I accidentally hit a car.. I don't know what to do?

<p>I was backing up and I didn't know the car was that close. I wasn't hitting the gas or anything, but I hit the brake too late and my car hit the other parked car..</p>

<p>I have a driving permit, my car is under my mom's insurance and I was being watched by someone across the street. I stayed there for a little and tried to look at the car without being obvious and I might have seen a small dent in the car.. but I didn't go down to look since I knew that the people across the street were probably trying to remember my face and my license plate number.. I had to walk down to my friend's house to pick up something... so I went and as I was going, they were watching me..</p>

<p>When I got back to my car, I noticed them watching me still and I was leaving, I saw in my rearview that the guy (there were two people there. Girl and guy) went across the street to look at the car.. I don't know what to do.. When I got home, I didn't see any of the car's paint.. I know this is a hit and run but it was my first accident and since I didn't know what to do.. I just left.</p>

<p>Please just give me advice on what to do. I'm really frustrated and terrified. I'm willing to go back to the car to see if I can find the owner but I'm just scared since I don't have a legal license yet.. I know what is the right thing but I just want to be prepared since.. it is my first time getting into something like this.</p>

<p>I’ll be completely honest, the same thing happened to me in the same way. But no one was around and it was just a scratch. I panicked and drove off, but I was freaking out so my parents figured it out after questioning me. We went back and left a note. The owner called and said it was ok and she wasn’t going to pursue it, just said thanks for leaving a note. Trust me, I know it’s scary, but it will be on your conscience if you ignore it forever.</p>

<p>So what do you think I should do since I was being watched? Go back and leave a note? I don’t have a license… so I’m really scared because I honestly think there’s a possibility for going to jail… It’s my first time ever getting into an accident so I’m just really scared…</p>

<p>You really shouldn’t ignore it. If it was in a private lot or on private property, the police can’t give you a ticket for hitting another car. However, a hit-and-run, depending on the level of damage, is a misdemeanor. So, I would recommend going back and leaving a note or finding the owner or something. If he/she decides to pursue it and finds you, that misdemeanor will go on your record.</p>

<p>Have your parents go back with you. That should make it easier. And I doubt you’d go to jail unless someone called the cops which is unlikely</p>

<p>So go back? What should I write down since I don’t have a license?</p>

<p>A note and basic contact information. Again, like I said, if it’s on a private property/lot, police have no jurisdiction. They can’t even give you a citation.</p>

<p>It was in a residential area… I’m just scared because then, I’d have to drive back to the scene of the crime and it was around an hour ago… that could’ve given the witnesses time to call the police… And I’m not even supposed to drive so I’m terrified of even driving.</p>

<p>When you called your mother what did she say to do?</p>

<p>Then go back with your parents. If you’re not supposed to be driving anyway, why were you out??</p>

<p>I haven’t talked to my mother yet, because she’s at work and I want to wait til she gets out so I can tell her in person.</p>

<p>I had to pick up something really quick from my friend’s house… and it turned out to be a huge mistake…</p>

<p>Your mother deserves to know now so she can plan what to say to the person whose car was hit by hers.
When she gets home you two need to go back over to the house, hopefully before it gets dark.
She needs to deal with that before she deals with you taking the car without permission.</p>

<p>I’m not clear what you mean when you say, “I have a driving permit.”</p>

<p>Do you mean that you have a permit that authorizes you to drive an automobile on your own–what the French would call a “permis de conduire”? Or do you mean that you have a permit that allows you to drive an automobile under the supervision of a licensed driver, while you’re learning–what in the state where I live we call a “learner’s permit”?</p>

<p>Either way, you know what you ought to do. You ought to go back and identify yourself to the owner of the other car–either in person or by leaving a note. If the other car has been damaged, you ought to pay the cost to repair it. From your description, it sounds as if any damage done will be minor, and the cost of repairing it will be small. This is lucky, because you can probably take care of this without involving your mom’s auto insurance company.</p>

<p>If you have a learner’s permit and you were operating the car without the supervision of a licensed driver, you could be in a jam. If the police become involved, you could be cited for operating an automobile without a license. Besides carrying fines, this citation could delay the time when you can get your license. If you go back and identify yourself to the owner of the other car, and the owner is willing to settle the matter for cash, you will avoid involving the police. If you don’t, and those people who you think are witnesses give their information to the owner, he or she may call the police and ask them to locate you. But the proper thing to do, even if you have only a learner’s permit, is to come clean about what you’ve done. It probably has a down side–especially if you were using your mom’s car without her permission–but the down side isn’t as bad as the down side to trying unsuccessfully to get away with this.</p>

<p>I told her, and I don’t know what she’s doing but she asked me what time I hit the car… but that’s it…</p>

<p>You were full of confidence you could drive your mother’s car to your friend’s house and be back without her knowing you took it out.
But as soon as you hit a car you turn into a scared kid who flees the scene of the crash.
Your mother trusts you to act right while she is at work but you take advantage of her leaving the car keys out.
She’s tired from a week of work and now she has to deal with this …</p>

<p>Thank you all.</p>

<p>I contacted my mom and she seems to be taking care of it.
When she gets home from work, she said she’ll talk to me and I’ll ask her to take me back to the car I hit (while hoping no one notified the cops) and leave a note saying I’ll take care of the damage.</p>

<p>I wish I didn’t go to pick up the thing from my friend’s house because this wouldn’t have happened… but that’s life. Hopefully the witnesses haven’t notified anyone while I wait for my mom to come home so we can handle the situation with the owner. Wish I left the note when the accident happened but the witnesses watching me scared me off for some reason… I knew that even if I tried, I wouldn’t have been able to write the note since I was so scared.</p>

<p>Uhm, for one thing beerme.
She knows I take the car out to drive and practice.
She knows that I drive safely since she’s been with me and trusts me with the car. I actually have my test coming up but it just happens that today was not my day.</p>

<p>I didn’t ask for anyone to judge me, I just wanted to ask for help with the situation.
I’m sure you’re not a perfect child either… so if you’re just going to take wacks at me, then go ahead.</p>

<p>You opened the thread.
You invited comments.</p>

<p>It might be all well and good that your mom says you are a good driver.</p>

<p>However, you have a provisional license. That means you can only drive under certain conditions, ie with an adult. And unfortunately the state trumps your mom.</p>

<p>Perhaps you should follow the law until you actually do get your license. </p>

<p>You can’t say this is my first accident when you’ve probably had your permit less than six months. It shouldn’t be an annual event.</p>

<p>You probably aren’t covered by your mom’s insurance if you were driving alone. Another reason not to break the law.</p>