What to Do If You Accidentally Scratched Someone Else's Car?
2 Answers
First, get out of the car and observe the scratch situation. If the other vehicle is illegally parked and you want to claim the scratch under your own scratch insurance, then you need to call the police. If there are surveillance cameras and you are caught on camera, there's no escaping it. If the car owner reports to the police, you will also have to compensate for their losses. If you are in a hurry to handle other matters, write your phone number on a note and place it under the other car's windshield wiper.
Last time I accidentally scratched my neighbor's car, my heart sank, but I didn't panic. First, I safely parked the car, turned off the engine, and inspected the scratch: using my phone's flashlight to check the depth. A shallow scratch might just need polishing, while a deeper one would require repainting. I wrote an apology note with my name, phone number, and license plate number, and placed it on the windshield. When the owner contacted me, I communicated sincerely and suggested handling it through insurance. The insurance company sent an assessor to take photos and assess the damage, then arranged for a repair shop. I paid the 500 deductible. After the repair, the neighbor forgave me, and our relationship remained unchanged. I recommend always being mindful of blind spots while driving and installing a reversing radar as a preventive measure. In case of an accident, facing it honestly is the easiest way to avoid turning a small issue into a big one.
