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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:
MillicentBystander2022 · 12/04/2024 21:34

I had the same thing happen. She didn't want to give me her details either, said that her son didn't do it on purpose, but I took a photo of her number plate and damage and said I'd report it anyway.

It was claimed on her insurance, including a courtesy car. They wrote it off anyway as it wasn't worth repairing. I felt a bit bad, but I didn't see why I should have paid for it.

BadLad · 13/04/2024 01:10

HappiestSleeping · 12/04/2024 16:08

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

Show quote history

That is not what a “no fault claim” means. From the point of view of the OP’s insurers, it is a no fault claim because their client is not liable for the damage. It doesn’t mean that nobody at all was at fault.

https://www.axa.co.uk/car-insurance/tips-and-guides/understanding-non-fault-claims/#:~:text=A%20non%2Dfault%20claim%20is,person%20at%20fault's%20insurance%20company.

What it means to make a non-fault claim | AXA UK

All about non-fault claims and what to do if you need to make one.

https://www.axa.co.uk/car-insurance/tips-and-guides/understanding-non-fault-claims/#:~:text=A%20non%2Dfault%20claim%20is,person%20at%20fault's%20insurance%20company.

HappiestSleeping · 13/04/2024 05:11

BadLad · 13/04/2024 01:10

That is not what a “no fault claim” means. From the point of view of the OP’s insurers, it is a no fault claim because their client is not liable for the damage. It doesn’t mean that nobody at all was at fault.

https://www.axa.co.uk/car-insurance/tips-and-guides/understanding-non-fault-claims/#:~:text=A%20non%2Dfault%20claim%20is,person%20at%20fault's%20insurance%20company.

Show quote history

I know, but a claim on the OP's insurance, even if 'no fault', is still a claim which will affect premiums in future. Even if there is protected no claims bonus. Insurance is legalised extortion.

The best solution is to claim from the other person's insurance.

Cat2024 · 13/04/2024 05:25

Doesn’t this constitute accidental damage and should be paid through the other driver’s insurance?

BadLad · 13/04/2024 08:04

HappiestSleeping · 13/04/2024 05:11

I know, but a claim on the OP's insurance, even if 'no fault', is still a claim which will affect premiums in future. Even if there is protected no claims bonus. Insurance is legalised extortion.

The best solution is to claim from the other person's insurance.

Show quote history

I agree with most of that. It’s just that you seemed to be misunderstanding the terminology. It is indeed a no fault
claim, from the OP’s insurers’ perspective anyway.

HappiestSleeping · 13/04/2024 08:12

BadLad · 13/04/2024 08:04

I agree with most of that. It’s just that you seemed to be misunderstanding the terminology. It is indeed a no fault
claim, from the OP’s insurers’ perspective anyway.

Show quote history

Yeah, badly worded on my part. Guilty as charged M'lud.

BarbarasRhabarberBar · 13/04/2024 09:51

This woman is a massive CF! I bet she goes through life making up bullshit excuses to cover her kids behaviour and hers! What kind of prick doesn't accept that if you damage it, you pay for it! Accident or not!

If you can't get her to pay, which she should with no debates then you go through her insurance. It will almost definitely increase your premium but it will increase hers too and that would make me happy.

Of course your insurance covers your car when it's stationary. Fuck sake!

OnTheRoll · 13/04/2024 11:20

No fault claims absolutely so effect the premium. And even more annoyingly, even just no fault accidents on your record do.

My car was hit when parked on the my own drive. The other driver totally admitted fault and his insurance dealt with me directly and sorted everything out. Yet, as I also informed my own insurance about it, it is still a record of an accident on my file.

Later I applied for a new policy with a new provider and did not mention that as it was not a claim. But they then saw it on my file and increased the quote given a day before. Even though I was at home and my car was on my drive!

Concannon88 · 13/04/2024 11:23

It was her car that damaged your car. Of course she is at fault and needs to hand over her details. If not go to the police and explain whats happened they'll give you a crime ref and you can give it to your insurance along with her number plate and they can make a claim

Gunpowder · 13/04/2024 11:27

I think it’s absolutely the right thing to let insurance sort it out and she should have given you her details. It’s a bit unfair to accuse her kid of vandalism though. Surely it was an accident?

ilovesooty · 13/04/2024 11:31

MrsSkylerWhite · 12/04/2024 11:22

Some people are unbelievable. As others have said, give the details to your insurers.

