If you hit a car and did significant damage, but no one saw it, would you leave a note or just leave?
what people are talking about
Nunniabiness B on Magic Eye neomama on Cheeseburger Soup Shelley on Cheeseburger Soup Dyahn Darvey on Salisbury Steak from Paula… irene trammel on Magic Eye Julianne on Cheeseburger Soup Vanna on How long do you shower? Michelle Colpus on Your children Tanya on Cheeseburger Soup Heather on Cheeseburger Soup Donna Dillard on Cheeseburger Soup Donna Dillard on Cheeseburger Soup Sharon on Cheeseburger Soup JoJo on Cheeseburger Soup Ellen on Cheeseburger Soup
Us Girls..Our Views 
I have done that in my adult life. I left a note.
Once when I was very young (about 100 years ago) I bumped a fender and didn’t leave a note. I rationalized it at the time, but I still feel guilty about it to this day.
I would call the coppers.
Note may read:
“I’m writing this note just in case someone saw me hit your car. Have a nice day.”
I never get away with anything, even when it looks like I should be able to. So I’d fess up.
I would call the coppers if I didn’t it would bother me forever.
I would for sure call the cops, that would bother me forever, if i would just leave.
I would call the police if I had a cell phone, if not leave a note. I would feel horrible and plus with my luck I’d get caught and get in more trouble.
Hmmm well from my experience you can’t really do this if a traffic officer is involved in the accident. Well she jumped in front of me. I would definitely tell, thats my problem, I am honest to a fault… nuts!
The one time this happened, I left a note with my contact information. The owner of the car called me and was so pleased that I took responsibility, she told me not to worry about it. I was 16, with a driver’s license less than 6 months old, and I had been trying to parallel park with a stick (that I had literally that day learned to drive).
I’ve had people leave notes on my own car, twice now, not from the culprit, but from witnesses. I’ve left a few notes of my own to that tune. It’s just common courtasy… which isn’t so common anymore!
I would only call the cops if it were something serious, like a broken bumper or shattered glass or something. I’ve only had very minor damage, like a teeny dent or scrape. Damage that would cause an insurance claim should and will involve the police. When I hit the parked car, I left a dent the size of a quarter. If I had taken off the bumper, I would have called the authorities.
Lest I sound like a criminal, I should clarify that I left that note with all the info the person would need to make me pay up – and she did.
There are times when a cop doesn’t need to be called. In my case I bumped a fender in a parking garage. Calling a cop would inconvenience the owner more than the dent itself.
A couple days befor Christmas 2006, I was working late (til 4am) and some bum broke into my car to steal a gift basket and whatever else they could grab. Broke out the driver’s side window and left the broken glass all over the driver’s seat. I called the cops and they refused to come. The made me drive to the cop station which was in a bad neighborhood – did I mention it was 4am and I had no window? Ended up taking 2.5 hours to file a report and then figure out how to deal with the broken window. No, I really don’t think calling the cops would be helpful in the neighborhood where I work.
The owner called me and we talked about how to deal with the incident. She felt it was worth $300 so I gave her $400. That way she could get it fixed at her leisure, or just use the money on Christmas, and it didn’t need to go on my insurance. Both of us were happier than if we went through all those official formalities. I must say I don’t feel guilty at all for not calling the cops in that case.
I wouldn’t call the police unless it was really bad but I would leave a note with my phone and insurance numbers and stuff. I wouldn’t ever forget it either if I didn’t.
I would leave a note.
I would leave a note with contact info, but the ONE time I’ve hit a car (it was parked and I was backing up) there was a guy getting the carts in the parking lot so I felt I had to go in. I’m glad I did b/c security cameras would have caught me, but the girl was nice and so were her parents so it all worked out.
I know I would leave a note or call the police if it was bad enough just to have a police report on file in case the note blew a way or got taken. I would be overcome with guilt if I didn’t.
Now as I re-read the posts, I sound like a politician. I promise you I am not changing my story. Not intentionally. In my first post I refer to two fender bumps. One when I was a teen and one a few years ago. My next post claims ethical behavior but that only applies to the second one.
It’s true, I’m going to hell for the first one. (I don’t even know if there was damage – I didn’t have the guts to get out and look – but it really was a light touch.) Now that I have admitted it online, I had better give up all hopes of running for VP (as S. Palin’s running mate) in 2012.
I would stay until the person returned, leave a note, phone the police, or whatever I had to do to make amends to that person.