Crashes happen. That’s not going to change. However, hit-and-run crashes are entirely preventable. Unfortunately, even an amicable agreement to handle the aftermath of a crash yourselves can have dire consequences. 

Police can still charge you with a hit-and-run if you agree to ‘handle things’ without contacting the authorities

Let’s say you’re out driving on a busy Saturday afternoon. You pull into a parking lot and absent-mindedly take a corner too sharply. Boom. Your front bumper makes a heart-breaking crunch as you strike another vehicle. The other motorist gets out along with you and you exchange insurance information. 

It’s an altogether civil affair. Incidentally, you agree to “handle it yourselves” without contacting the police. You also agreed to go your separate ways, as you both have places to be. Done and done, right? Not so fast. That other driver could still call the authorities with a description of you and your vehicle. Worse yet, the police could still charge you with a hit-and-run.

Is it likely? No. However, it’s a technical possibility. It’s better to take an accident seriously and follow a few steps. For starters, take pictures of the damage and wait by the other vehicle for the owner. If you can’t find the owner or no one shows up, write a note with your name and information, per FindLaw. If the damage is extensive, call the police and file a report. 

Consequently, police can charge you with a hit-and-run if you leave a note on a parked car after hitting it with your own. It’s storytime. I parked my motorcycle in a small lot on Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente, California. A gentleman in a large pickup truck accidentally backed into my bike, causing some rear fender damage. I left the bike unattended for hours and didn’t notice the damage until I returned to the wounded motorcycle.

Fortunately, however, the driver had left a folded note tucked between my handlebars. The driver, a local firefighter, apologized in the note and left his phone number. He offered to pay for the damage. It was a classy move, and frankly, a legal requirement in the state of California. However, he could have departed the scene, leaving me with little recourse.