Yes and tell your insurers that she refused to give her details.

Tobacco · 13/04/2024 11:59

What a cheeky fucker saying it should go through your insurance and not hers and refusing to pass on details. You could pass on a message via school asking if she wants to cover the cost or go through her insurance or for you to give her registration number to your insurance

ZsaZsaTheCat · 13/04/2024 12:26

Totally her fault as she is responsible for her son. What an arse.
You need to politely inform her that you will be going to the insurance company unless she wants to pay for the damage.

Concannon88 · 13/04/2024 14:31

JurassicFantastic · 12/04/2024 16:16

Well that numbering went wrong!

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🤣

Concannon88 · 13/04/2024 14:33

Feellikeafailurenow · 12/04/2024 19:14

Someone hit my last year - reversed back into me quite fast. Non fault, no excess & no clams bonus not affected by my insurance went up over £200 & said it was down to that. Did some online quotes both adding in the non fault claim and leaving it off to see if any difference & the claim added beween £150 & £400 with various companies so you may still be penalised but why should you be out of pocket fixing it?

my car had quite a bit of damage as whole front bumper & a side bit needed replacing & i needed a hire car for over a week so i couldn’t afford to fix it myself & had to go through insurance

Hate it when my last year gets damaged! 😆

hopeful24 · 15/04/2024 05:23

Interesting that there is the assumption that the mum at fault has insurance. You'd be surprised how many people (even well to do) don't and this may be the case here.

C1N1C · 15/04/2024 06:52

I'd be willing to handle a (possible) hike in my insurance just to show her entitled arse.

TrustyRusty68 · 15/04/2024 07:05

Take her reg & pass to your insurance company. Let them sort it out. It might put your premium up if you don’t have your no claims insured, but what’s the point of having insurance if you’re not going to use it after an accident? That’s what it’s for! If it happened as you described, she’s absolutely liable (totally irrelevant that the cars were stationary!!)- you could give her another chance to pay (get a quote first) or go through your insurance.

WoodBurningStov · 15/04/2024 07:10

Ring your insurance company and give them her registration details. Not sure if the insurance company can get her insurance details or you have to speak to the police. Either way she's being very unreasonable to tell you to claim on your insurance and not give you her details. To repair and respray two panels will run into the hundreds of pounds, so not to be sniffed at.

Sjh15 · 15/04/2024 07:51

stoneyfaces · 12/04/2024 11:19

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

Someone crashed into me and my car was a write off. Wasn’t my fault and I didn’t get penalised for it
she was probably just wanting to refuse to pay for it

PrincessHoneysuckle · 15/04/2024 07:55

My insurance only went up by a tenner a month when I claimed on someone else's.I just gave insurance company their reg

Tessisme · 15/04/2024 09:00

The mum of the kid said it was just an accident

An accident. Exactly what insurance is for. The woman is a chancer thinking she can just walk away from this with no repercussions.

My insurance didn't go up at all when I was hit by a post office van. I just had to declare it for 3-5 years, depending on the insurance company. Even when I was at fault and hit a car, my insurance only went up by £100 the first year, then down to about £50 extra the following year. Cheaper than the thousands to pay for damage myself.

FrenchMustard · 15/04/2024 09:17

She’s a colossal CF OP, go through insurance and give them her registration. She’s trying to get out of being responsible for it and paying for the damage. I’m in no doubt it was an accident, but she shouldn’t be allowed to worm her way out of being responsible.

Notthisone · 15/04/2024 09:52

My neighbours car rolled into ours. He'd left the handbrake off. Both cars were empty but I was still able to claim through insurance. Despite it being no fault our premium did go up and this is the case with any claim fault or bo fault. Apparently if your car has been involved in one accident there is a greater chance of it being involved in another (although this could just be spin from the insurance companies to justify increases)

Thelighthousekeeper · 15/04/2024 14:15

The same thing happened to me. The driver swung open her door excessively and caused damage to my brand new car! Fortunately she did exchange details. My insurance sorted it all and said I wouldn’t lose out in any way as it was the other party’s fault. Good luck

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