Neighbour Reversed Into My Parked Car – What Should I Do?
Discussion
I live in a block of flats with a communal car park accessed by a barrier and entry key fob. All the spaces were occupied when I arrived home last night (at 23:30), so I parked my car in the car park, but against the kerb (across from the end of the footpath, so I wasn’t in anyone’s way). There was a car parked in the space nearby to the front corner of my car. I recognised this car as being regularly (but not always) parked in the car park. I remember the registration plate and the make / model of car.
When I looked out of my window at approximately 08:00 this morning, I see that this car is no longer anywhere to be seen, and my car is very badly damaged, with the front nearside wing ruined, and the door and lower sill damaged.
Where do I stand, and what should I do next? I can’t approach my neighbour directly as it is a row of large buildings with many flats in each one, and I have no idea which building or flat he lives in. I have a feeling that the car in question will not return this evening, therefore my opportunity to inspect his car for damage and gather photographic evidence may be limited!
What advice would people offer in terms of contacting police and insurance companies etc.? I want to ensure that the claim is made against his insurance company rather than mine, in order that it doesn’t count as a claim that I’ve made and effect my NCB etc. Does it make a difference whether I contact my insurance and they contact the other party on my behalf, or should I try to contact his insurance company directly? Both cars are only a year or two old and I want the repair properly carried out through insurer approved repairers.
Thanks for any advice anyone may be able to offer.
When I looked out of my window at approximately 08:00 this morning, I see that this car is no longer anywhere to be seen, and my car is very badly damaged, with the front nearside wing ruined, and the door and lower sill damaged.
Where do I stand, and what should I do next? I can’t approach my neighbour directly as it is a row of large buildings with many flats in each one, and I have no idea which building or flat he lives in. I have a feeling that the car in question will not return this evening, therefore my opportunity to inspect his car for damage and gather photographic evidence may be limited!
What advice would people offer in terms of contacting police and insurance companies etc.? I want to ensure that the claim is made against his insurance company rather than mine, in order that it doesn’t count as a claim that I’ve made and effect my NCB etc. Does it make a difference whether I contact my insurance and they contact the other party on my behalf, or should I try to contact his insurance company directly? Both cars are only a year or two old and I want the repair properly carried out through insurer approved repairers.
Thanks for any advice anyone may be able to offer.
How do you know it was this neighbour, unless you have proof; CCTV or a witness, or a confession then there is nothing you can do, short of confronting this person and hoping he confesses, when in fact he will most likely tell you to jog on.
Who's to say that he didn't leave at some point after you parked up, didn't damage your car but someone else parked there briefly and it was them who did it, or anyone else in the car park could have done it.
Who's to say that he didn't leave at some point after you parked up, didn't damage your car but someone else parked there briefly and it was them who did it, or anyone else in the car park could have done it.
What if the police pay him a visit and he admits it though?
There aren't many people come and go in the middle of the night, it's a small car park. There really isn't any other realistic possibility. The corner of the car that was hit was in the direct line of where he would reverse to get out of the car park.
I just want to get the best outcome to this scenario and do the right thing while making sure the person who did it takes some responsibility for it.
There aren't many people come and go in the middle of the night, it's a small car park. There really isn't any other realistic possibility. The corner of the car that was hit was in the direct line of where he would reverse to get out of the car park.
I just want to get the best outcome to this scenario and do the right thing while making sure the person who did it takes some responsibility for it.
If the other car that hit you was fairly new i'd imagine they will claim on their own insurance for their own damage. You claiming for repairs on your own car would come off their insurance and since they're already making a claim it wouldn't have any further affect on their NCB or premium so seems to be a total bell end move not to leave a note. (if it was them)
If you tell the police you suspect it might be them but have no conclusive proof i doubt they will do much as probably more important things to do.
If you tell the police you suspect it might be them but have no conclusive proof i doubt they will do much as probably more important things to do.
M3Driver said:
What if the police pay him a visit and he admits it though?
What if somebody (the police are unlikely to care) gives him a visit, and he denies it?M3Driver said:
There really isn't any other realistic possibility.
He leaves the space. Somebody else comes in, makes a cock of parking, and leaves to park somewhere else entirely.M3Driver said:
I recognised this car as being regularly (but not always) parked in the car park. I remember the registration plate and the make / model of car.
