If you accidentally hit a parked car, is the right thing to do to run or to confess?

[downtown]

How is this even a question? Only a total moral infant wouldn't tell the car owner, or at least leave a note with your contact information.

Not only is failing to do so a super douchebag thing to do, it's also illegal.

 

[sophie]

Leaving the scene of an accident can bring serious legal repercussions to you, particularly if anybody was injured or if the damage to the car was great. You never want to flee the scene of an accident, even an apparently minor one.

 

[Gucumatz]

If you run, the police will end up catching you if the victim has wits about them and manages to catch your license plate. I have had someone hit my car and run on me but I managed to pay attention to the license plate and the guy was caught

 

[Gucumatz]

True. Also there may be cultural differences that I'm not aware of. Maybe in other countries, accidental damage really is just an "oh noes such is life" thing, whereas in the West, it's more like "omg you broke my car you better pay for that!"

This is also a good point. In the US or European countries its easier to press a claim. Good luck trying to do that in Guatemala where fleeing from crime sites is common and percentage of people getting caught is minimal (and coupled with terrible driving and thieves you never want to drive a nice car - even driving older cars from the 60 I have had family whose cars have been totalled or they have been held up in the middle of the street and not been able to do a thing against the people who did these acts)

 

[JollyRoger]

Wait for them to show up and stand your ground when they angrily approach you. Make sure you are a lighter skin tone than the car owner.

 

[Synobun]

Wait for them to show up and stand your ground when they angrily approach you. Make sure you are a lighter skin tone than the car owner.

Then proceed to sell stock photos on eBay for thousands of dollars.

 

[Archbob]

Then proceed to sell stock photos on eBay for thousands of dollars.

Then challenge him to Mortal Kombat for the profits, winner take all.

 

[Perfection]

No offense, but it may lead to having to pay for something that is entirely an accident. I would not exact restitution if MY car was wrecked, but that's just me.

You still screwed up. You pay for it. No one plans to screw up but they still need to take responsibility for it.

If you do something that harms someone you should take responsibility. I practice that and expect the same.

 

[peter grimes]

Arguments for running:

1. It's not anybody's fault (not deliberately)
2. Confessing feeds the victim's anger (once they discover their wrecked car)


Arguments for confessing:

1. They may only have the one car and need it for work etc.


To run or to confess?

Only read the first page of the thread, but I'm stunned this has to even be asked by someone who claims to be Christian. It's as if an atheist has to explain a platitude

As someone who was recently on the receiving end of "an accident" involving my parked car, I can assure you that decent folk will be far more upset by the perceived injustice of a random act of damage than an interaction with responsible neighbor.

Avoiding responsibility is about the most selfish course of action here. There's a good reason society imposes a harsher penalty on Hit & Run than simple Hit.

And if money is what you're worried about, well, if it's a genuine accident with police report and such then the insurance companies work it out.

Search the Rants Threads around Septemberish for my user name - you'll see how the victim feels.

 

[JollyRoger]

Yeah, all those Bible verses about an ox damaging another ox and how compensation should be done, you think this would be an easy call.

 

[peter grimes]

Then proceed to sell stock photos on eBay for thousands of dollars.

Story? I don't know this one.

 

[Synobun]

Story? I don't know this one.

Here you go.

Here's the stock photo compared to his "original painting":

 

[illram]

How is hitting a parked car an "accident"??? Of course it's your fault.

 

[Borachio]

Actually, I confess I accidentally hit a parked car only the other day. I stopped, got out, examined the parked car very, very carefully but I couldn't see any actual damage on it (I was moving incredibly slowly at the time).

Was I right not to seek out the owner of the vehicle?

Would I have been right if I'd actually damaged it but so slightly as to be unnoticeable amongst the many other dents and scrapes on the vehicle?

Is it true that Americans generally accept some damage to their fenders (bumper)? After all, that's what a fender is for, isn't it? To protect the actual body work of the vehicle.

 

[metatron]

Being religious is the reason I try to keep others from getting angry.

You are not entitled to other people not being angry for damage you caused.

You are subject to the damn law. Other people are not subject to your disgusting "faith".

A first step towards people not being angry with you would be to not questioning their fundamental rights with delusions derived from your cult.

 

[downtown]

Krogan, what do you think would make somebody more upset. Finding somebody had damaged their car, but left contact info to sort out the financial damages, or finding somebody had damaged their car and ran away, leaving them to deal with the financial implications themselves?

 

[Borachio]

Being religious is the reason I try to keep others from getting angry.

I honestly think you're doing this religious thing wrong, if you'd even consider driving away from hitting a parked car. Have you considered abandoning religion and going straight to sociopathy?

Is it up to you to keep others from getting angry? Isn't your entire field of concern your own behaviour?

But maybe I've got your religion wrong.

 

[bhsup]

But maybe I've got your religion wrong.

No, you do not have it wrong.

The Golden Rule

The Krogan Rule

 

[Borachio]

Ah yes.

But if his position is that he'd automatically forgive anyone who'd hit his parked car, whether they stopped or ran off, maybe he's still within the Golden Rule?

The test would come when someone did actually damage his car.

Maybe they already have.

 

[Formaldehyde]

How is hitting a parked car an "accident"???

Because it frequently isn't done intentionally?