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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - pavement parking

110 replies

thisisme2468 · 27/08/2019 17:57

I’m a wheelchair user. Yesterday I was travelling along the pavement in my chair and there were 2 cars parked half on the pavement half on the road. As I passed the 2nd, which was further onto the pavement than the 1st my wheel clipped the low wall in the hedge which made the chair bounced and the car ended up getting scratched. I did the right thing, knocked on the door and gave them my details. But I’ve now had a quote back for the repair and it’s £360 which I just don’t have. AIBU to feel aggrieved at having to pay out when the car was causing an obstruction in the first place?!

OP posts:
Corna · 27/08/2019 19:10

Christ the car lovers are out in force again.
A wheelchair user can't easily get down the curb and back up again and he is deliberately doing something that forces you to take a chance, either with your own safety or with his car paint job. HIS problem, not yours. Your husband should be backing you up. Don't pay and if he pesters you then tell him to contact his insurance.
What a nobber. Sorry this happened.

Dreamscomingtrue · 27/08/2019 19:11

I used to work as a carer and it’s not always so easy “to just go in the road”.

You need a dropped curve to safety negotiate going down into the road and then to safely get back onto the pavement. These dropped curves are far and few between. Even pushing a wheelchair up and down these can be difficult, let alone doing it on your own.

I guess the incident was reported because the irresponsible car owner was a neighbour and because the wheelchair got stuck.

I used to have a McClaren double buggy and often had the same problem getting past cars and vans parked on narrow pavements.
Sometimes going in the road is just not an option if it’s fast moving traffic.

WorraLiberty · 27/08/2019 19:12

Did you actually offer to pay?

Not in so many words. I apologised, they were a bit rude initially and then the car owner came out (older guy) and he started making excuses about why he had to park on the pavement. Hubby may have offered to pay it I was really embarrassed, hot and stuck!!

So you didn't offer to pay?

Did your husband offer to pay or not?

MRex · 27/08/2019 19:13

Also you could say as a goodwill gesture because you're neighboirs that you're happy to buy them a scratch remover like one of these: www.carbibles.com/best-car-scratch-remover-reviewed. If the cost is higher than that however then they'll need to claim on their car insurance because that's what it's for. You're very sorry but that's all you can do. Shrug as needed and repeat - you're very sorry, but that's all you can do.

Topsecretidentity · 27/08/2019 19:16

Have you taken a photo of how they are parked today? I'd do that immediately if I were you. And just don't respond on paying. If neighbour keeps on insisting explain accidents happen and that you'll have to explain to his insurance that he was obstructing the pavement. You haven't signed a contract with them so you don't owe them anything.

And tell your husband that he needs to have your back in future and he should stop being a knob.

ImNotYourGranny · 27/08/2019 19:18

Message them saying that they appear to have misunderstood. You left your details for them to pass onto their insurer so you can claim for damage to your wheelchair causes by their poor parking.

JanewaysBun · 27/08/2019 19:20

Tbh even if i were parked in a marked bay on the pavement, if a WC user got stuck and accidentally damaged my car i would never ask them for any money.

Cabezona · 27/08/2019 19:22

If you damage someone's unmanned and stationary car, you should pay. Wheelchair user or not. They shouldn't have to pay because you can't gauge a space.

Perhaps use this to tell him that he shouldn't park on the pavement as it prevents your access but if he hasn't pushed a pram or been in a wheelchair he probably has no idea. Pavement parking isn't always illegal.

Lweji · 27/08/2019 19:23

And they are still parked like it today!

Well, ring the council every day saying it's too narrow for you. Take pictures and email them.

InterestingView · 27/08/2019 19:27

I think on this occasion you might have to pay because you've walked into it. BUT if you pay you need to make clear it's on the basis they leave more space on the pavement because if the car gets scratched again you wont be knocking or paying. Next time dont knock and offer to pay. They are being massive twats and totally un neighbourly but you've walked into this one.
Or refuse to pay but be prepared for them to make your life difficult being that they're only 2 doors down and sound like twats anyway.

InterestingView · 27/08/2019 19:28

God I am sorry please excuse "walked into it" that is just a terrible poor choice of words. Sorry OP please let me know if youd like me to get that edited.

FlamedToACrisp · 27/08/2019 19:28

If you actually offered to pay, perhaps you could say it's too much but you'll go halves. Alternatively, why not start a crowdfunding thing to raise the money? You'll probably get much more than the amount needed, because everyone will see you're in the right here and your neighbour is taking advantage of your good nature!

InterestingView · 27/08/2019 19:30

Crowd funding is a great idea!

Tigger001 · 27/08/2019 19:36

They are your neighbour, they know you couldn't get through, and have parked like that again !!!

How bloody rude, I would knock on their door advise, them you will not be paying and they should claim on their insurance.

Call them out on still parking like that, bloody ridiculous.

GinDaddy · 27/08/2019 19:37

Can we be clear about something?

“Offering to pay” in this case means... offering to pay a sum of money to ostensibly protect the CF neighbour’s insurance premium.

So you’re basically offering to pay in order to keep their monthly outgoings consistent and avoid any rise.

This will put you £300+ out of pocket when you’ve done nothing wrong here. But all because of some nonsense unwritten convention which MAY be morally right when a car hits another etc, but not when a lawful pedestrian is obstructed

This is silly - don’t pay, tell them to be mindful of other pavement users. Clowns

Original poster
thisisme2468 · 27/08/2019 19:38

@interestingview

Don’t worry about it! Happens all the time. I regularly get told to take a seat at doctor appointments and the like! Usually I reply with that ok I brought mine with me Grin

I’m actually an ambulant wheelchair user.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 27/08/2019 19:39

Well the OP has said she didn't offer to pay 'in so many words' and she has no idea whether her husband has offered to pay or not.

So it's a bit difficult to give advice really.

cheesydoesit · 27/08/2019 19:40

Why is your husband being so unsupportive? I agree with PP, I'd have been too ashamed of my shit parking to pursue it had I been the car owner.

Ratbagratty · 27/08/2019 19:41

Just reply and say I'm sorry since you were parked illegally I passed on my details for your insurance to pay for the damage done to my wheelchair not for the quote to repair yours.

WorraLiberty · 27/08/2019 19:43

The OP hasn't mentioned any damage to her wheelchair?

blahblahblahblahhh · 27/08/2019 19:45

Their fault it's a highway offence to block the pavement for pavement users. I regularly stick notes on car when I can't get through with my pram.

TastingTheRainbow · 27/08/2019 19:46

Absolutely do not pay!

They were parked illegally, they caused an obstruction, they caused embarrassment and possible injury to a wheelchair user by their actions, they are completely responsible.

I would refuse to pay, report it to the police so it’s logged and tell them if they persist on claiming against you then you will sue them for disability discrimination.

HaileySherman · 27/08/2019 19:49

I don't think you're at fault and therefore don't think you should pay. As for your husband suggesting you go out in the road to go around? I'd be pissed off that he'd rather you risk your safety.

MadisonAvenue · 27/08/2019 19:50

Do not pay.

Cabezona The pavements are for pedestrians, they're not a car park so cars shouldn't be parked in a way that you have to gauge whether you can get past or not. It's not always easy for wheelchair users to get down a kerb or get to a dropped kerb when they come to a parked car causing an obstruction.

Butchyrestingface · 27/08/2019 19:55

I selected YABU because you were so clearly unreasonable to go up to his door in the first place.

Should have scratched longer and harder and left them wondering who the culprit was.

DON'T PAY. Tell your husband to woman up.

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