As I was casting my daiwa tatula I accidentally engaged the pinion gear by hitting the handle with my hand. It seemed to have damaged a tooth on my drive gear. I was wondering if any of you have ever experienced something like this?

Yes, check and make sure that the pin in the spool shaft is not bent, if it is change it first.  It can cause some problems that feel like a bad gear.

 

I wore out a worm gear & paw on my Calcutta 50 stopping spinnerbaits on purpose... Bad habit to get into!

Never hurt a pinion gear

Yes. I have a bad habit of accidently engaging or not fully pressing the button down.  While in mid cast that is,  which runs the drag and usually causes the reels to make a weird noise. 

 

Broke the pinion gear on my curado E, a month back doing this.  Was during a killer hybrid bass bite,  25+ fish a hour.  Burning deep cranks,  so I was trying to really wing them out there.  Didn't get button fully engaged,  and instantly the reel made an odd noise.  Able to fish the rest of the day with it.  Broke down that night and found I shattered a tooth off the gear. 

$13 part from shimano and 2 weeks later and reels back in good shape.