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AIBU?

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Original poster

Child bashed car door

103 replies

stoneyfaces · 12/04/2024 11:17

This morning I was parked in the school carpark, both me and the next door car were parked properly (neither too close etc) the kid in the back of the next car was jumping around a bit and being a bit silly, but then swung their car door out and took a massive dent out of the side of my car.

It is going to cost a lot to repair- it’s damaged 2 panels and it’s quite a nice car. The mum of the kid said it was just an accident, and I should claim on my insurance- she wouldn’t give me her insurance details as she said it wouldn’t be covered because her car was stationary and it wasn’t the drivers fault (I suspect she might be right). Should she pay out of her own pocket for the damage?

OP posts:
84wood · 12/04/2024 12:37

Definitely contact the insurance company. It’s for the woman to cover the costs

Wishlist99 · 12/04/2024 12:41

She’s liable for the damage caused by her child. And if you go through your insurance, they will contact her insurers. Just explain that to her…

and this is why I still help my 11 yr old exit the car as I don’t fancy him dinging the expensive car parked next to us at David Lloyd …

Alloveragain3 · 12/04/2024 12:51

Only contact your insurer if you're going to use them

We reported that a car hit into the back of us at a roundabout but then never claimed as the damage was minimal and it was a big faff.

That's on my policy for 5 years and my premium went up significantly. This is despite the incident being not our fault.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 12/04/2024 12:59

Claim, as your car is damaged and it will be a claim against the owner of the car that caused the damage. If you don't, how do you know she won't make a claim against you? I say this as a friend was asked not to claim and that they'd give her a £100 to cover the dent and then they claimed for all sorts of damage on their own car, none of which was related. Luckily friend had taken pictures at the time. The insurance company then wanted to know why no claim was submitted. Damage caused by a third party should always be something reported and your car should be put back into the value position it was before the child caused the damage.

RadoxMoon · 12/04/2024 13:04

Even if you claim on your own insurance it may not increase future premiums as much as you think.

i had to claim for a repair on mine a couple of years ago as I got back to my parked car to find some unknown person had reversed into it, not leaving a note or anything. Obviously not my fault, but as I didn’t have third party details it had to be covered by my insurance. I didn’t notice any particular change in premium - and in fact the renewal this year is actually lower than the cost before the claim.

Imposter1212 · 12/04/2024 13:12

This happened to us a few years ago. Brand new car just 6 weeks old.

Our insurance company sorted it. We took photos of the damage where you could see green paint on our door but a neighbour also witnessed it. We just handed the car registration number, the photos and the neighbours witness statement over to the insurance company.

DH mostly dealt with it but I believe the child's parents claimed on their insurance for accidental damage and it was over £1000 because the dent was on a ridge and the full side needed to be resprayed . It didn't push our insurance up I don't think. Took about 3 weeks for it to be sorted.

Growlybear83 · 12/04/2024 13:19

I agree with other people that you should contact your insurance company. But isn't it an offence to refuse to give your insurance details if you're involved in an accident or any kind?

Newuser75 · 12/04/2024 13:24

Someone crashed into the back of my car while I was stationary at a roundabout. Totally their fault. My premium went up!

mondaytosunday · 12/04/2024 13:32

My son did this on a ferry. It was barely a scratch and I gave her my details and said I'd rather just pay, but she insisted on going through insurance. We kept our no claims and it was dealt with - but our insurance paid (it was probably below the deductible so really we paid). She should have given you her details as it doesn't matter that the car was stationery.

HarrietSchulenberg · 12/04/2024 14:00

Do you have pictures of both cars in situ with number plates visible and damage showing, or do you have witnesses prepared to provide evidence? If not, her insurance company is likely to claim inadequate proof of liability if the other driver does not fess up, which she probably won't.

MabelMaybe · 12/04/2024 14:30

"It wasn't the driver's fault"? The driver is responsible for everyone in the car. She should have told him not to open his door.

