1. I am relatively new to Lakewood and unfortunately have had this happen to me way too many times.
   Evidently, most people here dont care what their cars look like, so they assume that you dont care either.
   And the kids here get that same message. I live in a development and my brand new lease already looks like its been scratched up by an angry cat.
   Sorry to hear about what happened to you – i know how frustrating it is!

2. Do you have children that drive? Maybe they hit something and either were scared to tell you or didnt even realize that they did damage. Another possibility is that a kid on a bike rode by and scratched your car. This is very common especially if you live in a complex.

3. I don’t see how another vehicle could have done that to you. usually front damage so low down like that should look like you did it…

   also you can go through your own insurance to fix it. it’s called uninsured/underinsured.

   I am doing that now as someone who just sold their car and removed the insurance hit me.

   • your first comment is not accurate at all. if your car sticks out enough that it’s able incur damage, other cars stick out similarly and can cause the damage

   • Hit and run is not considered uninsured/underinsured. You can only win your claim if you know who did it as they may very well be properly insured.

4. i feel your frustration, im in the same boat from similar occurrence. I just gave back my lease and paid $800 for 2 dents from careless drivers, who have it on their cheshbon now

5. My son was actually hit by a car last week. The driver of the car got out for a few minutes to see what he did and then just drove off. He didn’t even have the decency to call police or ask for our number. Unfortunately my son didn’t have phone so he couldn’t do much. A local business has surveillance but it was only able to catch accident but can’t get plates from video. So basically there is a person driving around who knows what he did and think he could get away with this but g-d know and will take care of it.

6. You are 100% right. But calm down. In that same future where the din v’cheshbon takes place you won’t care about this so much either. And the letter writer who is new to Lakewood.. why did you move here? Every place has good and bad I’m sure you weighed your options carefully. If you feel you made a mistake and Lakewood is not for you there’s a big world out there!!
   Hatzalacha!!

   • Shame on you for your horrible welcome to a new Lakewood resident! You sound like Trump telling American citizens (whom, I admit are really bad apples) to go back to where they came from. He/She has a very valid point. And I’m living here for over 40 years. But I won’t tell you to go back to where you came from.

     • wow. bringing trump into everything. gosh

7. And you know for sure its a yid…… ????

8. This has happened to me many times unfortunately… It’s a serious problem!! Please let’s try to be more careful and bit in such a rush always!! Drive careful!

9. That’s your ticket for living in Lakewood

10. You are understandably upset and very puzzled how a person who might be ostensibly a y’rei shomayim would do harm to another’s property and walk away nonchalantly. So firstly: If it is a frum yid, and you know you have no recourse to claim the damages from him, rather than bearing a grudge and having a kpeida on him, say bfeh moleh that you are mochel the individual and hope that the Aibeshter will respond similarly to your infractions. Secondly, perhaps a similar incident happened to you inadvertently, and maybe, unknowingly caused damages to another. May this be a kapara, or at the very least, serve as a way to make you sensitive to others’ person and property.

11. 100% true. I have a huge scratch across my car. Just keep in mind, there is a god. U don’t gain by fleeing and running away. Any other cheshbon is a complete lack of belief

12. Talking about halachic obligation if you parked illegally in a reshus horabim – meaning you were a tiny bit out into the street etc – or some other illegal parking etc then there possibly is no halachic obligation to pay.

    • You are wrong even if the car was parked terribly illegal in middle of the street if the car is stationary anyone who hits it is obligated to pay thats according to law and shulchan orech

13. Why are parents not teaching their children that if their bike scratches someones car, they or their parents are mechuyav to pay? I understand accidents happen especially in crowded developments but this type of chinuch needs to start when they are young.

    If a child has to pay or help out his parents even one time- they will be careful forever. This is not a hefker velt.

14. Well said chaya^^ teach responsibility! Maybe then adults…I mean, kids…will follow…

15. The dor of noach was destroyed for stealing (denting someone’s car and leaving the scene). , but the bees hamikdash was destroyed for Loshon hara and Siena’s chinam (happens when u r not dan Lekaf zechus). So please try to judge people favorably. Maybe it was a goy, maybe they didn’t realize they hit u. Maybe….

16. I’m reading this article and then the comments and I’m shocked.
    It seems that most if you are saying that this is the normal way of life in lakewood and just move on. THIS IS WRONG. we have a Dina dmalchusa dina. And we have a whole Chelek of shulchan aruch dedicated to monetary laws.
    I agree the letter writer should just move on. But his point may have been, that this way of life, of damaging other peoples property and not paying or discussing it with the party is against the law and halachah. Why in a town that is the biggest makom Torah in the world are the laws of derech eretz completely ignored.
    I don’t get it!
    Am I missing something ?

17. This looks like you scraped something as you were driving somewhere and you did not notice it until now. I am not sure this was caused by someone else.

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