Yeah, photos saved me once too. Was parked next to someone who later claimed I'd dented their door—luckily had a quick pic showing the dent was already there. People can be sketchy...better safe than sorry.
"People can be sketchy...better safe than sorry."
Yeah, learned this the hard way myself. A few months back, lightly tapped someone's bumper—seriously no visible damage, even up close. Thought nothing of it, figured we were good. Next day, they're claiming I cracked their bumper and messed up sensors. Luckily, my friend had randomly snapped a quick pic showing zero damage at the scene. Saved me a ton of headaches. Definitely skeptical about reporting every tiny bump, but now I'm thinking pics are always worth it...just in case.
Yeah, I get the caution, but honestly, reporting every tiny bump seems a bit overkill to me. I've had my fair share of parking lot taps—usually just exchange a quick glance, shrug, and move on. But your story does make me reconsider snapping a quick pic at least. People can surprise you, and having proof never hurts. Guess it's one of those "better safe than sorry" things, even if it feels a little paranoid...
"People can surprise you, and having proof never hurts."
Yeah, learned that lesson the hard way myself. Couple years back, I tapped someone's bumper—barely a scratch, honestly couldn't even see it—but figured I'd leave a note just in case. Glad I did, because turns out the other driver was super particular and tried claiming all sorts of unrelated damage. Having that quick photo saved me a ton of hassle. Might feel paranoid, but trust me, it's worth the peace of mind.
Definitely agree with snapping a quick photo or two. A few extra points from my own experience:
- Even if you don't see visible damage, sometimes internal parts like clips or sensors can get knocked loose. Happened to a friend of mine—looked fine on the outside, but later the owner claimed their parking sensor stopped working. Luckily, my friend had photos showing exactly where the bump was, and it wasn't anywhere near the sensor.
- Reporting it officially can feel like overkill, but it creates a clear record. If the other driver tries to escalate things later, you've already got documentation on your side.
- Also worth noting: some insurance companies have apps now that let you upload photos immediately after an incident. Makes it super easy to keep track of everything without having to dig through your phone gallery weeks later.
I get why people hesitate—no one wants their premiums going up over something minor—but honestly, it's usually better safe than sorry.
