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If your car was parked next to it, I would try to settle the damages with the other car owner and see if whomever wrote up the summons would drop the charge or reduce it to something else. I think a hit & run is high insurance points too.
Exactly! Sorry, OP, I don't buy it. Gotta leave a note or the conclusion is that you were hoping it would just go away.
Same thoughts here. OP was hoping the scratched owner would think it happened elsewhere. People usually curse and shrug off ding/scratches as part of owning a vehicle. Must have been a serious scratch for the owner to request the video tape and call the cops or a seriously pissed off gonna get back at you and wish you are afraid to drive again and move out of state vindictive motorist.
I am a newbie in my company in New Jersey. This morning I scratched the car next to me when I was parking. I saw the scratch when I got off -- minor scratches, no dents or any cracks. I did not know that I should notify the company security, thus I left the parking lot and decided to wait until afternoon so that I can talk to the car owner. At noon the car owner called the police and I got the complaint-summons. Need to go to court. Obviously the police regarded it as hit-and-run. I was very honest the whole time and told the policeman all that happened.
I am so scared. It is my 2nd week at work and I do not want to screw it up. Most importantly, I did not have malicious intention when this accident happened. I did not run, nor did I parked my car elsewhere to cover up after the accident.
Could anyone tell me how to present myself in court? Should I plea guilty or not? And what will the consequences be? Will I get my license suspended or something?
Many thanks!!!!!
Technically, the first thing you should do when involved in any type of fender bender is to call the police and then notify your insurance carrier. Of course, most people in your situation would just try to find the owner and offer to pay for the damage, which would probably turn out O.K. as long as the owner didn't blame you for additional scratches you didn't cause.
That said, this was only a scratch so you won't go to jail. But, you'll probably end up paying more money than if you had just reported it, especially if you're convicted of a hit and run which will add points to your license and jack up your insurance rates.
If it's just a scratch it would have likely cost less than your deductible to fix, so you would have paid for it instead of the insurance company and your rates would be unaffected.
How did you know he/she wouldn't be coming out to the garage at any moment to go on a business errand or go home early? You could have at least left a note.
Last edited by LisaMc46; 09-29-2010 at 04:50 PM..
Reason: spelling
It is my understanding that the cops don't get involved when these type of problems occur in private lots, at least from the perspective of issuing tickets.
Can someone clarify, I know there is some private vs public issue that affects the issuance of tickets?
If you are from 'away', keep in mind cars are very personal to some folks and not just 'transportation'.
Any scratches may not be taken lightly, especially if the car is new and monthly payments are high. Scratches devalue a car big time.
The cost of repair when a factory tri-coat paint job is involed is big bucks especially when some of the colors cost around $300 a quart just for one component of a two or three part paint system.
It is my understanding that the cops don't get involved when these type of problems occur in private lots, at least from the perspective of issuing tickets.
Can someone clarify, I know there is some private vs public issue that affects the issuance of tickets?
That may be a legal "out", I don't know 100% for sure but my thought would be they have no jurisdiction on private property unless the owner of the parking lot grants them authority.
The OP may be able to settle the damages then claim no jurisdiction on the MV violation. However IANAL (I am not a lawyer).
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what kind of car did you scratch?
