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.

You mention grass verge as part of her driving solution to get past you parked next to her drive. You are expecting her to drive off her driveway onto grass to get past where you are ‘admittedly closer than you’d have liked’ is that right ?

Please read all my posts. They have previously used it and still do for all their cars.

Report this to your insurance company and give them your neighbours details and let them deal with it

that is bollocks!!! People can’t just go round hitting cars like whacky races just because they feel like it!!! Doesn’t matter WHERE you parked your neighbour shouldn’t have hit your car and is legally liable to pay for the damage caused!!!

The best thing to do is for you to pay to have your car fixed.

It’s not for the neighbour to pay - the proper solution is insurance and if her insurance pays, then both your premiums will go up (yes even though you weren’t driving - my safely and legally parked car was slammed hard by someone, as in thousands of damage, and my insurance went up).

And your building works have caused a pain in the arse for her as well so you should just pay to get your car fixed and move on.

No, the neighbour isn’t liable to pay. The neighbour’s insurer is liable.

Just ask for her insurance details then contact your car insurance to start a claim.

I’m interested in why you put “neighbour (female)” in your OP when it was clear from the pronouns. Do you consider the term ‘neighbour’ to be default male?

Get a quote for repairs then message your neighbour asking if she wants to go through her insurance or is she happy to pay half herself. See what she says. Whether or not you blocked her drive is irrelevant, she's damaged your car so needs to contribute towards repair costs. Still take her flowers to thank her for her agreeing to use her drive to allow builders to enter/exit your garden. You don't need to fall out with her over it. If she's awkward with you just be friendly & smile & shout Hi when you see her.

This sounds like the right thing. I'm surprised at the number of people who are seemingly only concerned with the letter of the law and place zero value on having good relations with their neighbours. Yes if you want to push the issue the law will be on your side, but at the cost of your neighbours thinking you are an unreasonable pain in the arse and thus never doing you a favour ever again. I'd just leave it too.

Its just a bumper

I once scraped a neighbour’s car. It was parked in a very inconvenient place on the corner of a junction and I was having to reverse round the corner to let out a bin lorry.

I think the car shouldn’t have been parked where it was, but I could see it was there and I misjudged the space available, so I paid for the damage. I think your neighbour should do the same.

This.

You are causing your neighbours a lot of inconvenience and they have been generous so far. Just get your own car fixed and relations should become sweet again.