Is it normal to bang your door into a parked car?

[Whoistheunderdog]

NC for this.

Today I went to the supermarket and parked my car. It wasn't full, and there were loads of spaces to the right of me. The car parked to the left pulled out just as I switched off the engine leaving a gap which was immediately filled. I was just about to get out of my car when the driver of the newly parked car banged her door open. It was quite hard and so I got out to have a look, and there was a tiny mark but nothing that a good polish wouldn't sort out if I could be bothered enough to. It was raining and the woman strode quickly ahead. So I caught up with her and politely asked if she knew she had hit my car. She had a smile on her face but said quite forcefully "really? Are you serious? Loads of people hit the car next to them when they open the door." and walked off. I was so stunned that I did my best impression of a goldfish for a few moments standing in the rain. Then I pulled myself together and got on with my shop.

It's still bugging me though. Because if I ever accidentally hit a car with my door, with someone in it, I would naturally hold up my hand and say sorry if they looked up. Also it would have been understandable if there hadn't been enough room between our cars but there was plenty of room, maybe not enough for her to open the door fully but that's normal in a parking bay situation isn't it?

In any case it wasn't that she hit my car that bothered me. I really couldn't care less as there's barely a scratch. but her attitude? AIBU?

[Jinxxx]

I have recently had a large gang (well three) large blokes pull up alongside me in their road-mending truck, bang their door into my car and then stare aggressively as if to say "do you really want to make something of this?". It makes my blood boil too. On a recent visit to Wales, a lady reversed into my car, got out to have a look at her own bumper, got back in, pulled forward and then reversed into me again. She then drove off, shouting that it was my fault for looking at her while she was parking!

[Klaptrap]

There is a difference though between touching the car next to you with your door and hitting the car next to you leaving a mark/dent.

Absolutely this - if space is tight, sometimes it is unavoidable to touch your door against the other car - BUT this should be done very gingerly and with great care not to cause any damage.

[Lordamighty]

This happened to DH while he was sat in the car, the woman apologised & they exchanged insurance details because she had dented his car. Our car was taken away by our insurers for repair & we were given a hire car for a week. All done & dusted or so we thought. She then denied it all & our insurers instructed solicitors to threaten her with legal action. I mean why would you give out your insurance details to some random stranger in a supermarket car park?

I dread to think how much it all cost.

[wasonthelist]

Take her number plate and have it professionally repainted then billed to her insurance

How's this going to work exactly? How will op identify insurer?

[Whoistheunderdog]

There is a difference though between touching the car next to you with your door and hitting the car next to you leaving a mark/dent.

Agreed. And to be clear, the scratch is tiny on an already scraped car. However it wasn't the size of the mark that was the issue, more the rudeness of her attitude. After I asked her if she was aware that she had hit my car, instead of a "no, I'm sorry." she said "Are you serious? Really? Loads of people hit the car next to them with their doors" that made me

[LupoLounger]

Loads of people don't do it. Loads of knobs do it.

[donotreadtheDailyHeil]

If I had the reg no I'd be inclined to report it to my insurers and cause her hassle. But even if you've got a protected no claims bonus your premium will go up next year just for reporting it (insurers really must stop increasing people's premiums when something isn't their fault as it prevents people from reporting things).

So no, smacking someone's door is not on. Also when you're stopped on a road PLEASE check your mirror before opening your door, so you don't hit someone or something going past.

It would help of course if car parks had bigger spaces, and people didn't drive such stupidly massive cars. The number of times I slide into a space and then realise I can't actually open my door at all (even if I hit the car next to me) is ridiculous. Then I have to go off and find another one where I can get the door open.

[tinymeteor]

magicstar1 that video is awesome!

[Whoistheunderdog]

Loads of people don't do it. Loads of knobs do it.

thanks lupo

[whois]

Well, it is normal but usually you do it really gently so the door just rests on the car next to you and try to act like you are sorry!

[whois]

Absolutely this - if space is tight, sometimes it is unavoidable to touch your door against the other car - BUT this should be done very gingerly and with great care not to cause any damage.

Exactly

[Whoistheunderdog]

If space is tight, sometimes it is unavoidable to touch your door against the other car - BUT this should be done very gingerly and with great care not to cause any damage.

