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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

AiryFairyMum · 27/08/2019 20:01

Absolutely do not pay and dhowvtjia thread to your husband.

Minai · 27/08/2019 20:06

Yanbu. I often struggle to get my double pram past cars on the pavement and wonder how on earth someone in a wheelchair could get around it. Do not pay, this isn’t your fault.

Lookingsparkly · 27/08/2019 20:07

I hate pavement parkers. Entitled idiots. YABU to pay.

InterestingView · 27/08/2019 20:15

OP I literally cringed myself inside out when I read what I wrote so thank you for being so gracious OP if they're generally being twats just say apologies I won't be paying as you keep parking the same and being so unreasonable so I won't be paying.

TabbyMumz · 27/08/2019 20:45

I think this is a tricky one. They parked on the pavement. You caused damage to their car. I suspect they could take you to small claims court. There is possibly a cost to do this, but they might take the risk. They could claim on their insurance, but then their premiums will go up. If I were you, I think I'd not pay, and then wait to see what happens next.

MyDcAreMarvel · 27/08/2019 20:56

@LtJudyHopps my wheelchair has a speed of 4 miles an hour so I feel safe enough in the road as long as I have checked it’s clear.
It’s a pain looking for dropped kerbs, and very irratating when cars block the pavement bus as it’s legal where I live I just have to put up with it and go round.
I would not risk squeezing past .

bellabasset · 27/08/2019 21:09

My understanding is that you aren't allowed to park on the pavement in London or anywhere else unless signs allow you to.

In your situation I would take daily photos of the car to show whether your neighbour allows room for pedestrians with prams or a wheelchair. You should not have to go into the road. Check if you have legal cover with your household insurance and if so let them handle any claim from your neighbour. Agree with those saying don't pay.

cacklingmags · 27/08/2019 21:30

Fuck em. Lazy sods not to park sensibly in case they have to stir their stumps to walk a few yards to their home. They were parked illegally so Fuck em twice.

Waffles80 · 27/08/2019 21:40

Absolutely - fuck them. I utterly loathe people who park on the pavement and force wheelchair users to struggle. They deserve for their cars to be scratched.

ellendegeneres · 27/08/2019 21:41

Please don’t pay!

I use a wheelchair part time (depending on the day) or a wheeled walker. It absolutely fucking infuriates me when people park blocking the path. Got into an argument with a bloke who refused to move his car- some pathetic reason I can’t remember what- was leaning against it as I approached and the only way for me to pass was to go onto an a road into oncoming traffic. I just said well I’m not gonna go into the road, that’s not safe, so I’m going to carry on through and hope your car doesn’t get damaged. Thought it might have him shift it. Nope. He started screaming in my face that apparently I’d threatened him (!!) so came at me saying he would throw me and my wheelchair into the fucking road (into oncoming traffic). Pulled out my phone, recorded his rant and called the police.
Fucking dickhead.

It’s stupid shit like this that we have to face on a regular basis because someone else’s vehicle is parked dangerously to pavement users that fucks me off more than I can explain.

There’s a van that parks by my sons school that always parks so you can’t even fit a toddler down there let alone a pram or mobility aid. This on a one way road so you’d have to go into the road facing the oncoming traffic. I’ve taken to taking pics and calling the company it belongs to and telling them that their vehicle is once again parked causing a danger.

Sorry this turned into a rant. But my point is, much more than just you and I deal with this shit. If you pay the fucker it’ll be an expectation that it’s someone else’s fault and as you’ve seen he’ll continue parking like it not giving a shit about the safety of pavement users

ellendegeneres · 27/08/2019 21:43

Also- being disabled is expensive enough as it is, if you’re like me you go round apologising for being in the way (REALLY bad habit I’m trying to break) so life isn’t as easy as it is for pricks like this. His mistake, he can fucking pay. Arghhh!!!

Socksey · 27/08/2019 21:44

Tell them you gave your details for the damage caused to your chair by the accident caused by trying to avoid their car...

Socksey · 27/08/2019 21:45

If they comment .... you were upset having been tossed upside down... and possibly concussed...

GabriellaMontez · 27/08/2019 21:50

Don't pay. Tell them they're mistaken. Cheeky fuckers.

Onceuponacheesecake · 27/08/2019 21:54

If you knocked and gave your details that makes it look like you want them to get in touch to arrange repairs.....

Odd.

berlinbabylon · 27/08/2019 21:56

They should not have been parking the pavement. People say it isn't illegal - well it is illegal to drive on the pavement, and by definition, if you park on the pavement, you've driven onto it. I HATE pavement parking, it is so selfish and in nearly all cases, unnecessary. Pavement are for pedestrians, not cars.

SauvignonBlanche · 27/08/2019 22:00

Fuck that!

There are still parked like that today as they have been allowed to get away with it by people like you and your DH who would pay them to act like twats!

What would it have cost their insurers if you had been killed or maimed by having to go in the road.

Let them know that your details are there for their insurers and that you will discuss it with them. They should be paying you - disabilist cunts!

StoneofDestiny · 27/08/2019 22:02

No way should you pay!

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 27/08/2019 22:05

I've not read everything, but was there any reason why you didn't cross over and use the other footpath?

TheSultanofPingu · 27/08/2019 22:23

The Op shouldn't have to do that though Fiddlesticks

TheSultanofPingu · 27/08/2019 22:45

These threads never cease to amaze me!
Some motorists clearly think that they don't just own the road, but also the pavements as well. Posters berating the Op for not gauging how much room there was to get past the car. Also questioning why she didn't just cross onto the other side.
Look, pavements are for pedestrians.
If motorists really need to park partly on the pavement, then please have the decency to leave space for pedestrians to go about their business safely.
Op, I would explain to your neighbour that you have had second thoughts about paying for the damage as you don't feel he left enough space. Your Dh should really be backing you up on this.

Talkingfrog · 27/08/2019 22:57

I don't think you should pay anything. He was causing the obstruction as he did not leave enough space for a wheelchair to get through.
He should claim off his insurance for accidental damage. That is what it is there for.
I love how people claim the op should have gone into the road or crossed over. As well as the issue of their possibly not dropped curbs in an appropriate place, how many of those same people have told their children, or were told as a child not to cross between parked cars? A wheelchair user will be lower down, so has a different line of vision to someone walking. I assume it is therefore much more difficult to see around the parked car to see what is coming. A car driver will also find it harder to see the wheelchair until it is too late. The wheelchair user will not be able to move out if the way as quickly as someone on foot. It can be tricky with a pushchair, but at least the parent pusging it has the possibility of a better view and a pushchair is easier to get up a dropped curb than a wheelchair.
The fact that he has parked there again today, knowing you can't get through means he obviously isn't very considerate to others, so i would show him the ssme lack of consideration.
It is a shame your husband didn't support you. If the car is still there, maybe your husband should take go out in your wheelchair and try to follow out the advice he gave you. It would be interesting to know if his advice remained the same afterwards.

MollysMummy2010 · 27/08/2019 23:02

Refer them to your solicitor. They should not be on the pavement and you have every right to proceed. Just give them a card from a solicitor.

bamboocat · 27/08/2019 23:03

These people are you neighbours, and presumably know that you are a wheelchair user, so I think it was incredibly inconsiderate of them to park on the pavement at all.

Fuckedoff1 · 27/08/2019 23:05

What kind of nasty bugger has a neighbour who uses a wheelchair and parks on the pavement? I will make a voodoo dolly of him and stick pi s in. I hope it works.

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