Potential car scratch - do I reengage?

Was getting into my car this morning and had my hand on the edge of the door as it swung out and bumped the car next to me. I felt my hand make contact with the car but not the door itself. I looked to see if there was visible damage but the car was really dusty and I didn't see anything (it was a black car). There was a lady in the car and she didn't move or say anything.

I got into my car and left. Upon getting home I found some black paint on the edge of my car's door so I'm assuming there is some damage to the other car. I'm at this place often so will most likely see this car again, although I do not know the person. Should I approach them if/when I see them? I have no issues paying for the damage, I genuinely didn't think there was any at the time but apparently I'm wrong. What would you all do?

Right thing to do s mention if you see them again, if you don’t, at least you want to do the right thing. Good on you, This is why I always park way out in no mans land and just walk

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Originally Posted by animalwithin

Was getting into my car this morning and had my hand on the edge of the door as it swung out and bumped the car next to me. I felt my hand make contact with the car but not the door itself. I looked to see if there was visible damage but the car was really dusty and I didn't see anything (it was a black car). There was a lady in the car and she didn't move or say anything.

I got into my car and left. Upon getting home I found some black paint on the edge of my car's door so I'm assuming there is some damage to the other car. I'm at this place often so will most likely see this car again, although I do not know the person. Should I approach them if/when I see them? I have no issues paying for the damage, I genuinely didn't think there was any at the time but apparently I'm wrong. What would you all do?

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Just the fact that you are conflicted speaks volumes. If my car door ever gets dinged by someone else, i hope it's you.

I'd go with the old saying : "Let your conscience be your guide."

Pete <:-}

Thanks for the kind words gents :beer1:

If I do see them again I hope they don't get mad.

I saw this terrible movie last night called "Deranged". I hope that driver wasn't like that guy.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I saw this terrible movie last night called "Deranged". I hope that driver wasn't like that guy.

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Did you mean 'Unhinged'?

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Right thing to do s mention if you see them again, if you don’t, at least you want to do the right thing. Good on you, This is why I always park way out in no mans land and just walk

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Further the better

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Originally Posted by rolodave

Further the better

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Indeed, plenty of open space. Will park elsewhere from now on.

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Originally Posted by animalwithin

Thanks for the kind words gents :beer1:

If I do see them again I hope they don't get mad.

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If someone dinged the door of my brand new car i would be seriously mad, but if a month later after i had calmed down someone approached me and apologized I would too surprised and impressed to do anything but smile and shake his hand. Would probably ask he fancied a pint.

yep, your doing the right thing. I would guess that if you have a chance to meet them again it won't be a big deal. (but that's how i would handle it). It's happened to me before and i just get out the bottle of touch up paint. (of course my cars aren't that nice.)

Kudos to you for wanting to do the right thing ..

You'd be doing the right thing.

Here in Ohio, if you hit another car, in say a grocery store parking lot, nobody is held accountable, or at fault.

This is what the police officer told me, when a lady hit my parked truck, while i was still in it, almost tearing the drivers door, from the vehicle. Being no report was made, I had to pay for the repairs outta my own pocket

The cop didn't think it was funny, when I said.....so, your saying that I can fly around any private parking lot, slam into every car there, and nobody can be cited, or held responsible...??!! Bet that ain't the case, should I hit your cruiser,while your in it.

Private property. The cop was right.

What if your car was parked in your back yard and so was you neighbors in their yard and someone got into it and plowed through to your side and wrecked your car.

Unless there were injuries they probably wouldn't even respond and there will be no reports for property damage.

Aloha!

As other have posted, "Let your conscience be your guide". Do what you think is right.

Me? I'm way too laid back. My car looks like a practice project for ding repair shop students. I don't really care. The way I look at it, those are battle scars that would be on the door sooner or later anyway. BECAUSE - In Hawaii, the one thing we do not have in abundance is SPACE. There is very little of it. Thus, parking spaces are smaller than they are on the mainland. Doors get dinged all the time. I'd like to say that the Aloha spirit prevails and everyone owns-up to a door ding, but that's not the case. If you ding a car when an owner is sitting in it, they will immediately get out and address the situation, believe me, but of all the countless dings i have received in my car doors when I was not in the car, no one ever put a note on my vehicle nor approaced me and apologized, let alone offered to make it right.

I've also been shut out of my car (on more than one occasion) where both cars next to me parked so close I could not open the doors to get in. I had to wait until one of the car owners came back and drove away so that I could get access to my car. It's easier to do in Hawaii because the parking spaces are so tight. If you drive a large SUV, chances are you are going to shut someone out of their car if you don't park dead center in your parking spot. The temptation is to park your large vehicle a bit to the right so YOUR door opens easily. Some do not realize or care that they are shutting out the car owner to their right in doing so.

Ah, life is interesting when you live on an island in the middle of the Pacific ocean.

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Originally Posted by ZipZop

Aloha!

As other have posted, "Let your conscience be your guide". Do what you think is right.

Me? I'm way too laid back. My car looks like a practice project for ding repair shop students. I don't really care. The way I look at it, those are battle scars that would be on the door sooner or later anyway. BECAUSE - In Hawaii, the one thing we do not have in abundance is SPACE. There is very little of it. Thus, parking spaces are smaller than they are on the mainland. Doors get dinged all the time. I'd like to say that the Aloha spirit prevails and everyone owns-up to a door ding, but that's not the case. If you ding a car when an owner is sitting in it, they will immediately get out and address the situation, believe me, but of all the countless dings i have received in my car doors when I was not in the car, no one ever put a note on my vehicle nor approaced me and apologized, let alone offered to make it right.

I've also been shut out of my car (on more than one occasion) where both cars next to me parked so close I could not open the doors to get in. I had to wait until one of the car owners came back and drove away so that I could get access to my car. It's easier to do in Hawaii because the parking spaces are so tight. If you drive a large SUV, chances are you are going to shut someone out of their car if you don't park dead center in your parking spot. The temptation is to park your large vehicle a bit to the right so YOUR door opens easily. Some do not realize or care that they are shutting out the car owner to their right in doing so.

Ah, life is interesting when you live on an island in the middle of the Pacific ocean.

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I'd love to be on an island; alas I'm stuck in Los Angeles.

The owner was actually in the car at the time of the incident but they never got out. I was at the location today and the car wasn't there. If I am to see them again, it won't be for another week.

If it were me that got my car dinged and someone had the decency to tell me I would probably say "don't worry about it," and thank them for their honesty unless it was really severe, which I think would be hard to do as you described.
I have found that honesty and forthrightness is usually rewarded. Even if they do hold you accountable you have a clear conscience, especially if you really do mean to make it right.