is a necessity. If you have safeguards in your insurance policy, you'll only have to pay up to your deductible for damage to other vehicles.

In short, don't be a jerk.

What to do if someone hits your parked car

- Try to locate the driver.

- Call the cops and file a report.

- See if the parking lot has surveillance and watch the video.

- Inform your insurance company.

 

[Philagoofy]

Thank you for the information. I really felt wrong about leaving, don't know why I didn't leave a note. Hopefully there will never be a next time but at least I know now, should have known anyway. This is so embarrassing.