The sun was shining as I parked my company car next to a window washer’s truck on the main street of a small midwestern town. I was calling on a prospect whose office was above a downtown retail store. My visit was productive; after an hour I left in good spirits but was surprised to find overcast skies and drizzling rain outside. I quickly hopped in my car. For some reason my backup sensor went crazy when I shifted into reverse, but I could worry about that later.

Turning on my windshield wipers I noticed a piece of paper under the wiper blade. I pulled under the canopy of a gas station and retrieved the scrap. It was a note from the window washer who had been parked next to me.

In his hurry to leave when the rain began, he had hit my car. With a sinking feeling I stepped out to survey the damage. Sure enough, the left rear corner was smashed, the lights broken, and the backup sensor was dangling from the crumpled bumper, causing it to sound whenever I shifted into reverse.