Hit and Run on my Beautiful Car

I don't like negative posts, but I'd like to vent for a second if you wouldn't mind. I've owned four cars in my life since 15. My first was a clunker 86 Ranger. It was beat to crap, perfect first rig. I loved it despite all its flaws. No major accidents, backed into a friends trucks but only dented my tailgate, no damage to their truck. Then I had a Nissan Pathfinder that my dad helped me buy. Not a bad car by any means, but I could never quite love it. Sold it when I moved from Montana, didn't need it and had a feeling it would break down sooner than later. From there my dad gave me a 4runner to use whilst I worked in Maine, another awesome rig.
But I never had a car I could really be proud of, and aside from the Ranger, Id never bought a car all on my own. But when I got into the oilfield, I finally had the money to get a real rig, my own car. I bought a 94 GMC Suburban, everything I wanted. 4x4, lots of room, safe, leather seats and my favorite brand. It was MY car, my pride and joy. My first REAL rig.
Since I work so much I don't drive it much. My mom doesnt have a car so she borrows it frequently. While she was in town, in a hair salon, some jackwagon hit the passenger door and fender, scraping it to hell and tearing off the flare. Took off, didnt leave a note or nothing.
Im not mad about the accident; we all screw up and I've been in that position before.What jiggers me is the person didnt want to own up to their mistake, and instead ran like a coward. My pride and joy is looking shabby and Ive got to pay out of pocket. Ive got time off coming and Im going to my home town for the first time since Ive bought it. I was looking forward to showing of my car to my buddies, but now it dont look like much.
At the end of the day, the damage is purely cosmetic, my mother wasnt harmed in any way and Ive got the money to fix it. Im blessed and it could be a hell of a lot worse. But what makes a person think they can screw up and take off without consequence, without taking responsibility? Why is our culture so damn spineless?

Really appreciate all the sympathy here guys. I dont like to bitch but wanted to vent just a little. Twang, thats awful. Im sorry. I feel a little silly for being upset about a little cosmetic damage when you had to go through that.
Dang mso, thats a bummer! Glad you were safe, that could have been a serious accident if things had gone a little worse.
Papipeguy, based on the height of the damage, it must have been a little car, probably cheap fenders and such. Compared to my all metal beast of a suburban its probably in pretty poor shape.
Fortunately, I have an uncle who does body and paint work. He lives pretty far away but I know hell give me a good price. All in all everythings gonna turn out just fine, probably not before my trip to my home town though. Damn my vanity haha.

Ohhhhh. Trailboss, 69 Impala is one of my all time favorite cars. That SUCKS. Things like that are priceless.

Setters, I feel you. I used to be a really trusting person, but stepping outside my quiet hometown and seeing more of the world really opens your eyes. Same thing happened to a friend of mine, his truck was side swiped in his own driveway. At least his was a company pickup!
Eric, thats an excellent quote. I will have to remember that!
Larry, everybody these days just assumes that someone else will do something, I think its the cause of a lot of problems. Look at Kitty Genovese.
Terry, that was my first question, but nope. Things are pretty old school around here in ND.
Ranger, its the first time anything like this has happened to me, but its pretty common around here these days.