Taxi driver just let his children smack the car door into my car. Aibu to report?

[HurricanePlait]

Sat in my car. Felt a bang against it, looked out and saw to children climbing out the back of the taxi and their father just waved his hand at me as if it was nothing.

I got out and because he was blocking the way, I asked if there was damage, he had a look and said no. He then let his two children run up and down inbetween the two cars.

The mother just stood there and said nothing. There is a slight stretch on my car door now. Aibu to report him to the taxi company?

Def report him.

Was the father the taxi driver? If so how do you know it's his children?

If not will the taxi company be any use? I am not sure that their insurance will cover the actions of a passenger and do you really want an insurance claim over a scratch? Your own insurance could go up

Definitely report him. You should be compensated for damage to your car because of careless and thoughtless behaviour.

Well they spent ages strapping the children into a double pushchair and went into the supermarket together (he was pushing the pushchair) so I think it's a fair assumption to make that he's their father.

Yes, YWBVU. Accidents happen. Just buff it out.

So if you want to go through insurance you report him to your insurance, using his plate number

The taxi company aren't really relevant, he's obviously not on a job and most taxi drivers are self employed

His insurance should cover damage caused by a passenger but can you really be arsed with the hassle for the sake of a scratch? If it will need a spray i would buy if it was superficial im not sure i would bother. If you claim off his insurance as you were not at fault there's no real reason why you should have any effect on your own policy.

There is Neon- mine has just gone up for an accident that wasn't my fault. The fact that the accident happened makes you more high risk than you were before.

Also there have been similar issues with people discussing house insurance issues with their insurer, deciding not to claim and finding insurance goes up anyway- you're giving them information about yourself they weren't aware of before

If he wasn't working i can't imagine the taxi company being in the least bit interested. You'll need to treat it like you would any other driver. Pass details to your insurance company

Not if the claim goes down as a non fault incident. If you've claimed and they haven't got their money back then yeah it would affect you because it will be down as fault. But premiums will ALWAYS go up. No insurer will cut your premium for a second years term as they hope youll let it automatically renew.

In theory yes, report him to the insurance company (I can't imagine the taxi company will care). In practice is it worth the hassle and probable raise in premiums?

He was an arse though.

No neon it was a no fault accident (I wouldn't have mentioned it if it weren't ) immediately admitted and paid for with no problems by the other party. My insurance went up more than a "usual" increase (£100 ish) and I was specifically told that was the reason why.

Taxi company probably won't care, you could try.

Why should the op have yo buff it out? She didn't do this.

No, she didn't do it, but she said it's a light scratch so probably not going through the paint layers. Easiest thing is to get rid of it and forget it. Insurance if you like and the associated hassle and possible premium increase, but I wouldn't report someone to their work for something so trivial and not really work's business.

Just to add: I do feel sorry for her and it would be annoying, but I was just recommending what I think would be least painful for all concerned.

He didn't "let" his children do it. One of them did it. Children do things like this. I'm sure that your children, if you have any, have damaged things accidentally. You probably have too.

Neither parent reacted particularly well, but sometimes embarrassment and yes, concern that we might have to stump up some cash, makes us try and minimise things. Taxi drivers often work long and unsocial hours for very little money so I don't suppose the family has money to chuck at problems.

If you can't polish out or touch up the scratch yourself, you are legally entitled to claim the cost of repair from him or his insurer. I doubt it's worth going through your insurer as the cost will probably be less than your excess but if your policy includes legal expenses they will pursue the claim for uninsured losses, which is what a claim lower then the excess is, for you to save you the hassle.

Alternatively, you could contact the taxi firm and explain the situation. If he is an employee and the car belongs to them, they will have a company insurance policy. If, as is more common for taxi drivers, he owns his own car and has his own insurance, you will need them to give you his contact information, so that you can pursue your claim against him individually.

Personally, I wouldn't bother. It's irritating but probably not worth pursuing.

HeddaGarbled

He didn't "let" his children do it. One of them did it. Children do things like this. I'm sure that your children, if you have any, have damaged things accidentally. You probably have too.

I'm afraid he did let them do it. He should have supervised how they got out of the car. The OP is right to feel aggrieved.

He didn't "let" his children do it. One of them did it. Children do things like this.

Agreed.

i dont understand why you didnt check for damage at the time

it would have made it a lot easier to resolve going forward

is there actually much damage?

A "slight scratch".