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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at having to pay for this car to be re-sprayed?

231 replies

emmabrown123 · 18/03/2018 16:39

Before I start I'll just say - I know I have to pay for this!! I'm just wondering where I stand about knowing whether I'm being a bit diddled or not!!

My 3 year old son was riding his bike along the pavement and as he came round the corner there was a car (brand new Audi) parked taking up the majority of the pavement. His Dad was behind him and shouted at him to stop, he didn't and subsequently scratched the car, over 2 panels.

We wrote a note explaining the damage, took some pictures and left it at that. The scratch was long but didn't look too deep.

That was about 10 days ago, today we've had a message from the owner saying it's going to a garage tomorrow and may need a full respray of both panels.

My husband thinks that's rubbish and that it could be sorted without respraying, I have no knowledge on the subject.

We will obviously cover the cost, although it bloody irks me because the car was (and always is) parked ridiculously and blocking the pavement for anyone pushing a buggy / in a wheelchair. My question is - is there anything I can do to check that they're not having a respray when they don't need one?! And is there anyway I can lower the cost (prices ranging from a couple of hundred to over a grand have been bandied about) as I'm not sure where we're going to find the money as yet!!!

Or do I just suck it up and find some way to pay it?!!

OP posts:
mogonfoxnight · 18/03/2018 20:26

I had scratches on my car from driving too close to branches, and some of them were polished off, and some needed a bit of filler and colour. The total was 100s not 1000s. You could ask him to get quotes from more than one garage and ask to see them. If you are still worried once you have seen them, you could talk to the garages to make sure the are proposing the cheapest options.

Doilooklikeatourist · 18/03/2018 20:29

Don’t pay for it without checking whether you have to legally or not ( not just relying on mumsnet )
He obviously has insurance on his car

Let him claim on that
And go from there
I thought it was illegal to park on the pavement , and I thought that under 7s could ride bikes legally on pavements, but I have no legal knowledge , so don’t rely on me
But if he was parked illegally , and there was legal bike riding going on ( it just gets more confusing )
But don’t just hand money over for a so called respray

Sweetpotatoaddict · 18/03/2018 20:30

I’m going to call my house insurance company tomorrow and double check that my child’s ACCIDENTS are covered.
I wonder how it would have been construed if it was “AIBU to think they should have paid for the damage to my car after their child cycled into my car driving along the pavement to park and was killed?”

TittyGolightly · 18/03/2018 20:35

But there is no need to comment on how myself or my husband were supervising my child. He was NOT out of control, he was a couple of feet ahead (which I think is fine, he's safe on his bike and has stabilisers), he was caught out by a car parked on a corner which he didn't see till it was too late - and my husband clearly didn't shout out early enough (which I admit was his fault but we're talking seconds and unfortunately he didn't react quick enough).

If he was Lyon in a hospital bed now having fallen the other way and banged his head/knocked himself out would you be kicking yourself for not being close enough to catch him?

He fell into a car - that’s the definition of not in control. If he can’t keep a bike with stabilisers upright in all circumstances then you need to be right next to him, not a couple of feet behind.

Or get him to push the bike on the pavement rather than ride it in built up areas.

TittyGolightly · 18/03/2018 20:36

*lying

Original poster
emmabrown123 · 18/03/2018 20:43

@TittyGolightly he didn't fall, he scraped along the side of it - hence the scratches being minimal.

If he'd have fallen off he has a well fitting helmet and would've been fine.

Neither me or my husband feel the need to be right next to him when he's on his bike - he is very competent, just was caught out by this car. I know my child (better than you do) and would never put him in danger

OP posts:
FlouncyDoves · 18/03/2018 20:46

Titty apt username

TittyGolightly · 18/03/2018 20:50

Okay. Hmm

Sweetpotatoaddict · 18/03/2018 20:54

Or get him to push the bike on the pavement rather than ride it in built up areas

Hmm
inabeautifulplace · 18/03/2018 21:00

Best bet is definitely to go through home insurance. Almost certainly cheaper than paying yourself and their experience will determine neutrally whether the car owner has some culpability for this.

Voice0fReason · 18/03/2018 21:46

If he was blocking the pavement I'd have no sympathy at all and I wouldn't pay.

