AIBU to expect my passenger to pay for the damage she caused?

[ErinBell01]

I was giving a friend a lift to our meeting. I parked in the car park and switched off the engine. Passenger picked up her bag and opened the door and there was a bang! A car had driven past my car to occupy the space in front of the space next to my car and the door had hit this car. Friend said she'd looked in the mirror but hadn't seen him. We all got out and inspected the damage and exchanged details. My car has a dent and paint damage on the door. OP had damage to his wheel arch. When I dropped friend off later I said I was going to contact my insurers and also get quotes, and would hear from OP. She didn't offer to pay anything. I've now got a price, not worth going to insurers due to XS, OP says his pal is fixing his car at no cost. What do I say to my friend? Husband says she won't remain a friend if I expect her to pay anything. AIBU to expect her to take responsibility? It was an accident but she caused it.

I don’t think you can expect your friend to pay. You are the insured person, you as the driver are responsible for the car - and the actions of your passenger. It’s not clear to me that the driver, whose vehicle was moving when it struck your car, is not responsible. He or she should have been more careful - this is not an unpredictable situation in a car park.

Absolutely your friend should pay. You were doing her a favour by giving her a lift!

Your friend should pay.

She should pay but I think either way the friendship is damaged.

She hasn’t offered so either doesn’t feel like her actions caused it when they did or just doesn’t care.

A good friend offers as they know they opened the door and caused the damage.

If you ask she might pay or make excuses but likely be grumpy.

If a friend borrowed a top and got a hole in it you would expect them to buy you a new one, in my eyes same applies

I wouldn’t expect my passenger to pay, but i’d offer if I caused the damage. I’d feel bad the driver had incurred the cost.

Accidents happen. You’re insured, up to you to use it or not. Not your friend’s issue. She didn’t do it deliberately so leave her be.

She didn’t borrow the car.

If I was the passenger I would absolutely offer to pay in this situation. As the driver I would feel bad asking even though I think the passenger should pay. Assuming you stay friends, no more lifts for her!!

The actions of the passenger caused this, she should pay AT A MINIMUM the price of the excess on your insurance policy (I know you're choosing not to go through insurance as your premiums will rise in the future which is sensible, but for the sake of argument she should pay the value of your excess as a minimum id say).

Of course the friend should pay! Though possibly only the amount of excess on your insurance because it is your choice not to go through the insurer.

You would have to pay had you done it to your own car - so why doesn't she pay because SHE did it to your car?

If I was the friend I would 100% think it my responsibility to pay.

Yes it was an accident - I pay for the results of my accidents!

You weren't driving or opening your own door without looking so it's not really your responsibility over her just because it's your car and you're required to be insured. Unless she thinks it's the other driver's fault (which it doesn't sound like, if the door swung into the wheel arch, rather than the bonnet bent your door back on its hinges) she's definitely rude not to offer to sort it.

A decent friend would offer to pay

If you go through your insurance it will be higher for years to come

Does she not know to use her opposite hand to open the door?

How fast was the other car going? Is there much damage?

And yes she should offer to pay

Next time she wants a lift I would say its cheaper for me if you catch the bus

How can the innocent party be responsible for OP's passenger recklessly throwing a door open into their path?

I think your friend should offer to pay. It doesn’t sound like it was the other driver’s fault.

Voice of reason

Whether your friend intended this to happen or not, it was nonetheless her actions that caused this.

Yes a decent but friend would offer to pay. But only an absolute tosser would charge their friend for an accident

ETA- imagine if she didn’t have it, bloody help. Being pressurised to give your mate £200 you don’t have for their car

Why do you think asking to pay a share is the end of a friendship? If I’d caused damage accidentally to a friends car I would expect to pay a reasonable share.
As I was the driver I would state the facts - the damage to the car is x, the cost is y. I’d expect the friend to ask or suggest how to resolve (perhaps paying your excess or a portion of it)

People speak like going through insurance is cost free to you. There’s a excess/deductible and it could impact your policy next year.
I would tell her the cost of repair, and the cost of the excess, and ask for her to pay. Accidents happen, but there are consequences.

Im shocked at the people saying the friend shouldn’t pay. Of course she didn’t do it on purpose, however her actions caused the damage so of course she should pay. If Op went through her insurance then premiums would be higher. Why should Op be penalised for her friend not looking when she was opening the car door? The other car didn’t just appear out of nowhere.

Have you informed your insurance?
I had a minor incident recently, let my insurance know, settled it between other driver and me (was about £80) and my insurance put my price up by £400 even though I didn't use them to claim.

I'd certainly offer if I was the passenger, insured doesn't mean it's free.

I would think less of someone who didn't offer to pay, I might turn down their offer, but it was their fault.

Be careful when you’re opening doors then if you can’t afford to pay for damage

It was an accident. That’s what insurance is for.