Am I liable for a stone chip on another person's screen?

[framerateuk]

I was out in the Caterham earlier. I overtook a car and continued going, when I got to the lights later, a woman started flashing at me from behind and kept shouting "you hit my car!!". Rather confused, I pulled over wondering how on earth I could possible have hit her car. She said "look, you hit my car with a stone when you passed" and pointed at a tiny dink on her windscreen. Followed by her asking what I'm going to do about it!

Could I actually be held liable for a stone chip on her windscreen?! It's like like I intentionally did it! I've had loads of chips myself and have never even considered chasing anyone about them, they're just a side effect of driving!

Any advice?

[framerateuk]

I thought this was the case! (having worked with car insurance for years you'd think I should know!)

It was her attitude "what you gonna do about it?" that go me!

[framerateuk]

I told her I had no liability over the issue.

She took my number plate and I did give my phone number (in hindsight I probably shouldn't have!). But I don't think she would have let me go without that!

[framerateuk]

You ever been to the valleys?

I was more concerned she was going to flip out and start kicking bits of my car!

[framerateuk]

Long open downhill straight, 30mph goes up to 50mph, I overtook her as soon as the limit opened up. You could overtake there any any car.

There was also one car in front of her, and a bike overtook her just after I did.

[framerateuk]

Thanks chaps. I think my reply to her is going to take the line of "If you have a problem, speak to your insurer".

I did show her the state of the screen on my 7, some of the chips are more like craters!

[framerateuk]

otolith said:

I don't think the OP mentioned whether or not she had a nice pair of puppies.

She certainly did not.

Let's say that it's not only her windscreen that had had too many chips....

[framerateuk]

Just spoke to the insurance company (I thought it was worth a call). And they said to tell the woman to chase it through her insurance if she thinks she has a claim, and that it'll be pretty much impossible to prove, and even then, the stone would not have been my responsibility.

Case closed

I will however update the thread if I get an amusing call from her

[framerateuk]

Yeah this was nothing like that.

You can see by this link, the road has massive visibility:
(It looks uphill in the image, it's actually downhill).

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=bargoed&hl=en...

It's a prime overtaking point.

[framerateuk]

More to the point, why does you friend not have windscreen cover?

It costs £75 at most to have a windscreen fixed, and a lot of insurers do it cheaper. Sadly I've had to pay out 4 times for windows being smashed on my old car thanks to vandals. £75 each time!