what should i do if i scratched a car when backing out?

Question

I scratched a car when i was backing out the school parking lot, and i saw that the scratch was about 10 inches long (but there's no dent) Some students saw me and told me to "just go".. so i did because i was so scared.. what should i do?

Thanks for everyone's advice!!

Answer 1

You should write your contact information, and an apology, on a piece of paper and leave it on the other car's windshield.

Answer 2

That was some bad advice. If you know the owner get in touch with them a.s.a.p.
Tell the principal what happened. Tell the police what happened. The same students who told you to 'just go' would be the first to tell the owner and the principal and the police who did it.

If you are lucky and it was an older car, they may just say 'it happens' accept your appology and forget about it.

Most likely they will be grouchy that you did leave ,thankful you owned up to it, and ask you to pay for the painting of the scratch area

In the worst case you could be charged with
hit and run , leaving the scene of an accident. BUT that is the more likely case if you try to hide from your responsibility

Answer 3

Fess up! Karma's a b@tch. If you don't, someone will total your car and leave. It comes back 10 fold.... It's not worth it. If you have insurance, your premium may go up a bit, but it won't be NEAR the pain as if you were to get charge with a hit and run (if there happen to be a witness). Get in contact with the person, via the office if that's more comfortable. Explain that you freaked because you were scared, but you're very sorry and want to do whats right. You'll be grateful (as will they) in the long run. Don't get yourself down; accidents happen!

BTW Mary O- Public schools are NOT private property.

Answer 4

Ethically, you should tell the person who owns the car. It's not a "moving violation" since it happened in a parking lot, so you wouldn't get a ticket. Your car insurance should pay for it, though, since you're at fault. The owner of the other car might find out, since others saw you ... wouldn't you be better off 'fessing up? Just tell them the story as you told it here.

Answer 5

Did u hit someone elses vehicle if not just buy some paint fixer and repaint over the scratch if u hit another vechicle better to go find who evers vehicle u hit and pay for any damage u might have caused

Answer 6

Just tell the truth,and pay for the damage,if you have a job pay from your job,or work for the person of damaged car until the debt is paid.Its better to be honest in the first place,lying will get you nowhere,or faking it(like putting sharpie on it).Just be honest.

Answer 7

You should have left a note and explained what happened and the students may talk and tell whomever owns that car although i doubt anything would happen because it probably happened on private property which is school grounds and you can't be charged with hit and run but you can find the owner tomorrow and leave a note or tell them

Answer 8

you should get information to the owner of the other car an offer to fix it small scratches can somtimes filled with toutch up paint on color wax an bffed out like new and not costing alot

Answer 9

I did that once, but the driver was actually in the driver's seat when it happened. I just gave them my insurance information and went along my merry way. They never did report it to my insurance company.

Answer 10

You should have left a note with your name, phone number, and a breif note like "if there should be a problem, contact me for my insurance information" something along that line.