Car Park Scrape
Discussion
This afternoon while taking my wife for a blood test we were looking for a space in the nearly-full hospital carpark.
We noticed a drive and passenger start up and get ready to move out of their end space on my right, so I drove forward, pulled over to the right and indicated to show some sort of intent.
During this time another driver was heading towards us and also noticed the driver pulling out. He drove past them the other way and as soon as they were halfway out he started to reverse back to then drive into the space.
Meanwhile, I was trying to gauge where the leaving driver was while trying to judge whether it was worth going for the space (while cursing the cheek of the other driver).
During this kerfuffle, I moved back a touch (it was in reverse and is an auto, so it didn't take any effort) and genuinely unbeknownst to me or my wife, we nudged the car that had pulled out and was turned across my nearside rear corner. We only noticed the white paint and slight dink on my car after we'd got out. I'm annoyed that my car has another blemish on it but it's just an old car , but one I do like and try to maintain.
We then went looking for the other driver, who was driving around obviously looking for us. We chatted, I said let's not get insurance involved and if you get 3 quotes we'll take it from there. The 'damage' to their car was scuffing at best - it'll probably t-cut out. There was more done to my car than hers. It was a sub 1mph nudge.
What's the best approach? Pay for it or go tell them let's go through insurance? Thanks.
We noticed a drive and passenger start up and get ready to move out of their end space on my right, so I drove forward, pulled over to the right and indicated to show some sort of intent.
During this time another driver was heading towards us and also noticed the driver pulling out. He drove past them the other way and as soon as they were halfway out he started to reverse back to then drive into the space.
Meanwhile, I was trying to gauge where the leaving driver was while trying to judge whether it was worth going for the space (while cursing the cheek of the other driver).
During this kerfuffle, I moved back a touch (it was in reverse and is an auto, so it didn't take any effort) and genuinely unbeknownst to me or my wife, we nudged the car that had pulled out and was turned across my nearside rear corner. We only noticed the white paint and slight dink on my car after we'd got out. I'm annoyed that my car has another blemish on it but it's just an old car , but one I do like and try to maintain.
We then went looking for the other driver, who was driving around obviously looking for us. We chatted, I said let's not get insurance involved and if you get 3 quotes we'll take it from there. The 'damage' to their car was scuffing at best - it'll probably t-cut out. There was more done to my car than hers. It was a sub 1mph nudge.
What's the best approach? Pay for it or go tell them let's go through insurance? Thanks.
Strictly speaking you should go through insurance...
However the majority of the time that people don't, there's never any problems.
There was a thread on the MSE forums recently though where someone decided to settle outside insurance, paid up, got the third party to sign a document saying no further claims but then a few weeks later the third party had went through their insurance anyway and were paid out.
Roll the dice and place your bets...
However the majority of the time that people don't, there's never any problems.
There was a thread on the MSE forums recently though where someone decided to settle outside insurance, paid up, got the third party to sign a document saying no further claims but then a few weeks later the third party had went through their insurance anyway and were paid out.
Roll the dice and place your bets...
PurpleMoonlight said:
Do you not think it's somewhat unreasonable that having damages his car you now demand he undertakes the hassle and inconvenience of obtaining three quotations for you?
As I said, I don't know what the protocol is. I thought more than one quote would at least give you a fair idea of the price. What would you do?Since getting home I am thinking about the insurance route. Their car as I said, got away with some scuffing whereas I've left myself with a slight dish in aluminium bodywork.
Pontoneer said:
The PH answer is that it is all the fault of the *tard who stole the space , therefore he should pay , or be on the receiving end of a 600PSI punch from a powerfully built company director 
Joking aside, I was so close to marching over and having a strong word with him but my wife said don't be such a tool and secondly as we were at a hospital the chances were high that he was there for less than joyful reasons (as were we) and it really wouldn't have been the right thing to do. Not saying the other driver will, but make sure they only get the quote to fix the damage you caused.
I own a Smart Repair company, and an alloy wheel refurb company.
I'd say approx 33% of people who ask us for quotes to fix damage that was not there fault! ie car park scrapes such as this, or in the case of alloy wheels big potholes, ask us to "over" quote, so in effect they get other damage fixed for free.
Makes me sick and we always refuse, does it cost me work, I'm sure it does, but I can sleep easy.
I own a Smart Repair company, and an alloy wheel refurb company.
I'd say approx 33% of people who ask us for quotes to fix damage that was not there fault! ie car park scrapes such as this, or in the case of alloy wheels big potholes, ask us to "over" quote, so in effect they get other damage fixed for free.
Makes me sick and we always refuse, does it cost me work, I'm sure it does, but I can sleep easy.
KungFuPanda said:
PurpleMoonlight said:
Do you not think it's somewhat unreasonable that having damaged his car you now demand he undertakes the hassle and inconvenience of obtaining three quotations for you?
He needs to mitigate his loss. The OP's insurer and/or the Courts would require the same.velocefica said:
If the other driver is decent and it's really just a scratch and a dollop of t-cut will work then your in luck.
I'm hoping this. She was pretty decent about it in all fairness and even said her son might be able to get the marks out. What was left on her wheel arch was my paint so fingers crossed it will scrub off.wolves_wanderer said:
Demanding 3 quotes is a bloody cheek in my opinion. If someone crashed into my car and told me to get 3 quotes for the damage, I think I would be inclined not to waste my time and just go through the insurance.
I didn't demand, I asked nicely and was apologetic. Had I been wearing a hat I'm sure I would have doffed it too.And as it says in my first post I wasn't sure what the correct approach was. If she gets in touch and says she's got one price I'm not going to kick up a fuss on the basis that I asked for 3. You say crash, it was a bump. I lifted my foot slightly off the brake pedal and she'd turned so sharply across the back of my car that the two were almost touching before I moved a few cm.
If she decides to go through the insurance so be it.
wolves_wanderer said:
Sorry, I may have come across overly abrasive. I was just trying to put the situation from the POV of the other person.
Okay, I see. It's hard to judge the tone sometimes.She didn't seem to kick up a fuss at my suggestion. Had she have done I probably would have said okay, just get a quote and we'll take it from there.
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