I hit my neighbor's new car yesterday, what to do?

Question

My neighbors (a married couple in their late 40's) are out on vacation for 2 weeks. Here is what happened yesterday night:

After assisting a party with friends, we went to a bar/club afterwards. It was after 3:30 am when I started heading back home.

All was fine except I hit their car. Though it just felt like a minor hit (well I thought) so got home, took a shower and went to bed.

I woke up late with some headache (hangover basically) and stepped out to check the minor hit. To my shock, the headlights are broken and the bumper Is nearly ripped off. Oh shit. My car was a bit of damage too but theirs is more visible.

So what I'm gonna do now?

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

Contact your insurance company immediately. That doesn't mean an hour from now, it means right now.

This could be considered a hit and run. So don't delay. The longer you wait the worse it will look. Let the insurance company handle it. Do not admit to drinking. Do not admit fault to the owner. Tell the truth to the insurance company, except for the drinking part. They might suspect you were drinking though - this isn't the kind of thing sober drivers normally do.

Keep in mind that someone might have seen you, and potentially already contacted the owner or police. It's amazing how often somebody sees something when you think there was nobody around to see. Or they could have heard it and gone to look, only to see you driving off.

If you have the money, you can consider paying for the damage yourself. I doubt it will be worth it though. There could be unforeseen costs, even after the owner has an estimate. An estimate is an estimate, not the final cost. The insurance company might jack your rates up, especially if they suspect you were drinking.

If you were drunk enough to have a hangover, then you were way to drunk to be driving. What if it was a person that you hit? Or even a child? Seriously, you had to be pretty drunk to do that kind of damage and not even know it.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

All you have to do is report it to your insurance company. You don't have to make a police report.

DO NOT say anything about being drunk. There is no need. That's self incrimination and will get you in a lot of trouble. Just say it was dark and you accidentally hit the neighbor's car. End of story. Don't elaborate.

When your neighbors get home, tell them that you accidentally hit their car, that you are very, very sorry, and that you have already reported it to your insurance. Again, don't say anything to anyone about being drunk.

Your insurance company will handle it. That's their job. It's why you have insurance.

fafylone · Accepted Answer

Tell them. Explain the situation and call the assurance company.

Likes2drive · Answer

Well they can’t prove you were drunk anymore so you don’t need to mention that part but you can tell your insurance company and that they are on vacation so you can’t tell them until they are back, it’s not always necessary to file a police report, most times you just deal with each other’s insurance company, the only time it’s good to file a police report is to protect yourself from blame if it’s not your fault and if there’s injuries involved, so it’s recommended but not necessary, DMV will eventually get told by the insurance company

ChicoFromThe305 · Answer

There's two things you can do, the right thing and the wrong thing, wrong thing would be that you selfishly commit the hit and run. Or the right thing, You approach your neighbors and admit you accidentally hit their car on the way home (admitting you were drinking isn't important here as long as you call your insurance) then you call your insurance and take the monthly insurance increase

slatyb · Answer

You are going to call your insurance company and tell them what happened. Then you are going to inform them as soon as possible. "Hangover?" It sounds like you were driving under the influence. You need to be more careful before you get arrested. The consequences of a DWI / DUI conviction are serious.

Red_Arrow · Answer

The obvious answer is you admit it and take responsibility. But it was also obvious that you should not have been driving drunk!

Iron_Man · Answer

You tell them then you have to pay for it with your insurance you’re probably gonna have to make a report

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Start attending Alcoholics Anonymous immediately.

I hit my neighbor's new car yesterday, what to do?

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I hit my neighbor's new car yesterday, what to do?

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