LOL- I wasn't playing "bumper cars"; if anything I was just trying to get out of my space and accidentally hit someone who was illegally parked behind me (in effect blocking my car from exiting safely.)
Anyway, as I said, I have no recollection of the accident and, having seen pictures of the damage on the plaintiff's car, I think I would remember if I hit another car hard enough to do that kind of damage (the driver's side door was severely crumpled). At the very least I think I would have heard a "crunch"...
My insurance company is sending me to get a photo inspection of my car tomorrow morning. The strange part is that there *is* damage on my car but I don't know where it came from.
When I first noticed the damage on my car, I chalked it up to a "parking lot ding" and, since the damage wasn't severe, I didn't think any more of it. Then suddenly a police officer was visiting me at work asking to look at my car and telling me that I had been accused of perpetrating a hit and run. The plaintiff had taken pictures of my car (and his own) and submitted them with the police report.
I told the officer that as far as I knew I wasn't involved in the accident. Next thing I knew, my insurance company informed me that there was a claim against me.
All along it has seemed odd to me that the plaintiff is making such a big fuss over this when NJ law would allow him to simply file a hit and run claim without any increase in his premium (as long as the claim was accompanied by a police report). Instead, he has filed a claim against me which not only could raise *my* rates if I am found at fault, it could result in a criminal charge against me.
Having thought over this situation extensively, it has now occured to me that it may be that the other driver was the one who hit *me*. That would certainly explain his fervor to pin the blame on me. At any rate, I have decided to file a counterclaim against him; if nothing else, I would really prefer not to have a hit and run on my record, especially when I did no such thing.
Thank you all for your quick responses- they are much appreciated!