How would you handle this?

Leave a note on the hit cars window with the make and plate number of the car that hit it.

^ Yes, and your phone number. You’re a witness. In Germany, I would just call the police if the car is damaged. But I’m not sure how that works in the US.

So…I didn’t have any pen and paper on me. And I didn’t want to miss the car. I thought I could go into the store and have the manager page the license plate number. But no one showed up. (At the moment, it seemed more direct than asking for pen and paper.)

I saw a police officer and asked if I could leave the information with them. They said that they were in the middle of handling an unrelated incident. And that the driver would have to file a report. (Though I wasn’t sure how said driver would get the information from me?)

I left my number with the manager just in case.

When I left the store, the car that was hit was gone.

I’m actually more concerned about the little old lady. I really don’t think she should be driving.

I’m not even sure if it registered to her that she had hit the car—twice! And she hit it hard enough for me to hear that crunch sound. If that were my elderly parent, I would want to know.

But I don’t know how to discretely track down her family. Assuming that she even has family in the area.

I would report it to the police, giving them her license plate number. They would probably want to come do a report or at least have the info about the cars and driver. I would also leave a note on the windshield for the owner of the car, with my contact info. They might like my info for their insurance company.

Edit: I wrote this prior to reading the other comments, about speaking to the police officer who was there for something unrelated and OP not having pen and paper. I would still contact the police department and offer what I know, in case they want to hear it.

I’d report it to the police not for the incident that happened but for the incident that might happen in future.

@flutherother It seems weird to report to police something that hasn’t happened yet. Feels like a slippery slope into thought police.

I’m more hoping to be able to notify her family. But not exactly sure how to do that discretely?

Any ideas on how to do that, collective?

@jca2 They didn’t seem terribly interested. But I may just call the non-emergency line tomorrow. If someone hit my car in the parking lot, I would hope that a witness would share what they saw. :/

Wait around a bit in the event that the person comes out so you can give first hand information in person.
Otherwise, Put a note on the hit car with a note and license of the offender. I would include my name and number as well.

@raum I am unsure if you can do anything about the little old lady who can’t drive. There are so many people out there that are terrible drivers and should be off the road. I, nor the police can police this.

@raum FYI…even IF the person does get out of their car & leaves a note, keep any info you’ve collected. I had someone hit my car while parked. I came out to a note on my windshield. When I read it, I was furious & it showed. A guy walked up & told me how lucky I was because they had left me their info. I showed him the note & he started cursing. The note read…I’m really sorry I hit your car. I don’t have any insurance & even less money. Everybody watching thinks I’m being a good guy. Hopefully none of them will fink on me. Sorry & I hope it doesn’t cost much to fix!!! It was signed with a smiley face. The guy reading the note said he started to write down the info on the otehr car, but changed his mind when he saw the guy leaving his note.

As for your little old lady, her children would possibly be hesitant to take her license from her because it would mean that they need to be there for her to get her where she’s going. Her license will most likely be taken by the cops & she will be forced to stop driving in the not too distant future. I know that doesn’t solve your concerns, but there’s not much else you can do!!!

Take a photo of the cars and plates or write down the info. Make sure to photograph the scrapes or dents on the cars where they hit if there is any evidence like that. I’d ask the store to page the owner of the parked car. If they don’t respond, possibly also report it to the police, because it seems like the woman crashing into cars shouldn’t be driving.

Since this has already happened and you’ve done what you’ve done, there’s not much point saying what you could have done at the time. Since you’re rightfully worried now about the woman driving, I would call the police’s non-emergency number and give them your info and her license number.

The police called me after they had stopped my mother driving 70 miles an hour and she hadn’t pulled over for them for a mile. We did take her car away. She was 85 and later pissed at us but it had to be done.

In my local county, there was recently a young town worker who was killed by an 88 year old driver. Apparently the driver strayed into a construction zone while the worker was doing construction work. I remember thinking, at the time I heard about this tragedy, that the family who let the 88 year old continue to drive should feel some responsibility:

https://news.yahoo.com/westchester-highway-worker-killed-crash-210925249.html

^^ But there are some people in their 80s who may be perfectly fine drivers. A mandatory driving test after a certain age may be warranted.

Absolutely, @janbb. I agree. I also understand that these cognitive and neurological changes can take place very quickly. However, if the driver showed any issues and the family thought about it and decided “she’s probably ok” then that’s what I am referring to.

^^ Yup. I agree. I pay pretty close attention to my own driving ability at the age I’m at.

Always carry pen and paper. A couple of index cards will do. They’re sturdy enough not to wilt away in your purse.

Not carrying a purse? Fold the card in half and stick it in your pocket with a capped pen rather than a retractable point that can get clicked open accidentally in your pocket.

Photos are a good idea too.

I have a Note app on my phone that comes in very handy when I don’t have pen & paper with me. I can print out when I get home or take a screen shot & send to whoever.

Beat the shit out of her.
Just kidding. Just walk on and pretend you did not see anything.

Some states require an annual driving test after a certain age.

I stopped driving about ten years ago when I realized my narcoleptic tendency to fall asleep without any warning made me dangerous at the wheel.

Welp…called the police non-emergency line and they said they really can’t do anything until the driver of the car that got hit files a report. Still unsure how they would connect the two at that point if they don’t take my info though.

Really hope that elderly lady is going to be okay. :/

@raum: I would ask them, out of curiosity, “by the way, since you didn’t take my information, how would you connect my info with the car that was hit?” See what they say. My guess is they were just brushing you off.

I thought about it. But figured it wasn’t worth the push. :/

If you go to this store frequently, maybe look out for signs asking for information about a dented car?

I think you’ve done all you can at this point. Consider that a driver this bad will probably be noticed again very soon.

Don’t feel bad if nothing happened to follow up. You tried and a lot of people would have ignored it altogether.

@longgone Just hope that the next time that they’re noticed, that it won’t be something serious.

Really wish our society wasn’t so car-centric that driving is equated with independence. :/

@raum Better public transportation is so important!

@janbb Better public transportation and city planning that builds in walkability too!

@raum Fro sure. One of the things I love about staying in Berkeley – at least without a broken ankle!

@janbb Everything’s better without a broken ankle!