There have been numerous times when I barged my double pushchair past the cars that were taking up most of the pavement. These days, a nice whack from my white stick might discourage the selfish drivers from parking their cars there. Id like to see the owners try to sue me for any damage Grin

SpitefulMidLifeAnimal · 18/03/2018 22:33

Sweetpotatoaddict What on earth is so Hmm about dismounting in a built up area, for safety's sake?

Sweetpotatoaddict · 18/03/2018 23:39

Why for safety’s sake should a child dismount and push their bike along the pavement in a built up area? The risk to their safety is from vehicles, it’s my duty to teach my child about that risk and how to minimise it , and also ensuring that they stop when pedestrians are approaching and let them past. To learn you need to do it, and when doing things people make mistakes or have accidents. It doesn’t mean you stop them doing that thing altogether, unless of course they are squashed by a car driving on the pavement to park.

RoomOfRequirement · 18/03/2018 23:55

Absolutely not. He is a CF and I wouldn't have left a note let alone offer to pay!! It's his fault for being an inconsiderate POS.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 19/03/2018 00:04

I sometimes have to park on the pavement by my house if there are visitors in my space. I’d much rather leave enough room in the road for an ambulance or fire crew to get past.

RoomOfRequirement · 19/03/2018 00:12

If there's not enough room to park in the road without blocking other cars then park elsewhere - not the pavement. Lost track of the amount of times my grandfather in his wheelchair has had to go out blind into the road in order to get past because inconsiderate drivers haven't left enough space for him to pass! It's dangerous, unfair and honestly just lazy.

dissapointedafternoon · 19/03/2018 00:19

Will it come out with T Cut?
How bad is the scratch do you have a photo?

Someone damaged my car by driving into it. It's an Audi. I got a whole new door and rear bumper for very shallow scratches.
It has to be done properly so it could be thousands. Mine was.

But it wasn't my fault with the accident and so it's down to the other driver to pay (they haven't more then a year later!)

If the car was on the pavement I wouldn't pay. I have to admit it.

Oswin · 19/03/2018 00:32

Selfish bastard parking on the pavement. Really get me angry watching wheelchair users having to use the roads because some dickhead driver thinks there car is the most important thing.

TIRFandProud · 19/03/2018 03:49

Unfortunately for you, it sounds like a fair price and will be necessary.
Her parking wasn't illegally unless in London or Exeter.

Now that the communication between you proves you did damage the car, you have been given very stupid advice about not paying. He can pursue it and when her wins you will be responsible for it and the costs.

For what it's worth, a respray of the rear wing of my Range Rover was nearly £2k.

bruffin · 19/03/2018 06:12

My dd did something similar. Building Insurance paid out under public liability. Leave it to them.

Parispapillon · 19/03/2018 06:45

"then put dog poo under his car door handles."

Please don't anybody do this, ever. Could you imagine? In a falling out both sides think they are in the right, that's the nature of it. Somebody then does this to you - that would just be so cruel.

londonrach · 19/03/2018 07:02

Our local policeman told us it was illegal to block the pavement but parking on it and if i stratched the car getting my pushchair past its the owners fault for causing the blockage. Owner can also be charged £100. Not in london here. Think they trying to get something through parliament. I live in a tourist town on one of three streets with free parking so massive problem. Police are monitoring our street and the other two and leave notes and have removed one car which stopped an ambulance getting to my elderly neighbour. Shes been prevented leaving home as using an electric wheelchair so if the pavement blocked she cant go out. Think thats why the police very onto parking on our street. Be alot better recently so think some fines were handed out.

TittyGolightly · 19/03/2018 07:07

The pavement clearly wasn’t blocked though, as the OP hasn’t said anything about there not being space for her child to cycle past, just that he misjudged it.

bruffin · 19/03/2018 07:21

emmabrown123
Honestly just leave it to your insurance company. If your liable then they will pay out,if not then they dont pay and thecar owner can claim on his own insurance.
Mine sorted it out no hassle when dd scratched a car with her bike at 5.

Mrspotter12 · 19/03/2018 07:57

I parked on a very wide pavement without causing an obstruction and got a ticket. You are not allowed to park on a pavement anywhere in the UK.

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