Is it possible to hit a car without realising?

Question

I parked next to a car and then realised that I had no room to get out so I went and parked in a space with more room.

After coming out of a shop a woman approached me at my car saying that I had hit hers. I apologised and informed her that I had not realised because I had not heard or felt anything.

She pointed to a few minor scratches on my car but it’s possible they were already there.

She basically accused me of a hit and run even though I was still parked in the same street.

I then gave her my details and insurance company. She did not offer to show me the damage or prove that it was my fault. She also didn’t give me her details. Looking back I now realise that I should of asked for all this but I was shaken up because this has never happened before.

2 days later I received a call from her insurance company saying that there was a whiteness which I also wasn’t told about at the time. They also informed me that the woman had made a police report at our local station because that’s what you have to do in Australia if you want to make a claim.

However, when I went to find out what report she had made, the cop informed me that there were no reports against me. This means that she lied to her insurance company.

After telling him that I had yet to see proof that the incident was my fault (which he agreed was strange) I was informed not to accept any liability until there was proof.

I am still waiting for her insurance company to send me information from the whiteness and it’s possible that they are still investigating. If she is telling the truth, it seems as though she didn’t even see the incident and is just relying on the whiteness.

Hope this makes sense.

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

This might be a variation of a common scam.

Don't admit fault. Talk to your own insurance company and let them know you did not hear or feel anything, and that you think it might be a scam. They are probably familiar with the scam.

One variation is that when you are backing out of a parking spot, they actually hit you. You didn't see them when you started to back out because they weren't there. They back up slowly and tap you. There might be minimal or no visible damage. Then a few days later you get a call from your insurance asking if you hit someone in that parking lot. You answer yes. The scammer then brings a car to the insurance company to inspect the damage. It's not the same car that you hit, or hit you. It's a different car with more damage. They can use the same car to make multiple claims with multiple insurance companies this way.

They might try to get money from you directly, since many people don't want the claim on their insurance. They might claim an expensive part was damaged, maybe a part you are completely unfamiliar with. You pay them for the supposed broken part in cash.

Sometimes they won't even be in the vehicle when you get out to inspect it. For example a big van that backs into you while you back out of a parking lot. They stop the van and hop in the back to hide. Since there is not anyone in the van, you naturally think you were at fault and just didn't see the van when you got in your car and pulled out. You don't see any damage, but when you get the call from insurance, you admit hitting the car because that's what you believed happened. Like before, they bring a different car to insurance, one that already had damage.

There are a lot of variations of this. So make sure your insurance knows that you did not think you hit anyone. Let them figure it out. And do not admit fault. You shouldn't admit fault anyone, even if you legitimately know for sure you hit someone.

naraku · Accepted Answer

It is possible to hit a car and not notice depending on the vehicles.

I used to work in vehicle accident management and you DO NOT have to report it to the police unless it was absolutely needed. Insurance companies generally don't care about a police report for scratches or carpark incidents. Also, I am from Australia.

I think one of two things.

1. She's put you down in error. See if there's CCTV at the car park and thing's like that. Check where her damage is and yours. Make sure any scratch or paint mark's match and the right colour.

2. Becareful that it's not a scam and she's trying to milk money out of you. Since she refused to tell you anything or show you, and there's a "witness" make's me suspicious.

Do not admit liability or any such thing with out ACTUAL evidence. Don't fall for "witnesses" or any thing like " I'm going to the police" to try to scare you. Get actual proof and if she can't/ won't you would have to wonder why.

Reading over this, I personally think this woman is full of shit.
Yes, I could be wrong and maybe you did unknowingly hit her vehicle, but I think she has a lot to prove first.

jennifer_bloom · Accepted Answer

I think she might have no idea who damaged her car and just be looking for an excuse to blame the first person she thinks she can get away with accusing so she can get the victims insurance company to pay for her damaged car instead of covering the cost with her own insurance e company and risk rises in future insurance costs if she isn’t able to find a person to assign blame to for her car issue.

I’m not a legal expert but I’ve known at least one or two cases in my social circle where an unrelated driver intentionally tried to crash their car and do it in a way that makes the victim look like they caused the crash. One guy kept driving in strange ways on the road in an unusual manner that was clearly designed to stage a car accident in which he would look like the victim in the crash.

Not sure what would motivate somebody to manufacture their own car crash - Maybe they want their insurance company to pay them money so they can use it for house repairs etc...

SphynxUK · Accepted Answer

If you hit her fat you would know about it. You’d feel it.
Where was the damage to her car?
Is it possible you did? Was your car in that position?
Have you damage on your car to suggest an accident?

Do you even know if you were speaking to her insurers?
Sounds like a scam to me.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I don't know the law in Australia but common sense would suggest that you photograph the scratches on your car - to preserve the evidence - and ask her insurance company to send you photographs of the damage on her car. And, of course, do not admit fault.

Bananaman177 · Answer

Insurance scams are very real and they happen all the time.

The people who do scams do them every day, all day long, because that's their job, and they're very good at it, so eventually you're going to run into one.

