Opened door into speeding car

Opened door into speeding car

Author
Discussion

MikeGoodwin

Original Poster:

3,323 posts

116 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
Posting on behalf of my mate, as I'm not entirely sure if this woman is trying to screw him over for a few extra quid. Could do with some advice please.

So while stationary hes gone and opened his car door into this woman's car, who I am told (and has been witnessed by other members of his family) was going a proper stupid speed.

Anyways, he has agreed to avoid going through insurance for the sake of no claims and has received a 'quote' of £700.

The work that needs doing, and I've seen the pictures, will be a new front quarter panel and paint, and a bit of paint on the front bumper, say 1/4 of the bumper or less will need blending. Oh and its a white Seat Ibiza I think. Thing is after his excess and the loss of his no claims itll probably cost that


Does it seem excessive?

I am assuming this will be 'his fault' based on who went into who?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
MikeGoodwin said:
I am assuming this will be 'his fault' based on who went into who?
He opened a car door into the path of another vehicle, of course it's his fault...

snorky782

1,115 posts

98 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
MikeGoodwin said:
Posting on behalf of my mate, as I'm not entirely sure if this woman is trying to screw him over for a few extra quid. Could do with some advice please.

So while stationary hes gone and opened his car door into this woman's car, who I am told (and has been witnessed by other members of his family) was going a proper stupid speed.

Anyways, he has agreed to avoid going through insurance for the sake of no claims and has received a 'quote' of £700.

The work that needs doing, and I've seen the pictures, will be a new front quarter panel and paint, and a bit of paint on the front bumper, say 1/4 of the bumper or less will need blending. Oh and its a white Seat Ibiza I think. Thing is after his excess and the loss of his no claims itll probably cost that


Does it seem excessive?

I am assuming this will be 'his fault' based on who went into who?
I'm not quite sure what your points are. If the car was witnessed speeding, then it was clearly there to be seen, so opening a door into its path is almost a text book definition of negligence.

The family witnesses aren't independent anyway (unless in Scotland), so their opinions matter little. That's actually a good thing given what I've stated in the first paragraph.

Hitting a car door at a sensible speed can do a lot of damage

I'm not sure why it matters what colour or make / model the other driver's car is.

EDIT: Speeding is not an act of negligence in itself, which is quite a good thing given we all speed and especially given the opinions on here around it.


Edited by snorky782 on Thursday 5th May 07:25

MikeGoodwin

Original Poster:

3,323 posts

116 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
Thanks, I think what I need to know is, is £700 unreasonable. Just seems to me like he is being taken for a ride.

Also, family was stood at the side of the road, he didnt see it.

northwest monkey

6,370 posts

188 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
MikeGoodwin said:
The work that needs doing, and I've seen the pictures, will be a new front quarter panel and paint, and a bit of paint on the front bumper, say 1/4 of the bumper or less will need blending. Oh and its a white Seat Ibiza I think. Thing is after his excess and the loss of his no claims itll probably cost that

Does it seem excessive?
Doesn't seem particularly excessive from past experience. Chances are they'll be repainting the whole bumper - what your opinions are as to what needs doing is not really relevant.


Edited by northwest monkey on Wednesday 4th May 22:54

BertBert

18,955 posts

210 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
MikeGoodwin said:
Anyways, he has agreed to avoid going through insurance for the sake of no claims and has received a 'quote' of £700.

The work that needs doing, and I've seen the pictures, will be a new front quarter panel and paint, and a bit of paint on the front bumper, say 1/4 of the bumper or less will need blending. Oh and its a white Seat Ibiza I think. Thing is after his excess and the loss of his no claims itll probably cost that
Really? You think that £700 is expensive for a new panel fit and paint to match plus bumper work which is hateful at best? Nah bite his hand off.
Bert

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
MikeGoodwin said:
he didnt see it.
No, but if he'd looked...

snorky782

1,115 posts

98 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
MikeGoodwin said:
Thanks, I think what I need to know is, is £700 unreasonable. Just seems to me like he is being taken for a ride.

Also, family was stood at the side of the road, he didnt see it.
Which Is another text book definition of negligence. A car is there to be seen and rarely "comes out of nowhere".

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
£700 to paint a bumper and a wing, including any blending, removal and refitting seems pretty reasonable to me.

Unfortunately your mate is at fault here.

sebhaque

6,402 posts

180 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
MikeGoodwin said:
he didnt see it.
No, but if he'd looked...
+1

Flinging a door into an active carriageway (I assume the other driver, no matter what mach she was travelling at, was actually on a road) without looking is textbook lack of attention/negligence etc. If you're suddenly making your car 50% wider by opening a door, it's your responsibility to check you're not opening it in front of a passing car/emergency vehicle/biker/segway.

Out of curiosity for the more legally proficient types on here, in such a case would a family eyewitness be given consideration? After all, they've got a vested interest to protect the OP's friend by saying a maniac drove into his door. Would such an argument hold water in court?

singlecoil

33,317 posts

245 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
sebhaque said:

After all, they've got a vested interest to protect the OP's friend by saying a maniac drove into his door. Would such an argument hold water in court?
It would depend on whether the witness was believed or not.

KevinCamaroSS

11,555 posts

279 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
I assume your mates car is severely damaged, door ripped off etc.? If not, I doubt the other car was going very fast at all. Tell him to use his insurance company, that is what they are for.

CanAm

9,115 posts

271 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Go through insurance. The TP will no doubt develop whiplash together with all her passengers that your mate didn't see.

MikeGoodwin

Original Poster:

3,323 posts

116 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Thanks all. Car door just has paint missing on the lip surprisingly.

BertBert

18,955 posts

210 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
MikeGoodwin said:
Thanks all. Car door just has paint missing on the lip surprisingly.
So a car going really fast hit an open door hard enough to need a new wing and there's just a scratch on the offending door?

steveo3002

10,494 posts

173 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
yeah cant imagine it was speeding , walking speed would be plenty enough to muller the door

snobetter

1,145 posts

145 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
I heard of someone who hit a door as they were driving past and it went as his fault as he should have been aware doors may open from parked cars. Disclaimers before flamed: - second hand story could be rubbish - I don't agree with outcome if true.
Point is, if any, go through insurance company.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
snobetter said:
I heard of someone who hit a door as they were driving past and it went as his fault as he should have been aware doors may open from parked cars. Disclaimers before flamed: - second hand story could be rubbish - I don't agree with outcome if true.
Point is, if any, go through insurance company.
If he was held to blame, then there were probably witnesses to say it was clearly open for long enough beforehand that he could easily have avoided it.

superlightr

12,842 posts

262 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
go via the insurance co.

fangio

988 posts

233 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Where do you lot get your bodywork done? My A3 had a new bumper, front wing, foglight grille (Audi parts) and paint and labour for £700 after a truck clipped it.