That was the right thing to do! I was terrified and immediately pulled to the side street nearby. According to an often-cited 2016 National Safety Council study, 66% of drivers would make phone calls while driving through a parking lot, and 56% would text. Five cop cars showed up - weapons drawn - calling for me to come out. I live in Georgia, if that helps with advice.. A month ago, I was driving my boyfriends card and I was pulling into a starbucks park lot. It sounds like you could reasonably defend yourself by saying you went to get a pen and paper, and that you were concerned for your safety. I just hit a parked car while I was reversing. While its important to be aware of your local requirements, there are some common themes to help understand what the law requires if you hit an unattended vehicle and cant find the owner of the other vehicle. There is the possibility of jail time in most states, though this is rare. Nobody was occupying the car and since I was going slow it was only a small dent, but it was in just the right spot where the door can only open slightly and the side mirror is cracked. If the car is not still in the parking lot, you can contact the local police office and explain what happened. I was panicked. I came to talk to her and she informed me she called the police. I already took the pictures of my damaged vehicle, along with more pictures of when the drivers vehicle was crashed into mine. Since, I went back and filled out an acvident report should I contact a lawyer. If there was no damage to the other vehicle, then you shouldnt expect a claim against your insurance. Please call a criminal defense attorney right away and share the facts of the situation; they will advise you as to how to proceed. What should I do? This way, they have an idea of the vehicle profile they are looking for. I thought everybody was fine but now theirs a cop and it happened almost a month ago so i forgot originally and said nope not me didnt happen. Two Sterling Heights police officers exceeded the call for duty Wednesday while responding to the scene of a car accident that left two vehicles out of commission and one driver in a tricky situation. You may also be able to use your uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it). My husband expect the back of my car last night and said there was a little scratch. Nevertheless, leaving a note describing what you saw (particularly if you have information that can help the owner of the car identify the at-fault driver) would certainly be kind and potentially helpful. Unless the rate hike violates some language in your policy, your only real option is to try to find a better rate with another insurance company. Now my insurance goes up an about $450 / 6 month. I grabbed my insurance and registration but he just asked for my phone number and took my license plate. Required fields are marked *, Address: Im 19 years old without a license and I was driving my dads car and I accidentally backed up the car on the school campus. Generally, you wont be guilty of a hit-and-run if you werent aware that you hit a vehicle (i.e., if you didnt run intentionally). Will they still issue a ticket or arrest me if the insurance pays for damages? im so confused, What do I do ,If this did happen does it mean? Based on the information you provided, there is no grounds for your boyfriend to be fired. Come on now YES! Hello, I recently was backing my truck out of my driveway & backed into my neighbors vehicle, 10-inch scratch & a small dent, no b.s her car is a beat up 93 civic ex and has over several dents all around the car, its beat up pretty bad, she said she spoke to her auto body guy and said the damage is $1100.00!!!! if i did hit her car, it was nothing more than a tap, what should i do? Thanks. I got out to see the damage. in the end the step for the truck was stuck under their wheel well due to the slant we were on and the pedestrian helped weigh my car down to not fully take off their bumper when backing out. Theres no damages and in any other situation I would leave a note but seeing as I work here I know just how unreasonable tenants can be. Im a passenger to my friends motorcycle. The person had been behind me for around 3 minutes or so an her car was out alttle in the street. Ive now been contacted by the police for my insurance information and mine. Your insurance company expects to be notified of any accident, even if you werent able to locate the vehicle owner and left a note. She said, "You have to call the police!" I did. Hit and run, or leaving the scene of an accident, is a serious criminal offense. I told them that they parked too close and nobody called and reported it that night. Both vehicles had left the downtown Athens area at around 2:30 a.m. that morning, and proceeded to switch between lanes, drive in the center turn lane and drive "in opposite lanes of travel" while . 3. This is particularly true if you are not licensed, are high or drunk while driving, or feel responsible for the accident. What should I do? If you hit a parked car and leave, a police officer can use witnesses, surveillance footage, your license plate, and other evidence to identify and arrest you. My friend shared insurance information with the police to provide to the other party. Im in a very large truck, and she was in a tiny little car. I hit a parked car leaving good will, I have no license and was scared so I left the scene.and went to get my bf. I hit a car pulling in to the parking space of Walmart and lady was in car she asked me for my information we exchanged it all I told her I dont have insurance Im a little afraid of whats going to happen next I told her Ill pay for the damage since it was a lil dent she filed a claim against me through her insurance what happens next? No one did. I wouldnt have moved my car if I could get out of my car but I hit the other car trying not to get to close to the car on my driver side. Dont say anything in the note that puts you in a bad light or admits fault such as Im such a bad driver.. 2. I was on a residential side street, and there was no one around. Best of luck. I was backing out from a parking lot to go home from work and I didnt see this parked car behind me and I bumped into them. Or what about this? Once the driver is identified, the law enforcement agencies are within their right to immediately get a warrant of arrest. Will my rate go up if I report the incident? And I took a picture of my car. What should I do? However, if the defendant commits a hit and runs instead, the penalty is way more serious, especially if the accident claimed lives or seriously injured anyone. But the driver at-fault leave because she freaked out. The other cars were very close to the line making it difficult to fit into the spot and I scrapped the car on the right turning in. So my car was parked at the car park, I reversed the car and didnt see a car behind me. When I got home, I noticed that my tailight was cracked. No one was injured but there was a very slight damage to the other car. If youre a minor, you probably also should let your parents know what happened because if the car owner has your license plate or other information, it will likely come back to them if they own the car you were driving. i hit a parked car at night in neighborhood with HOA no parking on street. 