Moral dilemma…what would you do?

[Lilpaisley]

What would you guys do in this situation? Here’s the conundrum…

I’m off on Mondays and am hanging at home; to the side of our kitchen there are large picture windows that look out onto the street. I was making lunch and heard a loud crunching/scrapping noise. I look out the window and see my elderly neighbor in a very large motorhome scrapping the side off a car parked on the street in front of my house. He gets stuck to the car, gets out of the motorhome, goes back inside and backs the motorhome up to unattach from the car. He finally parks the thing in his drive way and brings his wife out to look at the poor car. They both head back inside the house. About 1 hour later I see him get in his truck and drive off. He never left a note on the car!! Nothing. I know hw doesn’t realize that I saw him hit the car.

 

Here is my problem. We are renters and I know he is not fond of our dog. We have never spoken to these neighbors. We are very friendly with all our other neighbors and often have get togethers with them. I am very worried about starting a “bad neighbor†situation. If we get him in trouble by letting the car owner know he might call our landlords or the cops about our dog (or some other reason).

 

I figure I have 3 options:

1. call the cops non-emergency number and report it

2. Talk to him directly

3. Leave my own note on the car as a witness.

 

I called my Pop and FI and they both are telling me to do different things and each have very valid reasons. I’m so confused….what do I do? I don’t want to be “one of those neighborsâ€

[stacey]

Do you know who's car it is?

 

If not... I would leave an anonimos(sp?) Note

[Lilpaisley]

No, I don't know who's car it is. We live near a high school and many of the students paerk on our street during the day. I think it must be one of thiers.

 

I thought about the anonymous note...but both Pop and FI said that w/o my info as a witness the car owner can't do much.

[rodent]

You have to report it. He might not have any business driving (especially not a motor home) and this might be the thing that makes him realize it. my grandma was driving long after her vision was too poor. He took her getting in a wreck to finally stop driving.

 

My car was hit & run in the parking lot of my job when I was in college. I was picking up an extra shift because I needed the money & ended up being out a lot more than I made that night. The witness said it was an older lady who probably took off because she might not have had a license. It was the kind of parking lot someone would cut through if they didn't want to be on the actual roads heading to a store.

 

My car was only a year old & I'd park it in the back of the lot to protect it from getting banged by doors.

 

It's really not fair to leave this high school student stuck with the expense. Their insurance is probably high enough as it is.

[jajajaja]

Yikes. Rough situation. Especially if it's a teenagers car. You know their ass will get chewed for mysterious damage. One time a deer attacked my car- I swear, I was stopped and the deer didn't see me and it hit the side of my car. My parents did not believe me and still don't. It's a family joke and it was the truth.

 

Anyways, I would like to think that I would turn the person in. Does your neighbor know your name? Would they know it was you who turned them in?

[stacey]

Actually, if it is a newer car they most likely have car insurance with Comprehensive and collision. There for they would have coverage for hit and run. They would just have to pay their deductible and it would be covered. Also their adjuster would send someone out to look at the car, and also the car that hit him to look at pain or something. If the insurance company has a place to start then it is much better then..." I got back to my car and I dont know what happend"

 

- Im an insurance agent if you havent noticed, I see this stuff all the time.

[JenniferSS]

My rule of thumb when I am in a situation like this has always been -what would you want someone to do if they were in your situation?

 

My mothers rule of thumb was- two wrongs don't make a right.

 

The guy was wrong to not acknowlegde or own up to his mistake- you witnessed what happened and you really should do the right thing and call the police and report what happened. See if maybe you can leave your name off the report.

 

Obviously the guy shouldn't be driving a motorhome -next time maybe it's an animal or kid he hits!

[Bride010101]

I think Morgan said it perfectly. First off, the guy maybe should not be driving anymore... and this may save him from having another (and potentially more serious) accident. Second, as a person whose car was victim to a hit-and-run as a HS student I would have really appreciated the help of a witness.

[nueland]

I would personally call the cops and report him! The poor person that got there car hit would end up paying a $500-1000 deductible for something they didn't do. It sounds like the old man shouldn't be driving a motorhome! You should be able to remain anonymous so he would never even know it was you! I would be very greatfull if someone reported a hit and run on my car if the saw it!

[ACDCDCAC]

ok i'm going to play the devils advocate.

 

kris, i don't get involved. i'm not an evil person, i just don't want to get stuck in a situation that has nothing to do with me other than being a witness to something. if you were in the bathroom, or at the grocery store or whatever, you would never have seen it.

 

i feel horrible saying this, but it's not really your situation. i would think at the most you could leave a note, but if you do be prepared to give your contact info, i think if you're going to get in the middle, be ready to be fully involved.

 

 

altho i do completely agree that if it were my car i'd like the tip so i could call the police on my own and they could follow up on it, so really i'm no help at all. just giving you another point of view i guess.