What to Do If You Accidentally Scratched Someone Else's Car?
2 Answers
If a car owner accidentally scratches someone else's car, they should take photos for evidence if possible, stay at the scene to negotiate with the other party. For minor traffic accidents, both parties can quickly reach a settlement; alternatively, they can call the police to have traffic officers contact the other party for resolution, and then contact their insurance company for damage assessment to proceed with corresponding compensation. If no one is present at the accident scene, the car owner should first take photos with their phone as evidence, capturing the scene of the scratch between the two vehicles, including the license plates, and then move the car to a safe location to avoid causing traffic congestion. It is crucial not to flee after scratching someone else's car, as this constitutes a hit-and-run. If the hit-and-run does not constitute a crime, the offender may face fines; if it constitutes a crime, they should be held criminally liable and have their driver's license revoked, with the driver being permanently banned from obtaining a driver's license again.
Today I experienced this exact situation! Last week while reversing, I didn't pay attention to the blind spot in the right rearview mirror and scraped the bumper of the neighboring car. My mind went blank for a moment, but I immediately reminded myself not to panic. I quickly turned on the hazard lights, stopped the car, and took out my phone to take photos from multiple angles: the scratch location, the relative positions of both cars, and the other car's license plate were all clearly captured. Then, I placed a note under the windshield wiper with my contact information, specifically writing 'Very sorry' in bold. Later, the owner called, and I took full responsibility, agreeing to meet at the repair shop he specified. The entire claim process was handled by the insurance company, and I only had to pay the increased premium for the next year. Now, every time I reverse, I walk around the car first before operating.
