Damaged car, then legged it!

[freshmicropig]

Was sat in a car park eating my lunch yesterday when a purple Fiesta pulled into one of the bays in front. Woman opens the door straight into the car next to her, really hard. It looked like the wind caught it. So she gets out, closes and locks her car, and has a look around - taking care not to look at the car next to her. A moment passes, she gets back in her car and drives out of the shopping centre.

The owner of the other car arrived five minutes later and only noticed the damage when I pointed it out - a huge dent and a lot of paint damage. I passed on the registration number of the car that did it, but I doubt it will come to much without my testimony - they didn't ask for my details.

Its the second or third time I've seen similar this year, I can't believe the lack of respect people have for others' property.

I don't know if my passing on the details will help in any way - I just know I'd appreciate it if it had happened to my car.

[Grimezy93]

You sir, are Good Guy Greg.

[e21Mark]

I loaned my Mrs my old BMW 2002 to go shopping and someone did the exact same thing, except my Mrs was there to see it. When she remarked the woman said ''it's only a bloody car'' and strode off. Doing the right thing is getting rarer and rarer.

[tannedstamina]

[whp1983]

Winds me up, someone caught my m3 bumper and scuffed it a treat..... £160 to respray. If I ever accidentally caught someone's car I'd always wait/ hand over details for damage.

And no just cos you have nice car doesnt mean you can afford stuff like that.... I live on beans and water to fund that car!

A real pet hate of mine people not taking care the leaving scene.

[derin100]

Where does one stand legally with this sort of situation? (I mean someone banging their door into the side of your car). Say you've even got witnesses to the fact.

Can one get financial redress? And how would one go about it?

I mean, it's not quite the same as an actually motoring 'accident', is it? Nevertheless, one is left with a cost to have it repaired.

Just interested to know.

[CYMR0]

derin100 said:

I mean, it's not quite the same as an actually motoring 'accident', is it?

Isn't it?

I would say that the driver owes other people they park near a duty of care, whether that means not hitting them with their bumper or their door. If they don't take that reasonable care (not necessarily all possible care) then it's a question of foreseeability as to whether they are liable for their negligence.

The accident certainly arises from the "use" of the car on a road or in another public place, which means that they are obliged to have RTA cover in place.

So I would say that as long as the driver or passenger is negligent then it's just another low impact accident.

[derin100]

CYMR0 said:

derin100 said:

I mean, it's not quite the same as an actually motoring 'accident', is it?

Isn't it?

I would say that the driver owes other people they park near a duty of care, whether that means not hitting them with their bumper or their door. If they don't take that reasonable care (not necessarily all possible care) then it's a question of foreseeability as to whether they are liable for their negligence.

The accident certainly arises from the "use" of the car on a road or in another public place, which means that they are obliged to have RTA cover in place.

So I would say that as long as the driver or passenger is negligent then it's just another low impact accident.

Interesting! I wonder if someone can confirm that they've actually been successful in such a claim. If one can and it's a straight-forward claim against their insurance then I'd certainly do it if I saw and could prove someone doing it to one of my cars. I'm always really careful never to hit someone else's car with my doors but it's obvious that so many people don't give a toss about other people's property.

[Greengecko]

derin100 said:

Interesting! I wonder if someone can confirm that they've actually been successful in such a claim. If one can and it's a straight-forward claim against their insurance then I'd certainly do it if I saw and could prove someone doing it to one of my cars. I'm always really careful never to hit someone else's car with my doors but it's obvious that so many people don't give a toss about other people's property.

Of course you can claim, most don't as ultimately it will need to be declared and the additional premium over the next 3/5 years will be greater than getting it fixed yourself independently.

[lowdrag]

Sitting in the car park at Sainsburys in the company Discovery when Mrs. Blonde pulls up next to me with the family aboard. Son opens door straight into the side steps of the Disco. Mrs. Blonde looks other way and hurries off the do the shopping. BIG dent in passenger door of her new Beemer and nowt to mine, so I sit there and wait. She returns, surreptitiously looks at the door and then loses it big time with her son. She never even noticed I was there. Lovely moment that when I opened the door.

