Strange situation.
Discussion
I live with a mate in a shared, rented house. We’ve had an assortment of cars and bikes etc. Mate sent a text message to ask about the keys to one of my cars (Honda Civic) as he wanted to move it to gain access to the garage so that he could get his bike out. Due to the layout of the property, the driveway to the garage has a wall either side which restricts access. I told him where to find the keys. he moved the car and , later, put it back. No problem. Unbeknown to me, he didn’t put the handbrake on.
A couple of days later, I went out to the Honda, I opened the door but did not get in to the car. I started it to warm it up and then moved my lease car (Kia) out of the way so that I could use the Honda. As I got out of the Kia, I heard a noise which sounded exactly like a Honda Civic crashing into a house. The Honda had rolled down the drive, across another drive and into the front wall of a neighbours house. To say I was upset would be the understatement of the decade.
The neighbour (87 year old, ex RN , Korean war vet) came out and wondered what the hell had just happened. He said he thought he was back in the war. The house sustained damage to the brickwork at the front and lots of cracks to the inside of his front room.
I spoke to my mate and we both spoke to our insurers as we had no idea what to do in this situation. My insurer said its on him as he was the last person to drive the car but his insurer said its on me as I was the last person to control the car. This was the beginning of June and nothing has happened as yet. Whenever I ask my mate what’s happening, he tells me that he’s waiting to hear from his insurers. The Honda hasn’t moved since the incident and now has a flat battery after mate tried to start it again.
I just wondered about the best way forward for this.
Camelot1971 said:
Lord.Vader said:
You shouldn’t have started the car without making sure it was safe to do so, which you must have partially done to take it out of gear otherwise it would had rolled off when your friend left it?
Your car, you were last in it, your issue sorry.
This. Your car, you were last in it, your issue sorry.
Ditto the above. Say your mate had put the handbrake on and it had failed, would you still think he was at fault?
Actually, whats saying that didnt happen or has he confirmed that he didnt apply it?
Either way unfortunately its on you and your insurance as you were the last one in ‘control’ of the car.
Was there much damage to your car?
Actually, whats saying that didnt happen or has he confirmed that he didnt apply it?
Either way unfortunately its on you and your insurance as you were the last one in ‘control’ of the car.
Was there much damage to your car?
Thanks for the replies. My mates insurance has paid to have the house repaired and he admitted to not using the handbrake.
I think the car will be written off. The obvious cosmetics are the bumper, bonnet and grille. Unfortunately the cross member/subframe has a big dent in it and I reckon a 16 year old Honda would be beyond economic repair.
I think the car will be written off. The obvious cosmetics are the bumper, bonnet and grille. Unfortunately the cross member/subframe has a big dent in it and I reckon a 16 year old Honda would be beyond economic repair.
AWRacing said:
Was there much damage to your car?
Who gives a f
k about a bloody car controlled by two idiots (one who can't use a handbrake and one who starts a car without being in it)?It's the poor old neighbour who nearly had his house destroyed that I feel sorry for. What has happened to his house? Is it still livable in? Who is going to pay for the repairs for his house? Maybe he can/has claim on his house insurance?
Surely sorting the neighbour out should be top priority.
PS I do realize it's not the OP's question but someone else asking about a the car when the neighbours house has been destroyed seems very uncaring and frankly, quite absurd.
EDIT written before the above post stating the neighbours house has been sorted. Glad to hear they got their priorities right.
Edited by NGee on Friday 21st August 10:08
Writhing said:
My mates insurance has paid to have the house repaired and he admitted to not using the handbrake.
If his insurance have paid for the house then it must follows that he is responsible for the damage to the car.Surely they can't just pick and choose which part of the claim to pay out on - can they?
NGee said:
If his insurance have paid for the house then it must follows that he is responsible for the damage to the car.
Surely they can't just pick and choose which part of the claim to pay out on - can they?
For sure they can. Damage to the neighbours house will be third party, which is probably covered under 'driving other cars' on the friend's insurance. Damage to the car itself would only be covered under comprehensive insurance, which is where the OPs policy should pay out.Surely they can't just pick and choose which part of the claim to pay out on - can they?
NGee said:
If his insurance have paid for the house then it must follows that he is responsible for the damage to the car.
Surely they can't just pick and choose which part of the claim to pay out on - can they?
If the insurance was by way of DoC cover on the friend's fully comp policy then it is highly likely that it excludes damage to the vehicle itself.Surely they can't just pick and choose which part of the claim to pay out on - can they?
Cat
deckster said:
NGee said:
If his insurance have paid for the house then it must follows that he is responsible for the damage to the car.
Surely they can't just pick and choose which part of the claim to pay out on - can they?
For sure they can. Damage to the neighbours house will be third party, which is probably covered under 'driving other cars' on the friend's insurance. Damage to the car itself would only be covered under comprehensive insurance, which is where the OPs policy should pay out.Surely they can't just pick and choose which part of the claim to pay out on - can they?
HTP99 said:
Writhing said:
I heard a noise which sounded exactly like a Honda Civic crashing into a house.
I never knew that a Honda Civic made a noise specifc to them, when crashing into a house!
It is rumoured that if you get enough different cars and enough different houses you can play the National Anthem!!
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