UnbelievableLie · 12/04/2024 14:31

Only speak to your insurance if you're certain you're going to be making a claim. From bitter experience, I can assure you insurance companies policies are not written to benefit their customers at all. Similar situation to yours resulting in higher premiums and having to declare a 'fault' claim on renewal...

olympicsrock · 12/04/2024 14:38

If you contact your insurance , they will claim against her insurance . Both of your insurance will go up. Hers by more.
Best outcome is for her to pay cash.
Tell her that you are going to claim and give your insurance her details which will cost her x amount or she can pay which will coast x/2 amount . Either way she needs to pay.

wplaf · 12/04/2024 14:41

stoneyfaces · 12/04/2024 11:19

But no fault claims still result in higher insurance premiums, I could be penalised going forwards

Indeed you will be penalised. We are paying £2000 for my 18yo ds's insurance because a maniac (on dash cam) on their phone came flying out of a side road without looking and smashed the car up.

wibblywobblywoo · 12/04/2024 14:46

Ha, she's a cheeky cow!

Of course it's down to her to pay, utter nonsense to say any different - and what a load of rubbish about " the cars were stationary" - her car door was moving wasn't it! 🙄

Tell her it's her choice but either she pays or her insurance does. End of.

HummingbirdChandelier · 12/04/2024 14:48

She should pay. I did when my child did similar. Any claim
you make will affect your premiums even if you have protected NCB

Londonrach1 · 12/04/2024 14:52

Pass her registration details into your insurance company and let them deal with it

Londonrach1 · 12/04/2024 14:52

Pass her registration details into your insurance company and let them deal with it

InTheRainOnATrain · 12/04/2024 14:55

You can’t make her pay out of pocket. You can get the insurers involved. She could deny it unless there’s CCTV or witnesses. Even if she does admit it then your premiums will still go up. Honestly, annoying as it is, I wouldn’t do anything and I’d forget I ever saw it happen. Get it fixed, don’t get it fixed, but it won’t benefit be of any benefit to you to involve the insurers.

ParsonsPont · 12/04/2024 15:03

You can’t make her pay. That’s what insurance is for. If she won’t contact hers you need to contact yours and leave them to it.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 12/04/2024 15:11

She's an entitled dick.

RawBloomers · 12/04/2024 15:16

She is obliged to adequately supervise her child and if she did not do that (and I would say she didn’t) then she is liable for damage her child causes. So if you got her registration you should be able to get her details from DVLA and sue her in small claims court for the cost of repair.

Edit: I believe you are still obliged to inform your insurance even if you do not use them to pursue damages.

MumblesParty · 12/04/2024 16:04

A child in her care is essentially “her” in this situation. She’s talking rubbish OP.

We once parked at a theme park on a slope and my son opened the door, which hit the car parked next to ours. There was no one in that car, so I left a note with my details on the windscreen.

The owners contacted me, we both put in claims, and my insurance paid for it. It was 100% my (my son’s) fault.

Unfortunately “no fault” claims can still have an adverse effect on your insurance premium, but it won’t be anything like as much as the cost of repairing it, nor will it be as bad as the effect of a “fault” claim.

MumblesParty · 12/04/2024 16:06

InTheRainOnATrain · 12/04/2024 14:55

You can’t make her pay out of pocket. You can get the insurers involved. She could deny it unless there’s CCTV or witnesses. Even if she does admit it then your premiums will still go up. Honestly, annoying as it is, I wouldn’t do anything and I’d forget I ever saw it happen. Get it fixed, don’t get it fixed, but it won’t benefit be of any benefit to you to involve the insurers.

@InTheRainOnATrain do you have any idea how much bodywork costs to repair? A big dent across 2 panels will be over £1000 I expect.

HappiestSleeping · 12/04/2024 16:08

stoneyfaces · 12/04/2024 11:28

I have photos, her car reg and know her name.

There’s lots online about non-fault claims still affecting insurance prices and I don’t want to put in a claim if it is going to be rejected because both cars were stationary and there was no driver fault. It looks to me to be a closer situation to vandalism- which not all policies cover.

It's not a no fault claim. The child was at fault, and the adult owner of the car is responsible.

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