[B.J.W]

Happened to me - a large dent in the side of my door caused by a careless person parked next to me. I was in the car when it happened.

I agreed £150 there and then, which they paid to me after a quick walk to the cash point

[nickfrog]

freshmicropig said:

they didn't ask for my details.

You should have explained that without your testimony, nothing will come of it. But with it, it would have helped massively.

Or maybe I misunderstood and the victim does have your contact details?

[deltashad]

Ive never managed to do this and all the car park dents on my car are down to other spams. Report it please. I know they don't mean to do it but iif they're caught then fk em

[gus607]

Similar thing happened to me a few years ago.

Parked up in the local supermarket car park, when bh pulls in next to me & promptly throws her door open smashing in to my door. She had not noticed me sitting in the car, after she started to walk away I confronted her.

All I got was a mouthfull of abuse, with the words mentioned that my car "was only an old one & didn't matter".

Without further ado I then opened my door & slammed into her door causing a bit of damage.
She went ballistic & stormed off saying she was going to report me at the local police station.

I'm still waiting.

[nails1979]

If the tp states the wind blew the door into the other car then you cant claim from their insurance.

[derin100]

Greengecko said:

derin100 said:

Interesting! I wonder if someone can confirm that they've actually been successful in such a claim. If one can and it's a straight-forward claim against their insurance then I'd certainly do it if I saw and could prove someone doing it to one of my cars. I'm always really careful never to hit someone else's car with my doors but it's obvious that so many people don't give a toss about other people's property.

Of course you can claim, most don't as ultimately it will need to be declared and the additional premium over the next 3/5 years will be greater than getting it fixed yourself independently.

No...I don't mean claim on MY insurance! I mean THEY pay on their insurance! If it's not your fault of course you don't have a claim on your own insurance.

[aw51 121565]

derin100 said:

No...I don't mean claim on MY insurance! I mean THEY pay on their insurance! If it's not your fault of course you don't have a claim on your own insurance.

But your insurer, at renewal, will ask if you've had any accidents or made any claims at all in the last year (roughly paraphrased); honesty is the rule and your premium will probably be loaded because of this. For a good few years.

Duck tape and tie wraps, a ride in a car boot and being left unclothed on the moors on a cold night is the way forward for the third party, I'd suggest .

[Steffan]

aw51 121565 said:

derin100 said:

No...I don't mean claim on MY insurance! I mean THEY pay on their insurance! If it's not your fault of course you don't have a claim on your own insurance.

But your insurer, at renewal, will ask if you've had any accidents or made any claims at all in the last year (roughly paraphrased); honesty is the rule and your premium will probably be loaded because of this. For a good few years.

Duck tape and tie wraps, a ride in a car boot and being left unclothed on the moors on a cold night is the way forward for the third party, I'd suggest .

With insurance companies today every accident should be declared. This may well result in increased premiums. I do not like it but that is the current requirement and probable effects.

[Steffan]

aw51 121565 said:

derin100 said:

No...I don't mean claim on MY insurance! I mean THEY pay on their insurance! If it's not your fault of course you don't have a claim on your own insurance.

But your insurer, at renewal, will ask if you've had any accidents or made any claims at all in the last year (roughly paraphrased); honesty is the rule and your premium will probably be loaded because of this. For a good few years.

Duck tape and tie wraps, a ride in a car boot and being left unclothed on the moors on a cold night is the way forward for the third party, I'd suggest .

With insurance companies today every accident should be declared. This may well result in increased premiums. I do not like it but that is the current requirement and probable effects.

[Joedarkness]

This is something I hate

My car has been dinged a few times I parked in Ikea and got a trolley mark right down the body kit and the car was only 2 weeks old !!! I would have lost the plot if I caught the MF who did it

My girlfriends mother used to say park next to new cars and you won't have this problem but that's bullocks ..