What to Do If You Scratched Someone Else's Car While Parking and Ran Away?

[LeValentina]

It is considered a hit-and-run traffic offense, which is illegal. You need to surrender to the police or recontact the owner of the scratched vehicle to seek forgiveness and provide compensation. If the circumstances are particularly severe, you may face imprisonment of three to seven years; if the hit-and-run results in death, the penalty is imprisonment for seven years or more.

[MaliaDella]

I was quite panicked when it first happened, but experience taught me that fleeing would only escalate the issue. Hit-and-run is illegal, with penalties ranging from fines to point deductions or even license revocation. The best course is to immediately return to the scene—if the owner is present, offer a sincere apology and propose compensation; if no one's around, leave a note explaining the situation with your contact and an apology. Then, notify your insurance company to initiate the claims process—they'll handle it for you. Remember to check if the other car has a dashcam to avoid escalated trouble from being traced. Owning up to mistakes not only avoids legal risks but also maintains neighborly relations. I recommend practicing reversing skills more to reduce the risk of scrapes.

[LaSpencer]

This needs to be resolved quickly without delay. First, take a deep breath to calm down and return to the car scratch location as soon as possible to assess the damage. If you can't find the owner, leave a note on the windshield with your contact information and willingness to compensate. Take photos as evidence to prevent disputes. Immediately contact your insurance company to report the incident and file a claim. If necessary, seek police assistance. Don't take chances—running away will only turn a small issue into a bigger one and may damage your reputation. Afterward, reflect on what went wrong with your parking, such as paying attention to blind spots when reversing or using the car's camera for assistance, so you can avoid such awkward situations in the future.

[CeciliaFitz]

When I first started learning to drive, I did something similar—panicked and drove off, feeling guilty for days. Later, I realized facing mistakes head-on is the right approach: keep it simple, go back and handle the issue. Leaving a note to apologize and offer compensation usually leads to forgiveness from most car owners. The longer you delay, the worse it gets; after making amends, you’ll feel more at ease, and practicing parking skills will help.