What to Do If You Accidentally Scratched Someone Else's Car?

[McKinsley]

If you accidentally scratched someone else's car, you should immediately call the traffic police to handle the situation and gather evidence as soon as possible. In case of an accident while driving, you can retrieve the dashcam footage immediately. If there is no dashcam, check if there are any surveillance cameras nearby. The first priority in an accident is to preserve evidence. If you scratch someone else's car, do not flee the scene. If the other party reports to the police and there is sufficient evidence to prove that it was indeed your fault, it can be determined as a hit-and-run. Scratching someone else's car can also be handled through the normal insurance procedure. The repair costs can be directly reimbursed by the insurance company. To smoothly proceed with the insurance claim, both drivers need to cooperate as much as possible, and both parties should be present during the damage assessment. Alternatively, you can choose to settle the matter privately if the damage is minor, such as a few scratches, and both parties are willing to resolve it privately and reach an agreement. It is best to have a third party present during private settlements, such as traffic police, 4S shop personnel, or insurance personnel, so that any issues arising after the repair can be witnessed by a third party.

[DelOmar]

Just scratched someone else's car? Don't panic, first stop steadily and check if your own car is okay without moving recklessly. Get out to assess the damage size. If the owner is nearby, sincerely apologize and exchange names, phone numbers, license plates, and insurance details. If no one is around, write a note with your contact information and accident details, then place it under the other car's windshield. Take photos with your phone as evidence: close-ups of the damaged area, overall parking position, the other party's license plate, and the note you left—capture everything comprehensively for easier claims. Immediately call your insurance company to report the accident; they can guide you through the next steps. Remember, last time I forgot to take photos, and the claim took forever. Usually, pay more attention to blind spots or insufficient parking space causing accidents—developing good habits helps.

[Aubree]

That time I accidentally scratched my neighbor's car while reversing, and it scared me so much my palms were sweating. I immediately stopped the car, got out to inspect, and found only minor scratches on both vehicles—luckily, the owner wasn't around. I pulled out a notepad from memory, wrote 'Sorry, this was caused by my careless driving. Please contact me at Name, phone [phone], license plate abc123,' and slipped it under the windshield wiper. I took photos of the damage and location with my phone, then went home to look up the insurance company's hotline online. After explaining the situation in detail, they handled it quickly. This incident taught me a lesson: don't get distracted by phones or chatting while driving, especially when parking—slowing down makes it safer. Now, my parking habits have improved significantly.

[VanCamila]

After scraping someone else's car, immediately pull over to a safe location to avoid secondary accidents. Quickly assess the damage: minor scratches may only affect the paint, while severe dents could impact the structure. Focus on taking clear photo evidence—close-ups of the damage, the entire vehicle, license plate, and surrounding environment, ensuring good lighting. After documenting, contact your insurance company to report the accident details, including the time, location, and photos. This makes the insurance claim process much smoother. Develop daily habits: maintaining a safe following distance and frequently checking mirrors in tight spaces can effectively reduce the risk of scrapes, making driving more enjoyable.