Absolutely this. And there was more than enough room for her not to have needed to touch my car at all. I really think it's because she didn't have an umbrella and wanted to get indoors as quickly as possible and sod being careful.

[Feelingsolow12345]

this happened to my dn today. this woman bashed the back door. when my nan looked at her she smiled. so my nan got out and had a look and there was a little dent and she full blown denied it.

[specialsubject]

no - this is entitled spoilt brat behaviour. I wonder how she earns her money - clearly very easily.

My not very smart and rather old car is always at the far end of the car park for just this reason. The entitled and lazy don't park there!

[Whoistheunderdog]

Sorry, X posted with worra

[Notagainmun]

We recently finished our mortgage and decided after years of driving old cars that we would buy a newish one. I can't believe how many times I have come back to the car and seen tiny dents and marks. When I drive my elderly Father he needs help to get in and out. He is very tall and stiff so the door needs to be as wide open as possible. I always rest my hand on the edge of the door so that if is a barrier between the two cars. Why can't others show the Sam courtesy? I agree though that some cars are far too big and spaces are too small.

[OohMavis]

You put your hand in between the car door and the next car, forming a painful barrier, while your children wrestle themselves out of the car awkwardly. That's what you do. You don't bang into the next car!

This is why parent and child spaces are wonderful.

[MsMims]

YANBU. She sounds a horrible, selfish person. I would be livid if someone had such a devil may care attitude after damaging my car.

I do wish shops wouldn't be so greedy and cram in as many small spaces as they can though. I'm slim and park straight but often have to squeeze out the door.

[imwithspud]

YANBU, I have 'touched' the car next to me if it's a squeeze, but I try to use my hand or fingers as a buffer to avoid any damage. I would never purposely open my car door and smack into the car next to me - leaving a mark in the process. That's just plain rude and selfish.

Someone actually whacked their door into my car whilst I was sat in it waiting for my DNan to come out of the supermarket. It left a tiny mark, my DC's were in the car so I didn't want to make a scene over a small scratch that can be touched up with a pen. But I couldn't believe the sheer brashness of it. Absolutely no regard for other peoples property what so ever. I wouldn't mind, but I was parked perfectly in my spot whilst they were parked at an angle and were almost over the line on my side. They're lucky I was in a relatively good mood because if they'd caught me on a bad day I would have gotten out and told them what for.

[AerithEarling]

No it is not normal however I see it a lot in car parks.
I once said to some woman she hit my car, I went round to check and said it's fine, her husband then proceeded to stare at me when walking and doing some weird arm movement, I was pissed off so shouted at him "do you have a problem" then the woman came up to me and said she sorry and said "how do you think I feel I have to put up with him everyday"
I got the feeling he was abusing her, felt so sorry for her.

[Whoistheunderdog]

magicstar Just saw the link. Thanks for making my day!
"War is not the answer" so funny!!

[lampygirl]

It is not right to rest your door either. Sorry it's just not. The door doesn't rest after 100s of kilos of family have gotten out, it slides up as the suspension moves, moving up the other persons car and scratches it, even if you originally put it there gently. You put your hand between the 2 or you park somewhere else. I've had a couple of payouts for people who have done this to me. I'd have bashed her with my trolley in the supermarket to see how she liked it OP you are definitely NBU

[LupoLounger]

The door doesn't rest after 100s of kilos of family have gotten out, it slides up as the suspension moves, moving up the other persons car and scratches it

Sad but true. Does happen as a fact of life and sometimes people engineer this scenario by parking right. on. top. of. you. after you've left the car, but on the whole I agree...

You put your hand between the 2 or you park somewhere else

[SistersOfPercy]

Last time this came up there were a surprising amount of posters who couldn't see anything wrong with 'resting' their door on other people's cars and wouldn't have it that it still caused damage. We were all precious apparently

[LupoLounger]

@SistersOfPercy I think the perpetrator's attitude serves as a bit of a lens for this one. Accidents do happen though, esp if someone parks up so close to you that it's impossible for you to get in/out, like in the pregnant women's post earlier (forgot the handle).