Liability for damage

[Ergs20]

Hi guys!

I inadvertently grazed my SIL's vehicle a couple of months ago. Damage was a small dent and scratched paintwork to one door (see pic). The door mechanism etc has worked fine since - it looks cosmetic but I am not a professional!

Her dad is now demanding over £2.3k to replace the whole door, several weeks after the fact, and has not provided a damage report. I also believe the person who has provided the quote is a mate of his.

I think my liability is only to repair the scratch and dent (probably £400-600). Can I insist on more than one quote or to see the damage report? Or even to get an independent opinion?

Any advice appreciated

Not a legal or insurance person but if you caused this driving can you let the insurance companies sort it out?

Obviously you are responsible but i think you should tell her you think it's best to go through your insurance because that is not affordable for you.

I think your liability is just to repair the scratch and dent but sometimes they need to replace the whole door. What did you agree with your SIL at the time? I think I’d go through the insurance if I suspected they were trying it on but I don’t know what the rules are about reporting it weeks after the event.

If your sil is old enough to own a car and drive, so presumably an adult, wtf has it to do with her df? Bodywork repairs often cost more than you think, 20 years ago I had one on a door which cost over £500 to fix. What is your excess?

They need to provide at least 2 quotes and probably 3. Ask them to provide the written quotations and you'll consider your position when they've done that.

Thanks all. Might well be worth going through insurance - just didn't want rising premiums/loss of my NCD.

At the time I suggested we sort it out between us given it looked like minimal damage and she agreed, though has now got her dad involved. I am happy to pay for the repair, but want to be assured I am not being charged for work that is above and beyond. I would have thought it reasonable to get at least one independent quote (not her dad's mate)? If this went to small claims court (no intention of it going that far!) surely SIL would need to demonstrate the reasonableness of the repair required?

Go through your insurance.

Far better to go through insurance than get into debates about what is reasonable.
They can hardly be angry that you can't afford it. It's not like you're denying responsibility.

Go through insurance.

Yes if it went to court they would be expected to provide at least 2 quotes.

Probably best to go through your insurance. I had a dent on my door, no paint damage? just a hand sized dent. Had to get the whole door replaced expensive lesson that was.

get another independent quote cost can escalate but TBH £2.3k does seem excessive .

I had to replace my car door. Lexus RH450. Total cost - £1000.00 including colour spray to match.
You should get a couple quotes from local businesses that specifically do this kind of repairs. Just Google 'car paint sprayers near me.'

We were hit by a driver in February on our right back door (who ended up being very aggressive because we said we wouldn't accept cash because of the damage, so we had to call the police, and then she drove off without leaving her details whilst still on with the police, great fun!) - she was going fast and mounted the central reservation after bouncing off our car and caused way more damage than on your photo.

We went through our insurers (they and the police are still trying to trace her...) and we got the damage report back - our car was away 13 days and needed a whole new door and new tyre and the total repair cost £3.5k. Keep in mind she'd dented and scuffed the absolute holy hell out of ours, snapped the bottom door bar which caused damage to the actual inside of the car where the door sits on the main body of the car; she'd even managed to damage the underside of our door handle(!!!) - not a professional but cannot see how her dad is expecting the repair to come to a grand less than ours?!

So sorry you're having this, hope you're not too stressed. You could ask for a repair quote off them and then try and get a second opinion but her dad probably won't give this. It's a bugger that it might impact NCD etc but it might be worth taking the hit on that front rather than be bullied by her dad x

@Retrievemysanity

I think your liability is just to repair the scratch and dent but sometimes they need to replace the whole door. What did you agree with your SIL at the time? I think I’d go through the insurance if I suspected they were trying it on but I don’t know what the rules are about reporting it weeks after the event.

This is a really good point re timescales, def one to look into x

And has it definitely not sustained more damage since?

Were you driving her car or did you hit her car with yours? If driving hers was it under her insurance. With new cars panels cannot be beat out as easily as they used to be especially if fibre glass and therefore may need replacement. She may also need a hire car whilst being repaired which you would be liable for. If you hit her car refer it to insurance

More info needed. Were you driving her car?
Or did you hit it with your car?

Hi, thanks for all the thoughts guys! I grazed (at about 2mph)her car as she had blocked me in and I was trying (unsuccessfully...) to squeeze out in my Fiat 500 at 5am. My car sustained no damage at all, so just stunned that the cost of fixing one door of her car (Nissan Navarro) is so high .

@LIZS - can't say, tbh. She uses her car for work (farm work) so it's possible but I wouldn't want to accuse her of taking the p*ss...

@dkedm15 and @gaijin1 - thanks, your stories are super helpful context! I am sorry you both had to deal with similar nightmares

Just go through the insurance. Once you add on the cost of parts, paint, labour and VAT it can easily get very expensive. That's dented as well so it could mean it's more economical to replace the door. For context I've worked in car insurance claims for over 15 years. I've seen literally thousands of vehicle damage reports and they always cost more than you think they should.

Thanks @Swisscheeseleaves - the £2.3k is inclusive of VAT, labour, parts and paint etc

If the issue has not been reported to the insurance company despite it happening weeks ago, do you think there will be an issue with them covering it in your experience?

Someone reversed into my door about 5 years ago in pretty much the same way.

They admitted liability and said they'd pay.

I went to 2 body shops for a quote and they both told me the same. By the time they'd remove the door, beaten it out, resprayed it and attached it again, (including joining up the electrics), it was cheaper (and quicker) to order a new door from the manufacturer.

Both quotes were about £2,000.

So the person decided to go through their insurance company.

Mine wasn't a 'fancy' car BTW, just a common make/model

So IMO OP £2,000 is reasonable.

They could make a fuss about you not having reported it as it'll be in your terms of insurance but the companies I've worked for don't care really. Just explain you were going to settle privately so you didn't report but the quotes are too much. Send them the photo you've got of the damage and they can consider whether they think it's exaggerated.

@Ergs20

Thanks *@Swisscheeseleaves* - the £2.3k is inclusive of VAT, labour, parts and paint etc

If the issue has not been reported to the insurance company despite it happening weeks ago, do you think there will be an issue with them covering it in your experience?

They'll ask why but won't care really. It's not worth paying for it yourself. Your premium won't increase but the repair quote amount. Losing your ncb is not the end of the world.
Just get the insurers to sort it down it's all above board