Incident Overview
Location: A large shopping mall parking lot in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California
Time: Around 3:00 PM on a busy weekend afternoon
Vehicles Involved:
At-fault vehicle: Black SUV (Chevrolet Suburban)
Victim's vehicle: White sedan (Toyota Camry)
Incident Details
The black SUV parked in a tight space without sufficient clearance.
While exiting the vehicle, the front passenger opened the door abruptly. Due to strong wind, the door slammed into the neighboring white sedan, leaving a deep dent and visible scratch on the driver’s side.
The SUV driver glanced at the damaged vehicle, looked around briefly, and left the scene without taking any action.
A surveillance camera mounted on the shopping center exterior captured the entire incident clearly.
Legal Issue
The door ding itself was minor, but the legal issue centered on leaving the scene without reporting the damage.
Under California Vehicle Code Section 20002, if a driver causes damage to another person’s property (including a vehicle), they are legally required to:
Provide their contact and insurance information to the affected party, or Report the incident to local authorities if the owner cannot be located.
Legal Outcome
The CCTV footage was later circulated on social media. The victim obtained the video and filed a police report.
Police identified the SUV’s license plate from the footage and traced the registered owner.
The SUV driver claimed during the investigation that they “didn’t notice the damage,” but the footage clearly showed them inspecting the other vehicle before walking away.
As a result, the driver was charged with misdemeanor vandalism and hit-and-run.
Court ruling:
$1,000 fine + 1 year of probation
Incident report submitted to the insurance company, leading to a 40% increase in premiums
Alternate Scenario: If the Driver Had Not Fled
1. No Criminal Charges
If the driver had left a note with their contact details or reported the incident to police, the hit-and-run charge would not apply.
In most U.S. states, door dings are treated as minor property damage and not criminal offenses—as long as the reporting obligations are met.
2. Civil Liability or Insurance Settlement
If the victim was contacted:
They may agree to a private settlement or claim repair costs through either driver’s insurance.
If insurance is involved:
The at-fault driver’s property damage liability or collision coverage would cover repair costs.
If the at-fault driver uses their own policy, a deductible may apply.
3. No Fines or Penalties
If the driver properly reported the incident or left valid contact information, there would be no police involvement or fines.
As long as the insurance claim is processed, the incident may not affect the driver’s record or premium significantly.