AIBU to expect my neighbour to pay after scraping my parked car?

[Yournextdoorneighbour]

I live in a detached property and am currently having some building works done.

I asked my neighbours if we could use their drive to access my garden with large machinery which they seemed quite happy to do. Because of building works and my builders van I parked outside my house on the border of the dropped curb to said neighbours drive.
I recieved a call last night from the neighbour (female) saying she hit my car. I was out so I told her I would call her later. I did message her saying what had happened and she replied I had blocked her in. I hadn't. There was plenty of space to enter and exit.

I got home late so messaged neighbour would call in morning - I messaged this morning and said call when free. Neighbour popped over around 2pm and asked what I wanted to say.
I showed my confusion as my car had been hit (huge scrape on left bumper paintwork deeply damaged) so was expecting some sort of solution.

To cut a long story short my neighbour wanted me to forget she hit my car as I have used their drive and I had blocked her in. I hadn't. Admittedly closer to their dropped curb then I wanted to be but plenty of drive and grass verge to exit and enter.

She did say I can call the police but she has taken videos of where I was parked and it would be my fault as I was on their drive according to her. (I moved my car after taking pictures of where I was parked) back to my normal space last night when I got in.
Neighbour got really wound up and said why didn't you just say last night not to worry about it as your getting works done and the car being damaged with so much going on is something I should
expect. Also your builder knocked when I was showering etc etc.
I did remind the neighbour they were two seperate issues, the drive access and my car being hit but neighbour insisted it was my fault and insurance would agree as such.
I don't want to fall out with neighbour. So I said I will leave it. I have also told my builder not to ask access to their drive again as I don't want any more favours.
Was I being unreasonable to feel annoyed that the two issues were connected and for me to be left with a scratched car which I have to pay for myself? I don't know why I feel so angry at myself for not doing things different but I don't know what I could have done without angering my neighbour.

I’d wait for the building work to be over with then report to your insurance company. She hit a parked car, her insurance will automatically pay out.

Perhaps if you post the photo you took people could advise better?

mumsnet laws dictate a diagram is needed

Had to delete pics number plates were in

Why on earth would you "just leave it" she hit a parked car the blame lands squarely with her.

Everything else is just noise.

Claim on your insurance and make her pay

Christ. You are well across her driveway. She shouldn’t have to drive off her driveway to get around a car parked across part of her driveway.

Fair

Regardless of whether you blocked her in or not, she can’t just fucking crash into a stationary car?? Why didn’t she knock and ask you to move? 100% on her and I’d be claiming on her insurance.

While I agree it’s legally her fault as she hit a parked car I’d be furious if someone parked like that causing a partial obstruction and when squeezing out I hit them. To be honest I’d be wanting you to pay for the damage to my car! If you hadn’t parked so inconsiderately it wouldn’t have happened.

Too close and not leaving enough access. Sorry

^This.

She knew the car was there. Being unable to get into her drive because of how you had parked is irrelevant.

She should have asked you to move it if it was obstructing her driveway, but she overestimated her judgment and/or parking skills!

If yours is the BMW on the right and her drive is to the left of the picture then 100% your car was in the way!!!

I'd be sending her flowers and chocolates as a thank you for letting you use her drive for access, along with an apology for parking so close.

Don't forget she will also have to pay for the damage to her own car which would not have happened if you hadn't parked so close... Perhaps you should be offering to pay for that too?

Thankyou everyone for the honest replies. For what it's worth I was always going to take flowers and chocolates for the access.
I dnt feel too bad about being indirectly forced to not contact insurers.
lesson learned !

Tbh id decide if I wanted to fall out with her or not.

I think your work may have been more inconvenient than she assumed or you expected. However, that doesnt give her a free pass to behave badly.

You could call the police, you could call your insurance and give them her name address and reg and let insurance sort it. Or you can cover the cost yourself.

I wouldnt blame you either way, short term id be raging shes was so entitled to damage your car and not contribute to fixing it - but long term do you want to be on unfriendly terms.

Why did you have to delete?

Go directly to her insurance company and let them deal with it. You’ll need to inform your insurers as well.

Whether or not you were physically blocking her in you certainly made it difficult for her. And that is due to your building work. She has been accommodating, it is her fault she scratched your car but none of it would have happened if you weren't having work done.

Why did you need to use her drive for access if you now say you will tell your builder not to use it any more, surely it would have been a last resort to use their drive in the first place. And domestic driveways don't have sufficient foundations for heavy machinery so you may well have damaged her driveway.

I reversed into my neighbours car, they had left it in a stupid place. I rang my insurer and gave the neigh ours my details too and my insurance paid for it all. I don't think the insurance company are going to say it's your fault even if you were totally obstructing her drive. She has eyes and should've seen it.

It doesn't need to be any more complicated than this. I'm not sure why you would even enter into discussiins with her.

Can you put the pics back up with the number plates blocked out?

I don't think it matters as one poster already said I was too much on their drive so I accept that.

Because i am a novice at this and am being guided by the builder. I did ask the builder if they say no to use of their drive what what happen - he said he would have to manually dig the foundations with spades whereas access to the garden allowed a small digger to dig quicker. Building work is an inconvenience to everyone agreed. The driveway is not damaged I'm sure they would have told me that already they have asked for it to be cleaned so I have asked the builders to do that.

I don't want to fall out with anyone and I think that's what she was banking on when she informed me she hit my car. I do wonder if she only informed me as I have a RING but who knows.

But you obviously didn’t think you were to begin with?

I didn't think it mattered initially no because for me the two things are separate but I am
happy to be corrected hence this post? But for sake of a peaceful future I will leave it and accept the damage