Walk It Through: The Parking Lot Scrape
Backing out of a space, a scraped door on an empty car, and the note under the wiper.
Backing out, a driver scrapes the door of a parked car. Nobody is in it.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
A crash with property damage only. A crash with an injury carries duties to stop, render aid and call at once, and harsher penalties, set out on the crash page.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Class B misdemeanorThe middle misdemeanor class, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000; a first DUI, assault and most traffic misdemeanors sit here.
- Third degree felonyThe lowest felony degree, with an indeterminate prison term of not more than five years and a fine of up to $5,000.