Then you pretty much need to pay for the damage and/or get your butt kicked, depending upon your attitude.
"Almost" hit you does not rise to the level of needing to damage the property of another.
Likely if you had been paying more attention "almost" wouldn't have happened.
Like I said to Eaker - if he or any driver wants to go to court over this, then I’ll gladly face my judgment for property damage while the driver faces judgment for reckless endangerment. And if he wants to (and is able to) assault me for this, the he/they can face judgment for that as well.
Also, when the sign says walk an I’m crossing the street, it’s a left-turning car that needs to pay attention to me, not the other way around.
As for you “doesn’t rise to the level” argument, how is it that this also doesn’t apply to a car-denting justifying (in your mind) a butt-kicking?