Is Leaving After Scratching a Car Considered Hit-and-Run?

[BlakelyAnn]

Leaving after scratching a car does not necessarily constitute a hit-and-run traffic accident. It must be determined by the traffic police department after investigation. The following situations are considered hit-and-run: 1. The party involved in the traffic accident knowingly drives away or abandons the vehicle and flees the scene of the accident. 2. The party involved in the traffic accident is suspected of driving under the influence or without a license, and after reporting the incident, fails to fulfill the obligation to stay at the scene for handling, abandons the vehicle, leaves the scene, and then returns. 3. Although the party involved in the traffic accident takes the injured to the hospital, they leave the hospital without reporting the incident and without a valid reason. 4. Although the party involved in the traffic accident takes the injured to the hospital, they leave the hospital after providing false names, addresses, or contact information to the injured or their family. 5. The party involved in the traffic accident flees during the investigation period.

[Nadine]

Having driven for most of my life, I firmly believe that leaving the scene after scratching someone's car is absolutely considered hit-and-run. The traffic laws are very clear: leaving the scene of any accident to evade responsibility constitutes a hit-and-run, regardless of the severity. I remember when I was younger, I accidentally scratched someone's car door and hesitated about whether to leave. A friend reminded me of the severe consequences of fleeing. If caught by the police, the fine starts at several hundred yuan, 12 demerit points are deducted, and your driver's license could be suspended. Even worse, if the insurance company finds out you fled, they won't cover the damages, leaving you to pay hundreds or even thousands out of pocket—doubling your losses. Morally, it's also unjustifiable, like being an irresponsible deserter. Honestly parking, assessing the damage, leaving a note, or waiting for the owner turns a small issue into an easily resolved matter. Fleeing only brings guilt and trouble, while staying is the right path.

[Enid]

I'm a new driver who's had a minor scrape before. Last year in a supermarket parking lot, I scratched the rear bumper of a neighboring car while reversing. Panicking, my first instinct was to drive away quickly. But after checking my phone, I learned that according to traffic laws, leaving after a scrape constitutes hit-and-run behavior, with severe penalties: at minimum a 500-yuan fine plus demerit points, and in serious cases, even detention. Moreover, if the other party reports it to their insurance and pursues liability, I'd have to cover the full repair costs. So I stopped the car, took photos to document the location, waited for the owner to come out to apologize and resolve the issue—and surprisingly, they didn't make a big deal out of it. That left me feeling much more at ease. You can't count on luck in these situations. Minor driving mistakes happen, but it's important to face them head-on and not make things worse. Also, installing a dashcam is a smart move—it protects you and prevents misunderstandings, killing two birds with one stone.

[Tamara]

After studying numerous traffic cases, I can confirm that leaving after scratching a car is a classic hit-and-run. Legally, it's simply defined as knowingly causing an accident but intentionally leaving to evade responsibility, which constitutes a violation. The penalty typically involves a fine ranging from 200 to 2000 yuan and a deduction of 6 or more points, with the fleeing party potentially bearing full liability. In practice, I've seen many cases where those who fled were caught and had to pay additional fees for surveillance tracking, making the repair costs even higher. The correct approach is to stop and not move the vehicle, check the scratch damage, take photos for evidence, and then contact the owner or call the police. Handling the matter proactively ensures a fair division of responsibility and prevents escalation into major conflicts. The law strictly penalizes hit-and-runs to protect fairness, so even minor incidents shouldn't be taken lightly—stay if you should.