I was getting out of the restaurant at a strip mall today, and I backed out my car. The parking lot was pretty small, and as I was backing out my car, I heard a small noise. I couldn't be sure if that was me touching the car next to me as I was slowly (1-2 mph on reverse) backing out or if it was my car making noises. I asked my friend if he heard anything and he said no. I then put on the car on drive, went a little ahead and backed out successfully without touching anything. As we were driving back, I still had doubts in my mind if I actually did touch the car or if it was my car. When we got back, I examined my car and saw marks on my car on the driver side front of the car. I immediately felt very bad for not being able to leave my insurance information. But my friend just rubbed the car and tried to scuff the mark out and it went away with ease. He basically wiped the "marks" and told me its very common and if he hadn't done it, that would go away in the next car wash. I'm still feeling bad for not being able to leave my insurance information because that's the right thing to do. I can't go back because I am back at work and it is about 30 minutes away. Should I call my insurance company and let them know? Or it is too minor of a thing as my friend says. You could literally wipe the thing off.

You can't indentify the person who's car you hit and he doesn't know you. Its moot, so just be more careful in the future.

Weird, I misspelled a word on my post. After a few minutes I realized my error and came back to correct it. Moot has already been corrected for me? Is there some new auto spell checker at work?

IF someone got your license plate or other ID info and IF there is damage (including a mark you could "brush" out) and IF you are in NY (where I actually investigate these matters) you have committed hit and run.

If you thought perhaps you had scraped another car you should have gotten out and checked.

That's old news. There is nothing you can do at this point other than to hope no one ever "scrapes" your car, leaving damage, and keeps going.

I don't think I'd take any more legal advice from this particular friend. If there was any damage you had a duty to stop, check and leave your name. The fact that your mark rubbed off does not mean it rubbed off the other car, although I hope it did.

I can't go back because I am back at work and it is about 30 minutes away. Hello s:

I'd get BACK in my car and drive the 30 minutes to DO the RIGHT thing.

excon

@excon, @judayKay

Thanks guys.

I drove all the way back and left my information including name, phone number, email address etc in the windshield of the car and took picture of the small dent. Luckily the car was still in the same spot when I went back. But now I have the peace of mind that I did the right thing.

Thanks again!

Sulav

Weird, I misspelled a word on my post. Afetr a few minutes I realized my error and came back to correct it. Moot has already been corrected for me?? Is there some new auto spell checker at work?
As a former State Farm employee, I read the thread with some interest and gave you a greenie (agreeing that the accidental scraping was now a moot point after so much time had passed), then noticed the oft-confused "mute/moot" was sitting there looking at me, so I corrected it. I'll PM you instead, if you prefer. I usually edit only questions or answers that need some major help. You just got lucky today...

No problem Wondergirl, you know my spelling isn't the greatest, thanks. I see now that there is a dent which was not mentioned earlier and the car is still in the lot. That kind of changes my view. excon and Judy are more correct with this new info.

I should have actually called it a scratch instead of a dent. It is a small scratch, most probably will go away with some rubbing / minor paintjob. Anyway, I have left my contact information on the car's windshield so we should be able to take care of whatever problems there might be.

Thanks all very much though.

I should have actually called it a scratch instead of a dent. It is a small scratch, most probably will go away with some rubbing / minor paintjob. Anyway, I have left my contact information on the car's windshield so we should be able to take care of whatever problems there might be.

Thanks all very much though.


You left your contact info on the car's windshield? I thought you went to work and didn't have time to go back?

Same car, another day?

@excon, @judayKay

Thanks guys.

I drove all the way back and left my information including name, phone number, email address etc in the windshield of the car and took picture of the small dent. Luckily the car was still in the same spot when I went back. But now I have the peace of mind that I did the right thing.

Thanks again!

Sulav
Here is what he had written earlier, Judy.