To expect some financial contribution?

[Carqueries]

apologies if details are a bit vague as I don’t want to be too outing!

A few weeks ago, a colleague hit my car in our work car park. A significant mark/deep scratch and scuffs were left over a fairly large area. Prior to the incident I’d arranged the sale of my car for the following day, with a price already agreed. (Talk about bad timing!)

Subsequently I received a few hundred pounds less than the previously agreed price as quite a bit of work needed doing to rectify the damage.

Stupidly I didn’t report to insurance straight away due to the car being sold and the other party, who I know fairly well, asking me to let them know of costs to contribute towards. I have photos and CCTV but unsure if I can go down this route now due to the car being sold. I’m with the same insurance company on my new vehicle.

I have now attempted to speak to the other party on multiple occasions, in writing but also being avoided in the office and receiving no response. I think they should contribute at least a portion towards my loss, although really it should be all as I was not at fault - my car was parked fully within a bay!

does anyone have any advice on retrospective claims (though I’d prefer not to go this way if possible) or strongly worded emails to send to the other party?

It’s all a bit late
you should have paused the sale of the car to sort it out? I have no idea about retro claims but you don’t even own the vehicle anymore so not sure you could do this
your colleague and you should have gone through insurance at the time

Maybe morally / ethically they should contribute but that’s personal now

I’d go for the 7 day letter followed by small claims court if no response. And I’d want the full loss as they have been avoiding you.

I probably should have but was relying on the sale of this car to go and pick up the new vehicle which I’d placed a deposit on, I wasn’t of course expecting this to happen but hindsight is a wonderful thing and I’ll definitely be a bit more organised next time! :(

Morally yes but it's your own fault for not reporting it straight away.

We live and learn OP.

She can’t do this, it should have been reported at the time and an insurance claim made, she can’t sell it then stick her hand out and ask for cash.

This is what your insurance was for

Unless you're going to lend the OP your time machine what's the point in a stupid post like that?

Do your co-workers know what happened, might shaming the person into paying have any effect? Maybe write one more registered letter saying you will be going down legal route if he/she doesn't pay up

I don’t think continuous strongly worded emails or “shaming them” in front of other colleagues will go down very well with HR and may risk an accusation of harassment or bullying. You should have paused the sale and either had them pay upfront to get the damage repaired or claimed through insurance. The legal position would be that that’s what insurance is for. It’s tough, but if you’re ever in a similar position in future make sure you go through your insurance rather than relying on somebody’s good will.

Well no, it’s not a stupid post because OP should have gone to her insurance. She should have paused the sale and had the insurance sort it.

OP can’t choose to bypass her car insurance and then demand payment from a colleague.

Your colleague is a wanker and you’ll never see a penny of that money. There’s literally no incentive for them to pay now 🤷‍♀️