They particularly like to prey on young women because, as you yourself pointed out, "you didn't think to get her details because you were shaken up."

Young women are very easy to "shake up" and shaking them up completely discombobulates them and makes them easy prey for all kinds of tricks and scams and a lot worse things than that.

Use this experience and try to remember not to go to jelly and fold like a wet rag just because some crazy bitch walks up to you talking shit. If you're not capable of matching aggression with assertiveness, then you need to find an adult to take care of you and go with you out in public to keep you safe.

The world's not safe and the world's not fair, if you can't stand up for yourself, you're just a victim waiting to happen.

Jjpayne · Answer

It's honestly super easy to do this. And I've actually hit a car twice recently by merely scraping their paint and I've been thankfully let off twice. I think it depends on the person and they will get really jumpy if it's the right one. But it all depends on the person. I myself, as long as it's pruely cosmetic, I'd let it slide. Little accidents like that are not worth worrying about and besides I'm frankly surprised that we get by so often without hitting each other daily. I mean think about it. The road commonly is only separated by lines and an a common understanding. How is it possible that we never mess up daily? It still baffles me 😅

RawIronhide · Answer

It's highly improbable that you hit someone without knowing it even small low mph collisions produce a lot of force it would have jolted you in your car. She's full of shit maybe she just saw you close and is trying to pull one over on you. You didn't hit her. Stick up for yourself, refuse to pay cuz you did nothing wrong. It'll probably all go away. When you've got the truth on your side the producing party doesn't have a leg to stand on but you gatta call their bluff. Good like I think you'll be alright.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

A light touching might go un-noticed.
Nowadays cars are made to fall apart the moment you give them a hard stare; so it is possible to have caused light 'damage'.
---
About the insurance thing: in a light accident of any kind it's not that you carelessly killed someone's baby - but people tend to react as if you did so.
In case that you are 'free of guilt': sleep well and let the others prove something that can't be proven.
And just in case that it indeed turns out that it was a mistake of yours: that's what the insurance will settle; you will not end up on the gallows.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

It sounds like the Woman needs to get her story straight and if anything went on she should have discussed things that day with you.. These people half the time don't belong behind a wheel I live in the US and this elderly woman driving from the High Rise pulled out in front of my cousin, thank goodness my cousin had her eyes on the road wow people make you wonder?

msc545 · Answer

It sounds like a scam. I had a woman try this with me one time who is parked directly behind me when I went to pull out from my parking space she came running up to my car saying I'd hit her car I walked to the back and looked at her car and there was no damage to her front end and no damage to my car. I knew I had not hit her but I was concerned if I just left she would call the police and say that it was a hit-and-run accident. I called the police and they came will examine her car in my car and then said to me privately but she was trying to scam me and I should just leave and ignore the entire thing which is what I did. People will do anything to get some money.

WesBrewer · Answer

I don't think you can hit a car without noticing, My older sister isn't a very good driver and I've been in the car when she parked into someone else's, and you feel it, and there wasn't even a scratch but she definitely hit the other guys car. as to the lady accusing you, I don't think you hit her car, especially not her mirror, because you would've noticed, if you hit her mirror then you would've known for sure since it sticks out.

sweetvirgocreature · Answer

Is it possible to hit a car without realizing? That is an interesting question, especially for me since I am learning to drive. I think it is slightly possible if it was a bit of light touch to leave scratches, but not anything major. I think that's why sometimes people get surprised when they notice a small dent or even small scratch on their car because they didn't realize when they had caused it. But I also think, moving forward be careful of how you are parking.

AdithyaR · Answer

Well due to my lack of understanding of the insurance parts I'll just stick to the actual question.

It is possible to hitba car without knowing but in my experience it seems rare as you'd hear at least a little thud or scratching sound even on small bumps.
But it it possible to hit a car without knowing.

katiesmuff · Answer

Sounds much like you are being scammed and to think I always thought it was only in the U S where people were that shitty.

Apope16 · Answer

I dont really think it is likely she hit your car and had no idea. It depends on how big the scratches are. If the scratches are minor then it is likely the didn't realize.

Sevenpointfive · Answer

that's small scale insurance fraud, but expect a lawsuit lol

sheikalana · Answer

if there’s no proof like footage it’s her word against yours. She played you well.

bobby1973 · Answer

Never accept responsibility for any collision even if you know it is your fault let the insurance deal. with it. Plus the police should be investigat the false claim.

Gwenhwyfar · Answer

She might very well be lying. Don’t pay her anything without more proof.

Wise4myage · Answer

Yeah, she tried to scam you and I say don't worry about it unless it goes further.

Aakash_Hangargi · Answer

I guess you could get some footage? Any cameras available? You can watch them and could use it as proof I assume the parking area would be covered?

RationalMale · Answer

It's possible but unlikely. Did your car hace scratches or scrapes? Scrapes are much more likely. Don't admit any fault

COMMODOREII · Answer

It's possible but this does sound fishy. Do you know if there was any cameras at the parking lot you were at? It might show you hitting her car or not.

Is it possible to hit a car without realising?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Is it possible to hit a car without realising?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.