A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:Earlier on today, I was at the grocery store. I was parked between two cars. When driving forwards out, I though I heard a light thump sound, and thought oh shit have I clipped the back end of the car on the left hand side of me, but as I looked back the rear end of my car was sticking the opposote way, nowhere near it, so I though it couldn't have, and drove on. So I thought it was all the heavy bags in the hatchback had slid over when I turned, making the light thump noise. On my way out of the carpark, I pulled over, and got out and checked the rear of my car, and not a scratch. So I thought I musn't have hit it and drove on home. But now I am seriously worried. What if I did hit the other car? As I was driving out of the car park exit, I seen an old man put his groceries in and get in the car I thought I hit, and he didn't seem to hang about too long.I am really worried, if it turns out I did hit his car I can't argue that I didn't know, because CCTV and witnesses would see that I got out to check my own car. I'm stressing myself out wondering what could happen to me.I have hit parked cars before(I waited to identify myself to the owner these times) and I had heard a proper bang rather than a light thump.Should I tell the police, just in case? Or what should I do? I geneuinely didn't think I'd hit it when I checked my own car, or I wouldn't have gone on. Reply to this Question
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reader, anonymous, writes (11 August 2014): I really doubt you hit their car or damaged it and even if you did there is no damage to your car so there is probably no or minimal damage to the other car. People do minor damage all the time in parking lots, my car has had minor scratches etc. and no one informed me. To be honest I don't care that much because there are more important things in life to worry about.
This is not something I would obsess about unless you're leaving out important information. Maybe you imagined the noise or it was something else such as your groceries etc. But you can tell the store if you're worried about it.
A
reader, anonymous, writes (10 August 2014): You might go back to the store and give them a description of the cars immediately next to yours and mention that you wasn't sure if you may have "tapped" one of them. You saw no damage when you checked, so you felt it was alright to leave.
Offer them only your contact information and the date and time you were there. As long as there was no one injured, you shouldn't be so worried.
If there is no damage to your car; there is likely no damage to another vehicle. You may have rolled over something beneath your tire; or your spare tire may have shifted in the trunk. Somehow I feel you're leaving something out. Otherwise, why are you so worried?
Maybe you're just overwhelmed with guilt for leaving; but if "your" car isn't scratched or damaged; you didn't do any.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (10 August 2014): Legally you're bound to report any accidents you have had to leave the scene from to the police within 24 hours. You need to go to your local police station with your driving licence, insurance and mot certificate. You can explain that you are not sure if you did, but are reporting it as possible in case the other party reports damage to the police too. They will take a simple report outlining that you don't think you collided but are reporting as it's better safe than sorry. If you have hit them, they report it and then you are found to have done it you can be charged with failing to stop after an RTC. It's very unlikely that would happen for minor damages, but for future reference bear that in mind. Next time just check the other car too, as it would've put your mind at rest. I'm sure if the car was damaged the owner wouldn't have left quickly, as they would've been checking their car and looking around for potentially anyone who saw it happen.
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