From personnal experience, good for you that you ripped the bumper. So many people have hit me in the hitch and thank god i had my ball on it or they might have hit the bumper. I know it sticks out, but if you too blind to notice it or even not get that close to the car, then i hope you do go into the ball. So many people dont really pay attention when they drive. But its a great wake up call when a ball goes through their bumper. The hitch is a great investement and i will always keep my ball on whenever around town because people are fools.
Also for that lady to slide and hit you hitch, thats gotta be one stupid drive to not notice a truck in front of her and brake that late. Next time she will probably look at the road and not at her shopping list when driving.