It’s a sickening moment—you hear the scrape, see the paint transfer, and instantly feel your heartbeat slide into your stomach. You check the damage, look around for the owner, and when no one appears, you do the responsible thing: you leave a note. Then, as the hours and days pass without any response, your relief slowly shifts into worry. Did you miss a step? Are you still liable?
Fortunately, the law is much more straightforward than your imagination. Once you understand what you’re responsible for and what might happen next, the silence feels a lot less scary.