I bumped into a car a day ago...not hard but what do I do?

being 22, this is my first crash.
I was sitting at a yield sign with a van in front of me.
I saw the lights turn off and so I looked left seeing a huge gap and thinking the van must have gone I let my foot off the brake and looked forward. When I saw the van was stopped there still I slammed on my brakes but I slid into the van.

Both the cars didn't seem to have any damage at the time and the lady just decided to take my license plate number down and said if her husband saw anything, they would call me.

I looked the next morning to find only a few cracks in the paint...nothing worth fixing being its only a cheap Toyota Camry which the whole family uses.

My question is, can the driver of the other car contact me with just my plate #?
I didn't take any info down from her since I didn't feel I needed to and would happily ask for any info I needed if she called me.

So the next time if I ever crash is, what info should I exchange with the other driver?

guys, the driver was there with me, no need for a note on the other car.
she stepped out and looked at her car when I looked at mine.
she got my plate # and we both left, nothing else happened since we both seemed to be in a bit of a rush.

She could not contact you with only having your plate number. She could make a report to the Police and they could run your plate and contact you. Only problem she would have now is that more than likely, no police agency in their right mind would write up an accident report without investigating it at the time it occurred, considering that now both vehicles left the scene and a day or so has passed. Who is to say now that any damage sustained to her van occurred during your accident? Also be careful what you concede to if you are questioned about the accident. Technically, you would be at fault for following too closely. My guess is however, that you will not here from anyone regarding this.

She could however file a civilian accident report at her local DMV, but if damages in total to both vehicles are less than $1000 and no injuries, it is not required by law.

In the future, always, ALWAYS, no matter how minimal damage to a vehicle you suspect, call the Police to document the incident. That way, no one can come back later and make additional claims of damage or even injury!

Good luck.

Check for damage and if none....leave!

make a run for it

RUN! RUN!

if you care, leave a sticky note with your contacts on the damaged part...if you don't, well at least feel bad for them at heart lol

Chances are, nothing will happen from this crash, but if the situation were to arise again i would recommend getting a drivers license, insurance policy, and copying everything own from those too sources, along with a phone number.

you could do the right thing and leave a note on the car with all your information about insurance, your name, phone number maybe address, licsence plate number and have to pay lots of money or you could do like i would do and leave and don't tell nobody!

She can find the registered owner with the plate. She was prolly not very worried about it.

Next time, get license, insurance and contact information.

License: Name, address, driver's license number
Insurance: Company name, policy number, phone number
Contact info: home, work and cell numbers

Yes the other person can contact you with just your plate number. They can always make a police report and include your plate number and whatever other info they gathered from you. In the event of an accident when no one is seriously hurt and the cars are still driveable your suppose to drive to the nearest police station and you always have 30 days to file a police report on a car accident. So next time make sure you get their info as well, and as long as you have a valid drivers licence and insurance you should be ok.

If in an accident, get name, dirvers license number and insurance information. Ask person if ok? Look person over real good as they can come back and say they have whiplash as you hit them from behind, even though there is little or no damage.
Could be a scam artist looking for money.
If any damage call police before leaving scene of accident. Otherwise police can come after you for "leaving the scene of an accident". Could cost you your license!

Agree with chrisc

do like the police officer said from NY. never, i repeat, never, leave the scene of an accident, also if your driving and see an accident, your suppose to stop to see if anyone is in the vehicle, then if you belive the car is about to explode, try to get them out to safety and call the police and tell them where your at and have them to get a ambulance to the scene.