It's not my liability is it?

[oldenoughtowearpurple]

XDH reversed into our skip and damaged his car. He says he didn't see it there. It is on our land so doesn't have lights, and half on the drive and half off the drive on a gravelled bit. It was early evening so quite dark.

It dented a bit of his Ranger Rover panelling (the bit above the bumper) and he says it is going to cost £1100 to fix.

Do you think I should be offering something towards the repair of it? or claiming on my household insurance or something?

Well, it's unfortunate but I wouldn't say you are liable!

Legally I don't know... but IMO- No Way!

He was moving, not the skip. If he can't see behind him when reversing he either needs to get to specsavers, get a reversing sensor, or look better.

Not your fault!

he was teh one doing teh driving. it's his own fault if he can't use mirrors. i presume the skip didn't jump out on him?

Um, he reversed his car and hit something. I would say that the blame for this is firmly his.

He can claim from his insurance.

I would say it was his fault, he should be looking where he's going, even if he's going backwards. If someone reverses into a bollard or a lamppost it isn't the council's fault.

Unless the skip hit him then I'm pretty sure it's his fault.

I would say it's the driver's job to look where they are going.

Not everything is lit up.

walls, posts, bollards, parked cars with all lights off...

He reversed without paying proper attention, he should claim on his insurance (assuming he's fully comp)

No, of course you shouldn't feel obliged to pay.
He should have been looking where he was going; cars have reverse lights, mirrors, and rear windows after all. I think you'd struggle to claim on your household insurance as I don't see how you would be legally liable.

he is so liable. you are not. your skip was on your land and not the road, therefore did not need lights.

Thanks everyone - that's what I thought too. And if it had been a car or heaven forbid a pushchair it would have definitely have been his fault.

So now I can PMSL then?

Definitely PYSL oldenough! He's a twit.

He is definitely liable for the accident, he hit a stationary object through his own lack of attention.

His fault=his cost.

yeah PYSL, he needs to be more careful.

totally not your responsibility if it is on your drive/land.

If it's stationary then it's always the fault of the person who drove into it, what a wally I bet he's fuming (with himself).

You are only liable to light skips if they are on the public roadway otherwise he is a twunt who has dented his big shiney toy!

Sorry but I can't help at the thought of the skip coming alive and attacking his car. His fault his liability.

Is there any noticeable damage to the skip? Am sure they're pretty scratched up as it is but if it's a huge dent you might be asked about it by the skip hire company and then he might have to claim that on his insurance too. Just have that thought to hand should he dare ask if you will be claiming on your insurance! Oh that and all the surgery you'll need on his insurance to repair your uncontrollable bladder and split sides once you've finished laughing!

I feel a bit sorry for him actually - not saying it was your fault but I can imagine how he might have backed into it - I drive a pretty large car myself and it isnt just a case of putting on my glasses or looking in a mirror when it is dark - I sometimes have to get out of the car and check or ask a passenger to do so.

If he is used to your driveway being clear then he might not do this every time.

But, I agree you are not liable so if he is exDH for good reason and you want to PYSL, go ahead!

i can't fathom how he would fail to notice a skip in the vicinty of where he needed to reverse. surely he saw it when he drove in? if he needs to get out of his car to see what's behind it then that's his responsibility to do so if he drives such a big car. i have no sympathy I'm afraid.

No way your fault. If he can afford a Range Rover (if it's a newish one) he can afford parking sensors.

Should you bollocks offer to pay anything. How can you be held responsible for his inability to avoid driving into a large inanimate object?

Has he actually asked you contribute to the repair?

No no.. he can't admit it's his fault, that's why he's making a big deal out of it. Because it's you, and makes him look like a dick. It's a face thing.

Just a quick thought, was the skip 100% on your land? as even if it was slightly on a public footpath or highway then you will be responsible if it wasnt lit....If it was, then tell him to go and take a long jump off a short pier!!