To think if you damage someone's car you pay for it?

[butsecretly]

Was driving down a stretch of road which is narrow. Room for 2 cars at a slow pace...usually all fine. Was driving up the road and there was a other car coming so I slowed and made sure we could both pass...except there was someone on the pavement carrying 2 tables, one of which must have been jutting out into the road which then scratched my car. I heard the scrape beeper my horn to alert her and pulled over to look...sure enough scratched...so I went round the corner to find the woman and she told me it couldn't have been her and that even if it was she would accept no liability. She works at /owns a local business...she was incredibly rude and dismissive even when I went to get the car and drove it back round to show her.

Am stunned someone could be so awful...

About to phone insurers so guess I'm paying for it...whether directly or through increased premiums.

Aibu to think who the hell behaves like that?!

Be thankful it wasn’t a child.

But if she had stuck them out so far into the road (if the pavement was as wide as you say) then you would have seen her do that.

There wasn't enough room to pass.

You should have been aware she was there and if necessary stopped until it was safe to pass

Maybe I’m missing something but I see your point op. Cars have right if way on the road as pedestrians do on the pavement. If her table was sticking out into the road and it hit your car then she should be responsible for that surely?!

If you were stationary then you might have a point but if you were moving and hit something a pedestrian was carrying I'm not sure how it isn't your fault.

You hit something being carried by a pedestrian.

I don't think it was your fault OP - She should have been more careful and not had the table sticking out onto the road. The only way for you to avoid it would have been to stop dead and wait for her to pass.

But, I think it's unlikely you will get any compensation for it

How did a table swing out?

Do you mean she stepped out holding a table, you didn't see and hit the table?

So the consensus is that I am in the wrong for driving down a road and not expecting someone to stick something out in the road to scratch my car. (It was right at the back of my car so I was almost past her).

Thanks all, will show my husband and see if he agrees. Am a bit at the consensus but that's Aibu for you.

Where was she when you drive by her?

*drove.

If you were moving then you were partly at faulif you were stationary then she would be at fault but it would have only been a small dent rather than a long scratch.

I always love these. AIBU? MN says a resounding yes. OP gets pissed off.

OP it could have been a child walking along and sticking their hand out! You can’t just plough on ahead, you have to allow for hazards on the footpath, a child running out, a dog, a cyclist etc. You didn’t leave enough space or enough time to stop in the event of an obstruction appearing.

As a motorist it is your responsibility to avoid hitting things whether it be another car, a pedestrian or a table!

Thanks all, will show my husband and see if he agrees.

does he need to agree?

Cars have right if way on the road as pedestrians do on the pavement.

That’s a bit of an oversimplification. Pedestrians always have the right of way, wherever they are. You can’t just mow people down because you’re in a car and they’re a pedestrian on the road. You need to be prepared to stop and you need to actually do so if necessary. I think this would also apply to stopping for things pedestrians are carrying or pushing, like a buggy. You are the one driving the potentially lethal vehicle.

It’s a shame about your car OP, but I actually think you're lucky that she isn’t alleging any injury or trauma from having items she was carrying hit by a moving vehicle.

Was the table jutting into the road before you passed or did she move it as you passed?

Eh? If someone's walking on the pavement on your side of the road, and sticking out into the road you have to drive around them. If there's oncoming traffic you HAVE TO WAIT. It would have taken a few seconds for the car to pass you, and the you could have overtaken the woman safely and without scratching your car.

And surely if she was carrying tables, one of which scratched your car as badly as you say it did, she must have known. So she's also being a dick.

I see what you are getting at OP. My question for people questioning the OP here and suggesting it is her fault, just imagine this scenario: a pedestrian is carrying a golf club and swings it out into the road just as you are passing in your car and it hits your car. Who is at fault? You in the car for just driving down the road or the pedestrian who has been careless with the golf club?

I am not sure you will get any recompense from the table carrier OP but they should have been taking more care with the tables they were carrying.

You drove too close to the pavement. Unless it was an invisible table, it’s your responsibility to avoid hazards in the pavement.

I’d second the recommendation for Chips Away BTW.

You are lucky you didn't hurt her otherwise she would be suing you. If you couldn't see there wasn't space to continue along the road you were not paying attention. All you had to do was stop, let the other car pass then you could have avoided the pedestrians tables.
If it had been a person walking on the road do you think it would be ok to plow into them?

Eh? You're at fault, surely, for not giving her enough space?