Surely if this car returns tonight/the next day and its undamaged then its not this car.If it does not return for a few days then check out the paint/bumper. Even if it looks suss I doubt you can do anything without proof.
You need evidence and/or witnesses or an admission by the other driver to prove that a particular car hit yours causing damage. Merely seeing a car was in the bay before you went to bed and in the morning it wasn't there and your car was damaged isn't anything. As has already been said, that car could have left without causing any damage & another could have crashed into your car & then driven off.
Without this you will either have to pay for the damage out of your own pocket or claim on your insurance - assuming you are fully comp.
Without this you will either have to pay for the damage out of your own pocket or claim on your insurance - assuming you are fully comp.
Edited by paintman on Thursday 8th October 20:16
Had a similar thing a couple of years back. Mrs SB's car was parked up a private drive outside a friend's house. When she came to leave the drivers door was trashed, covered in Royal Mail Red paint, and the mail was on the doorstep...
Absolutely no luck whatsoever. No witnesses or CCTV. Depot manager claimed he interviewed the (stand-in) postie who denied all knowledge. And all the Royal Mail vans here are so trashed you'd never be able to work out which one it was that was involved...
No choice but to claim on our insurance and suck it up, paying excess and losing NCB, etc. The only thing to note is that while it's treated as an 'at-fault' accident, some insurers have a particular category for "hit while unoccupied" which may reduce the loading.
Absolutely no luck whatsoever. No witnesses or CCTV. Depot manager claimed he interviewed the (stand-in) postie who denied all knowledge. And all the Royal Mail vans here are so trashed you'd never be able to work out which one it was that was involved...
No choice but to claim on our insurance and suck it up, paying excess and losing NCB, etc. The only thing to note is that while it's treated as an 'at-fault' accident, some insurers have a particular category for "hit while unoccupied" which may reduce the loading.
The neighbour did not return last night, as expected.
However, the car isn't usually in the car park every night anyway. It's more a case of "it's not there for a few days and then I see it again, maybe for a couple of days and then it's away again".
I suspect that he either has a job like a sales rep where he spends a lot of time away from home, or he spends time with a partner who lives elsewhere, or lives elsewhere and visits a partner who lives in my block of apartments.
However, the car isn't usually in the car park every night anyway. It's more a case of "it's not there for a few days and then I see it again, maybe for a couple of days and then it's away again".
I suspect that he either has a job like a sales rep where he spends a lot of time away from home, or he spends time with a partner who lives elsewhere, or lives elsewhere and visits a partner who lives in my block of apartments.
M3Driver said:
The neighbour did not return last night, as expected.
However, the car isn't usually in the car park every night anyway. It's more a case of "it's not there for a few days and then I see it again, maybe for a couple of days and then it's away again".
I suspect that he either has a job like a sales rep where he spends a lot of time away from home, or he spends time with a partner who lives elsewhere, or lives elsewhere and visits a partner who lives in my block of apartments.
Perfect cover for the guy assuming he can get his car fixed quick enough.However, the car isn't usually in the car park every night anyway. It's more a case of "it's not there for a few days and then I see it again, maybe for a couple of days and then it's away again".
I suspect that he either has a job like a sales rep where he spends a lot of time away from home, or he spends time with a partner who lives elsewhere, or lives elsewhere and visits a partner who lives in my block of apartments.
My ex once drove into a neighbour's car and then drove off in a panic. I told her to 'fess up, but she T-cutted the scratches off her car before going home. In fairness I don't think she damaged the camper van that she hit, but I was pissed off at her for just driving off.
M3 there are a few things I would be doing even before you know for sure. Your block should be managed so ask the porter for details of the owner. You said you had reg details. Tell them the situation and try and get them to advise a name and goat number and phone number. The owner may well repair their car without you seeing it again.
Burwood said:
M3 there are a few things I would be doing even before you know for sure. Your block should be managed so ask the porter for details of the owner. You said you had reg details. Tell them the situation and try and get them to advise a name and goat number and phone number. The owner may well repair their car without you seeing it again.
Eh?"Sure sir, here have the private details of one of your fellow occupants, we tend to like to hand these out freely, especially when the enquirer is aggrieved"
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