Car Parking damage
Discussion
While my car was parked in a bay at work in a private car park, the owner of a vehicle parked next to mine is saying that damage has occurred to his car by someone opening a door on my car.
There is CCTV footage of the day in question showing blurry pictures of what is said to be me and a passenger getting out of what is alleged to be my vehicle, but no indications that damage may have happened. I am not aware of any damage to any vehichles on that day and neither is my passenger, and am always very careful about opening doors in car parks.
It was more than a week before I was made aware that someone had reported to office staff that their vehicle had been damaged on that day. Apparently it was thought to have been someone elses car involved and not mine due to the poor clarity of CCTV footage.
The driver of the other vehicle confronted me today about alleged damage to his vehicle. I told him that I was unaware of any damage to anyones vehicle. He claims that there is paint from my car on his car, and he thinks he can go to the police and get the paint analysed to prove it. I looked at my car door today and noticed it has some paint missing from one edge, but it could have been like that for years as I have had no reason to check before.
Can the owner of the other vehicle claim anything against me ? Do I have to supply my name and address or insurance details ? I have denied all knowledge so far , and have not seen the damage to his car yet, as he says his wife is using it until next week.
What is the best way forward here ?
Any help grateful, thanks.
>> Edited by ledfoot on Tuesday 12th July 20:41
There is CCTV footage of the day in question showing blurry pictures of what is said to be me and a passenger getting out of what is alleged to be my vehicle, but no indications that damage may have happened. I am not aware of any damage to any vehichles on that day and neither is my passenger, and am always very careful about opening doors in car parks.
It was more than a week before I was made aware that someone had reported to office staff that their vehicle had been damaged on that day. Apparently it was thought to have been someone elses car involved and not mine due to the poor clarity of CCTV footage.
The driver of the other vehicle confronted me today about alleged damage to his vehicle. I told him that I was unaware of any damage to anyones vehicle. He claims that there is paint from my car on his car, and he thinks he can go to the police and get the paint analysed to prove it. I looked at my car door today and noticed it has some paint missing from one edge, but it could have been like that for years as I have had no reason to check before.
Can the owner of the other vehicle claim anything against me ? Do I have to supply my name and address or insurance details ? I have denied all knowledge so far , and have not seen the damage to his car yet, as he says his wife is using it until next week.
What is the best way forward here ?
Any help grateful, thanks.
>> Edited by ledfoot on Tuesday 12th July 20:41
Taking everything as posted on face value.
He will get a shock when he finds the answer he gets which will be the bum's rush.
If he wants to proceed this way but on a private basis he'll get another shock when he discovers what the laboratory work will cost him.
When I used to do forensic materials investigations we wouldn't get out of bed for much less than a couple of grand scaling things up into todays money.
Obviously the first thing to do is inspect the damage, there may be no case to answer. Paint different colour, height of mark no match to missing paint on your door, million and one things where a careful visual examination could eliminate your vehicle. Equally the evidence may be fairly unhelpful so it might be a good idea to take a quiet look first before offering the two vehicles up to each other.
:Rumpole of the Bailey:Never ask a question when you do not already know the answer
:/Rumpole of the Bailey:
If issue not eliminated by vehicle inspection and a careful examination of the CCTV footage, (you HAVE seen that haven't you?) and you are sure that it is not you then I would suggest you flatly deny it.
Nevertheless seeing as this is a colleague and in view of the amount of poison that can be spread, why not offer your insurance details? Tell your insurance company but make it quite clear to them that you ARE NOT making a claim and deny the allegations but informing them of a material fact or whatever the proper term is.
It does rather depend upon who this colleague is, but think how you would like to be treated if it were the other way round.
Hope that helps,
FiF
ledfoot said:
He claims that there is paint from my car on his car, and he thinks he can go to the police and get the paint analysed to prove it.
He will get a shock when he finds the answer he gets which will be the bum's rush.
If he wants to proceed this way but on a private basis he'll get another shock when he discovers what the laboratory work will cost him.
When I used to do forensic materials investigations we wouldn't get out of bed for much less than a couple of grand scaling things up into todays money.
ledfoot said:
I looked at my car door today and noticed it has some paint missing from one edge, but it could have been like that for years as I have had no reason to check before.
snip 8< 8<
I have denied all knowledge so far , and have not seen the damage to his car yet, as he says his wife is using it until next week.
Obviously the first thing to do is inspect the damage, there may be no case to answer. Paint different colour, height of mark no match to missing paint on your door, million and one things where a careful visual examination could eliminate your vehicle. Equally the evidence may be fairly unhelpful so it might be a good idea to take a quiet look first before offering the two vehicles up to each other.
:Rumpole of the Bailey:Never ask a question when you do not already know the answer
:/Rumpole of the Bailey:
ledfoot said:
Can the owner of the other vehicle claim anything against me ? Do I have to supply my name and address or insurance details ?
If issue not eliminated by vehicle inspection and a careful examination of the CCTV footage, (you HAVE seen that haven't you?) and you are sure that it is not you then I would suggest you flatly deny it.
Nevertheless seeing as this is a colleague and in view of the amount of poison that can be spread, why not offer your insurance details? Tell your insurance company but make it quite clear to them that you ARE NOT making a claim and deny the allegations but informing them of a material fact or whatever the proper term is.
It does rather depend upon who this colleague is, but think how you would like to be treated if it were the other way round.
Hope that helps,
FiF
On the other hand taking things completely literally the following could be construed that you are aware of damage being caused by car door impacts but on other days, and that you are usually careful but not always.
Sorry ledfoot just trying to point out a few unhelpful phrases.
FiF
ledfoot said:
I am not aware of any damage to any vehichles on that day and neither is my passenger, and am usually very careful about opening doors in car parks.
Sorry ledfoot just trying to point out a few unhelpful phrases.
FiF
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