What to Do When You Hit Someone Else's Car and the Owner Isn't Present?

[PaulLynn]

If you accidentally scrape someone else's car while driving and the owner isn't present, you should take the following steps: 1. Evidence: Get out of the car to assess the damage, then take photos of the scraped areas at the front and rear of the car to preserve evidence. 2. Illegal Parking: Check if the other vehicle was parked illegally. If it was, and you want to claim the damage under your own scratch insurance, you'll need to report it to the police because the other party's illegal parking means they aren't fully at fault. 3. Surveillance: If there are surveillance cameras, you can't escape being recorded. If the owner reports it, you'll have to compensate for the damages and may even face legal consequences in serious cases. 4. Phone Number: If you're in a hurry to attend to other matters, write your phone number on a note and place it under the other car's windshield wiper for later negotiation and resolution.