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Legal matters

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Original poster

Son and his friend caused accidental damage to car

67 replies

ToastedBun · 08/11/2021 10:20

Hi all! So this in my first time here and I'm after a bit of advice. Here's the situation, my son (He's 13) and his friend (Slightly younger) were playing football near a car (I know!), one thing lead to another and they collided with each other, his friend fell over and went into the door of the car, causing damage. Understandably the person who owns the car was not too happy and want's me to cover the damage, which of course I will. Now my question is, my son is getting the blame 100% as his friend says it was him that pushed him, does that make me 100% responsible for all the costs? They were both playing football there, knowing what could happen. Can I legally ask or claim 50% of the costs off the other child's parents? or only offer to pay 50%? As I believe they were both responsible. Any advice or help would be much appreciated.

OP posts:

Sally872 · 08/11/2021 12:42

I can see other parents point of view if their child was pushed.

However if he was jostled off the ball while playing football I wouldn't call that pushing. Perhaps they are reacting to what their child has said and don't know the full story?

Also if I knew they were playing football in the street and didn't stop them I would take more responsibility.

Paying half seems reasonable.

Original poster

ToastedBun · 08/11/2021 13:34

From what I understand they were tackling in a game of football, it wasn't an intentional push or shove as such, he didn't run at him and push him over, they just knocked into each other and the other kid fell. We live in a cul-de-sac and playing at the end is a normal thing.

OP posts:

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 08/11/2021 13:38

It took the two of them together playing where they should not have been playing and being careless to damage the car.
I'd pay half and give him the other parents details.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 08/11/2021 13:54

I just can't imagine how they dented a door from football tackling? I don't even think Premier League players could do that! Have you seen the dent?

I mean, I've clumsily fallen into my car, and it's fine. I've also nudged it into my garage door (somewhat embarrassingly!) and it was not massively damaged...

MoreStuffingMatron · 08/11/2021 16:22

Ring your household insurers for advice before agreeing to pay anything OP. You are morally responsible but probably not legally responsible.
It’s not cheap to fix a dent in a car door to a high standard. Someone opened their van door into me without warning when I was driving very slowly down a narrow road with limited clearance. This moderate dent cost £2500 to repair. Thankfully their insurers paid for the damage.

Just saying that you could find yourself liable for £1000s of damage if you admit liability.

JingleCatJingle · 08/11/2021 16:59

Was the car parked on the pavement? If so I’d not pay.

mrsm43s · 08/11/2021 17:19

@JingleCatJingle

Was the car parked on the pavement? If so I’d not pay.

In which case, it'd probably end up going to court and you'd be made to pay.

You can't just decide not to pay for damage that you (or someone you are responsible for) causes.

AdobeWanKenobi · 10/11/2021 12:08

@KalvinPhillipsManBun

I am unable to fathom how much damage they could of caused.

You're unable to fathom how much damage a 13 year old boy could cause from falling into a car door? Really? These aren't toddlers and car door skins are pretty hollow. A teenager falling into one with all his weight behind him would cause a pretty fair dent.

You can't just decide not to pay for damage that you (or someone you are responsible for) causes

Indeed. And pavement parking isn't necessarily illegal anyway.

Original poster

ToastedBun · 31/01/2022 21:06

For all those interested, as I said I would update this thread when I finally got it all resolved. Altogether cost me £30 pounds. After a bit of investigation, found the car had no MOT. Had been like that for a few months. So after a little bit of falling out with the owner, it was taken to a friend who fixed it on the cheap. Lucky I know, my son is currently paying it out of his pocket money. So all in all a lucky escape. Thanks all for your help!

OP posts:

ThisMustBeMyDream · 31/01/2022 23:14

Did the friend have to pay up too?

Original poster

ToastedBun · 01/02/2022 12:12

@ThisMustBeMyDream

Did the friend have to pay up too?

I didn't bother, after talking to them about it I knew it would be near impossible to get anything out of them.

OP posts:

Blackmagicqueen · 01/02/2022 12:17

It annoys me when cars park on the street or in visitor bays over night further away from their home because they are too lazy to park on the end of their own driveway
..yet I'd bet they'd be first to kick off if anything happened to their cars and insurance wouldn't do a thing as they won't have told them... I do digress!

Blackmagicqueen · 01/02/2022 12:19

Apologies. And op I would pay half unless your son pushed his friend towards the car then maybe that is carelessness on his part and you'd be fully liable for the cost. If it happened during the football game like a tackle than that is def 50 percent.

hamsterchump · 01/02/2022 12:52

@MeridasMum

I see both sides and I'm not arguing the the OP should do this; it's merely a point of discussion.

If I park my car in a garage, my insurance is reduced. If I park on my driveway, insurance costs a little more. If I park in the street, it's more expensive again for this exact reason.

I don't know what I would do in the circumstances but I think it's worth consideration.

Actually, parking in the garage usually makes insurance more expensive as you are more likely to damage the car yourself driving/reversing in and out.

hamsterchump · 01/02/2022 13:01

@Blackmagicqueen

It annoys me when cars park on the street or in visitor bays over night further away from their home because they are too lazy to park on the end of their own driveway ..yet I'd bet they'd be first to kick off if anything happened to their cars and insurance wouldn't do a thing as they won't have told them... I do digress!

There's nothing to say the people involved here have drives they could use, many people don't have drives and have to park on the street.

Are you really suggesting people should just expect their car to be routinely damaged if it isn't parked in a garage or on a drive? If so I've been driving too carefully for years.

I expect you'd be upset too if your car was damaged, wherever it was.

Blackmagicqueen · 01/02/2022 18:58

@hamsterchump my first comment was unrelated hence saying about digressing and then saying apologies on my second one which was my opinion on the thread, hope that helps ! Also don't put words in my mouth please as I said nowhere people should expect their cars to be routinely damaged....

Seemssounfair · 01/02/2022 19:10

No MOT means he legally should not be on the road, but that doesn't negate the fact your ds and his friend damaged the car and it needed fixed, so it is irrelevant.

For only £30 I would just pay and it is good your ds is repaying it to you. At 13, they are old enough to know tackling and messing around beside cars is likely to lead to injury or damage to cars.

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