If you accidentally hit an unattended parked car in a parking lot panicked and left without giving contact info would it be wise to call the police and give info in case someone calls it in?

Answer 1

I'm not going to answer this with any sort of moral reasoning... just from experience and what I have heard from other cases. As I understand, once you leave the scene of the accident, you're not only At Fault but you're going to get charged with fleeing the scene. Based on this, it seems like in your case the damage is done. Legaly you're screwed if they report it, but chances are probably that they won't. Still, a judge or insurance company might go easy on you if you fess up. My friends have had similar situations where reporting it after the fact helped at least the sentencing. In the end, in terms of what's worse you have to think of who might have seen you that would call you in or the possibility of turning yourself in when you would have gotten away with it. I'm the conservative type at least with my legal record... but I guess play the odds. If you have the plate number, you might be best served finding the owner and trying to call them if you're turning yourself in. And don't underestimate the power of your conscience, you might be feeling guilty about this 10 years down the road and maybe it's just not worth it, but without a plate number there's little you can do.