Neighbor Hit My Parked Car - I Don't Want Trouble

[PaSasha]

I live in Pennsylvania, if that is of any relevance, in an apartment complex. I went to leave for work the other day and as I approached my car I noticed that the bottom rear passenger panel was scraped pretty deeply. When I got closer I noticed there was orange paint in the deep scrape. Lo and behold there is an orange vehicle parked to the right of my car. I go to look at their front driver's side bumper and, by golly, my white paint is on the orange vehicle's front bumper which is scraped as well.

My assumption is that this person was pulling into the spot next to mine, misjudged, and scraped my bumper. I'm thinking the person did not realize they hit me or they would have said something at best or parked elsewhere at worst.

I don't know who owns the car so I don't know who to approach about this. I truly don't want to involve the police or community manager, but I also don't want to pay a deductible to have this fixed. Any recommendations on how to approach this diplomatically without getting folks in trouble? Should I just let it go or is this worthy of kicking up a little bit of muck?

 

[WinoBlues]

I live in Pennsylvania, if that is of any relevance, in an apartment complex. I went to leave for work the other day and as I approached my car I noticed that the bottom rear passenger panel was scraped pretty deeply. When I got closer I noticed there was orange paint in the deep scrape. Lo and behold there is an orange vehicle parked to the right of my car. I go to look at their front driver's side bumper and, by golly, my white paint is on the orange vehicle's front bumper which is scraped as well.

My assumption is that this person was pulling into the spot next to mine, misjudged, and scraped my bumper. I'm thinking the person did not realize they hit me or they would have said something at best or parked elsewhere at worst.

I don't know who owns the car so I don't know who to approach about this. I truly don't want to involve the police or community manager, but I also don't want to pay a deductible to have this fixed. Any recommendations on how to approach this diplomatically without getting folks in trouble? Should I just let it go or is this worthy of kicking up a little bit of muck?

Note: Hello, I believe you may have hit my white parked car on June 20th. Note the attached photos. Please contact me at xxxxxxx so we can discuss. Thank you, your neighbor

Remember that anything you put in print is in print. But same with them. I like text for that reason.

 

[PaSasha]

Note: Hello, I believe you may have hit my white parked car on June 20th. Note the attached photos. Please contact me at xxxxxxx so we can discuss. Thank you, your neighbor

Remember that anything you put in print is in print.

Genuis. Thank you so much. This is so helpful.

 

[WinoBlues]

Genuis. Thank you so much. This is so helpful.

PS.... Not insurance advice

 

[PaSasha]

PS.... Not insurance advice

Totally understood. My community has a lot of retired individuals and I don't want to get anyone in trouble, especially if they didn't even realize they did it. Doing it the way you suggested gives the owner the opportunity to handle it in a way that will best serve everyone involved.

 

[adjusterjack]

Make sure you get photos of the damage to both cars as evidence of the paint transfer.

At this point I agree that a diplomatic dated notice on the windshield is a good move. Make sure you keep a copy and photograph the notice when you place it on the windshield.

If you don't get a response in a day or so you can figure out when the car enters or leaves and talk to the owner face to face.

 

[Duane Freeman]

From a former state Trooper. In a situation like that it is best to see if that person will own up to it. If not the police still can't prove that it was the striking vehicle. If that person doesn't own up to it and it is not on video, your best bet would most likely be to pay deductible or come out of pocket unfortunately. Sorry that happened

 

[WinoBlues]

Totally understood. My community has a lot of retired individuals and I don't want to get anyone in trouble, especially if they didn't even realize they did it. Doing it the way you suggested gives the owner the opportunity to handle it in a way that will best serve everyone involved.

Update us on this.
Just curious.