23-year-old man 'panicked' and left the scene of a crash. The biggest mistake I made was that I left the scene of the accident because the other driver started threatening to punch me in the face or kill me. Accordingly, your first step should be to contact your insurance company and explain what happened. I was suppose to go to my sisters but she had called and told me not to cause they were exposed to covid so I went to a friends house and then this happened when I left the house! If there was damage and you left the scene, you should call the local police and report the accident. It sounds like someone hit your car and failed to leave a note with their contact information. And not sure if I have to pay any deductible because Im not making a claim for my vehicle. My insurance says if this does not exceed 1,000 my insurance wont go up. In most states, if you hit an unoccupied vehicle and leave the scene, youre required to call the local police and provide information about the accident (where it happened, the vehicle involved, your contact information). 2 killed in early morning crash on I-285 south; police searching for drivers who left the scene It happened around 4 a.m. and police said the accident involved several vehicles. Now Im facing a hit and run charge, even though I came back to the scene within 10 minutes, and I exchanged information with her. Each state sets its own specific legal requirements in vehicle codes and other traffic laws and regulations. For that reason, I would strongly recommend taking lots of time-stamped pictures of your vehicle so that she cant later claim you caused more damage than you actually did. 0 Comments. If you failed to (or were unable) to leave a note, you should file an accident report with the local police department. We exchanged information and got the police involved to do an exchange form. I would recommend contacting the disciplinary section of your state bar association and filing a complaint first. What should I do? I couldnt get out of my car because of how the car was parked on my drivers side. I wish you can remake this content to make it a recent topic. Its always a good idea to get a police report, even if you believe theres no damage, because it can protect you from being accused of damage later. In some jurisdictions, theres no hit-and-run citation if you report the accident soon enough. I am worried sick about it. Im freaking out about whats going to happen, when I truly would have stopped if I thought Id hit another car. In my panic, I did not take down any of their info. I declined and he moved on only to be called over by a guy in a blue pickup truck parallel to me. If you hit a car and fail to leave a note, you need to call the police department where the accident occurred and report the accident. This law applies regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Descriptions: Felony hit and run is defined by most states as leaving the scene of an accident where there is any type of injury to a person, whether the injured person is a . Shes not called and I cant get him to answer my calls now. I then said that if theres damage that was from you hitting me. will my insurance pay for my damages to my car? If you were involved in a car accident it is very important to contact a car accident lawyer. Rather, you will have to pay for the damages and you may have to pay an additional fine. Its good that youre willing to apologize and provide your insurance information, but you could be charged with a hit and run. Our community very recently sent our guidelines that have been present for many years that no cars should be parked on the street or grass areas, which this car was parked on the street. She got out of her car an was about to tell me to move when I barely put my car in reverse an barely hit her front. I had an accident I hit the car in front of me, I left the scene as I felt threatened by other driver I panicked. When arrived home i notice my car bumper is kind a loose. I know it was stupid and the anxiety is killing me. As I was inching in I bumped the trailer. I hit a car parked on the corner. 3. You wont go to jail for hitting a parked car and leaving without stopping. I asked them if I needed to make a police report for it. If this kind of situation arises again, though, it would be wise to call the police to make a report while youre still at the scene of the collision. Was recently at fault for an accident which I left the scene. If the guy is not supposed to be parked there, who is really at fault? I took pictures of where I bumped them but not anywhere else. I didnt get the tag number and the guy sped off when the lights changed. The guy was drinking something and seemed buzzed and threw the drink down and told him he was gonna fight him. Im freaking out. I do n read more Also, the medical personnel attending you must alert the authorities once you arrive at their emergency room. The state bar will review the complaint and give you an idea as to whether or not you have a legitimate claim. First, how long ago was the accident? There was an eye witness. Is a claim opened via the other party through their insurance company calling mine, as a liability claim? I left a note on their windshield and Im waiting for them to come back so I can talk to them. Then the first guy who was drinking slammed the car door on my husbands side and scratched /bruised his underarm . The attorney will submit a demand letter and negotiate your claim on your behalf. Im not very familiar with the area and I ended up losing traction and sliding onto someones property and hitting one of the vehicles they had parked, not directly in their driveway but opposite the sidewalk very close to the street. I would wait for the other party (or their insurance company) to contact you seeking payment first. What happens next? What are my options, how does this all work, never had accident where someone fled the scene. We went to my sister's friend's house and told her what happened. In addition, some states, including Florida and California, legally require you to report any accident to the police as well as provide your information. Are there any implications (hit and run, court