Is this considered an car accident? Can I get into trouble for this?

Earlier this morning, I was trying to find a park at the elementary school, and I backed up into a white car. But the only thing that happened was the paint of that car scraped on the car that I was driving. And the paint of my car scraped onto their car. There was no fender bender damage. And my car and their car was not bent or anything at all. Just paint that was rubbed off on both cars. I am terrified! I don't want to get into trouble for this. No one saw when it happened as far as I know of. I don't want my husband to not let this stop me from driving the car. I told him about it, and he really didn't make too much of a big deal about it. I was so scared to tell him! But, I did, I did not want to keep or hide this from him. I am so sorry that this has happened. It makes me feel like I am a bad driver, when I know that I am very cautious. When I am on the road driving, I am very alert to cars and pedestrians. I keep my speed limit on track. I am very alert and focused. Has this ever happened to you before? Have you scraped the paint of your car onto someone else's car? Or has this happened your car? Should I even be worried, because I am. I did not get hurt and there is no damage of the car being torned or bent... So, will I get into trouble if someone was to find out that I bent their car. I mean noone saw what really happened. There was this man and another man in a truck that passed by me as I was backing up. But, they could have been looking at me because, I was moving out of their way from the street. They went on their way to where they had to be. I guess they really did not quite know what happened. I am so scared of getting into trouble! I feel so bad! I can't believe that this even happened. I have been so careful whenever I drive and back up. I always make sure that the way is clear and I take my time backing up very slow. This is the first time that this has happened since I have been driving. And I assure myself that it will be the last! I am not trying to get into trouble or cause an accident.

emt_me911

If you can remember where the car was, go back and try to find it and leave a note for the owner on windshield. Explain what happened and leave contact information. Once (if) the owner calls you, exchange insurance information. It's far better to come clean. You may think that no one saw you but how do you know? If the owner finds out, you could find yourself charged with leaving the scene of an accident, which is serious business.

A fender bender is really no big deal...many of us have done that, myself included. Jeez, I completely demolished a car (my own) when I was a teen. If all attempts at contact fail, know that you tried to contact the owner and that you were not able to. Good luck.

EMT

Laura

yes, that's an accident, but it was just that - an accident. If I were you, I would've at least tried to find the owner of the car and let them know what happened, so that you don't get in trouble for "leaving the scene of an accident." If anyone did see it, you COULD get in trouble for that.

rnwallace07

First, an accident is an accident and does not necessarily make you a bad driver. Did you leave a contact message on the other car? The fact there was no "fender bender" does not diminish the fact that it happened. Yes, it has happened to me once. I was stopped behind another vehicle at a stop sign. The other car's brake lights went out and the car started to move. I also started to move forward. Suddenly, the woman slammed her brakes back on and I bumped her car. We both got out and surveyed for any damage - only a scuff mark on her bumper. She said she needed to talk to her husband, so I gave her my name, address and phone number. To this day, I never heard another word. If there was no other damage to any part of the car except for the paint scrape on the bumper, I wouldn't worry about it too much. But you should have left contact information.

sgoldperson

It's technically an accident. No harm no foul. It's a shame the other driver wasn't around for you to inform them what you did. I've done something like this before, I was parallel parking. I've bumped the car behind me(at like 2-3 mph probably, I let the car drift back I don't use the gas pedal once the car starts moving in reverse when parking). Anyway I never left paint, so no one would know or care. I go back check that I didn't do anything to the other car, or mine(always more worried about the other car first). Your only real screw-up was that the other driver doesn't know who did it. If that had been me I wouldn't really care that a little paint was swapped BUT I'd be upset that the other driver left without me knowing who it was.

billranger3754

Yes, this is considered an accident.
But you got away with it. so just cool your jets & go on with life.
I think that we all have our share of little scrapes& fender benders
That is part of driving a motor vechile.
Accidents will happen no matter how small or how bad they are.
I've been in some wrecks my self & have been to many bad wrecks &
helped people out at them.
I was volunteer/ Fire rescue person for over 9 years on LI NY.

UCANTCME

If someone saw this and reports it you will be charged with a hit and run and that is not a pretty situation to be in......

Harry Harrison

Yep you can - it's still damage to the other car. Although you didn't think it was a big deal, imagine if you came out to your car and found some paint rubbed off by someone backing into it - would you be happy to pay for that damage?

seattlesailor2000

first its and accident, and since you caused it you should have left a note explaining what had happened and your contact number.

as drivers we need to take responsibility for any damage we cause. as an example it cost me over a $100.00 to have a "small" parking lot door ding fixed. the damage occurred at a WalMart parking lot when some """"slammed their door into mine. I didn't notice the damage on the passenger door until i got home, since it is a newer car with no other dents, i wanted to have it repaired, it falls under my deductible so i'm out the $100. I would have been very pleased to have found a note on my car window from the other driver.

if this happened to you how would you feel?

hope this helps

StephenWeinstein

Yes, this is a car accident. Any contact between the car and something else (either a fixed object or another car) than damages either the car or the other object is a car accident, even if the damage is only a scratch in the paint.

You can get into major trouble for leaving the scene of any accident, however minor, without reporting it to the police or providing your name and certain other information to the owner of the damaged property.

Ironically, if you had properly reported the accident when it happened, you would not have been in trouble.

GriM

Technically two cars have been in a collision so yes, it is a car accident.
No.
You shouldn't get in trouble unless the person really wants to press charges about a little paint trading.
Only thing you have to worry about is the other persons reaction, other then that, no worries, a simple mistake. Everyone has them.

Danielle

LOL, it's ok. If no one saw it they can't take forensic evidence off the paint scrape on the car! I've done this before, I'm sure everyone has. Stop worrying about it so much. Technically it is hit and run but it's not like you actually damaged the car so the driver probably won't even notice until a few days later, and by then hard to tell when and where it could have happened.

Hanna S

any contact with a car is a car accedent and with paint on the other car is a little bit worse. but you should probably get the licsen plate number and call in but then you dont want to get in trouble just get a sharpie of the color of your car and then color it.

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