case) if my friend is listed as a driver and not suspect in the police report. Two friends travelling to university were on the train when it hit the . I tried to negotiate with the other driver and offered to pay her and fix hers door but she refused and said she was calling the law. Thanks once more for sharing this content with us all today although the content is not new but it has a lot. After half an hour I drove by again but I didnt see any cars with any scratches or dents close to where I think I hit the car and my side mirror doesnt have anything as well what should I do I dont even know which car it was? Credit: 7NEWS. Was driving down the street in a 3 lane road (2 for traffic and 1 for parking next to the sidewalk) when the car next to me started merging into my line, I tryed to avoid the accident and steer to my right and ended up hitting a parked car and a tree. Not sure about California law an cars deliberately behind ones car an only a foot away ? Other than that, you could leave your information with someone who works in the building where the parking lot was located. They wont. Can I get in trouble even though nobody reported it that night or took pics? But it did not jerk my vehicle and I could not hear anything due to my children. *admitted fault* He asked if I had insurance. Unless I can make a case for my arguments and fault is 50/50. The penalties for failing to report an accident to authorities are more severe when injuries are involved. Thank you so much! Stop your vehicle at the scene of the accident, A very brief explanation of what happened (e.g., hit by car). My husband passed out on the street from the pain and they just kept yelling now at me, my mom and my stepdad and the girls would get close to us . My break was damaged and my foot and nails were also injured. A employee reported it inside to Walmart and it got back to him and now the girl that reported it is trying to get my boyfriend fired because she doesnt like me. Am I liable for anything and should I report it? I told him I did, but this is my boyfriends car. Ciaran Roddy, said his client had never been in a road traffic accident before, and panicked, and went to a friend's house where he made the foolish mistake of consuming . When we got back from lunch I told my co worker what happened. Then how would 50/50 work out with me not opening a claim. You navigate a crowded parking lot on a winter evening. I didnt leave and didnt hide my car. Its about $1,300 and I dont know why they are ghosting me on this end of it. I freaked out because this was the first time this has ever happened and tried to park my car in front of the parked car so I can maybe leave a note, but other cars honked so all I could do was quickly check that there was no damage to my car or to the other parties. There was also a witness. If you hit a vehicle and didnt stop to provide information, youre guilty of a hit-and-run. I hit a parked car when leaving a friends house, it was dark and didnt realize how close I was to it. If you dont agree to pay for the damages, the owner of the vehicle can file a lawsuit against you for the damages. He got my phone number and I got his. How should I go about this? Unfortunately, the outcome in any claim will depend on the specifics of the case and the facts of the incident. The first one was the front passenger side and second was rear passenger side. To put it another way, the owner of the car probably has up to 2 or 3 years to contact you, so theyll have enough time to file a lawsuit if need be. What should I do? Thanks for sharing your story! The officer claims I should have gotten out of my car and checked, and that I have to go to court for a hit and run. Backed into a car that she the other driver said she was parked too close I was at work ( I work as a dominos delivery driver) so I reversed into a car and I thought I hit the kerb cause sometimes I usually hit the kerb and think nothing of it so I just continues on driving cause it was dark and I couldnt see anything so I drove off back to work and i when I got back to work they told me that they got a call from the person I hit and I was in shock cause I didnt know I hit their car , so I went back after my shift which I was supposed to finish before my manager told me to take this last shift and so I went back after my shift and talked to the guy and apologised and This guy that I did a hit and run on had a small scratch as well and he said that apparently his car is very expensive and that they need to remove the whole front bumper (mind you I just got this car and The next day I was going to get my car insured so it was not insured yet) but he said we can discuss it our selves but he asked for 2,000 for the damage that was minor I only scraped off a little bit of paint . I didnt know what else to do because I was more concerned for their safety than my own. But what should you do if you hit a parked car and the owner is nowhere to be seen? I panicked and left the scene, but came back shortly afterwards and left a note on their car. That would protect you from being charged with a hit and run. They said they couldnt find the hit car and they havent filed a report. *I pulled into the parking lot and I didnt really see how close her car was to my section and scratched it up. Ive been driving less than a year in my entire life and Ive never had a record. I saw little damage and drive away . You do not have a legal obligation to leave a note or otherwise report the accident. I felt an anxiety attack coming on and I did the worst possible thing I panicked, got in my car and drove. I have insurance but no way to find out the other driver at this point. tell my insurance first? Youve done everything that you legally need to do at this point. But never left the property. I hit a van when I was parallel parking, I went out of the can and there was absolutely nothing no damage. Now im paying in full for the damage i caused. So I thought someone had hit MY car. Hea not replying now either. Then last night out of the blue I got a message from the lady whos car I scratched. I was parked between 2 trucks running work orders and as I was backing out I was focused on not hitting the trucks on either side of me but wound up barely bumping the truck behind me. So long as the neighbors were parked legally (even if you asked them not to park there), then the neighbors are probably not at fault for the accident. The vehicle waiting to make a left was also farther over to my side, so that was a problem too. I was so scared that I ran home before the police came. Call your insurance company and let them know what happened and explain that the party is demanding an unreasonable amount of money. 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