my child broke fireplace at friends house

jackieb

apple111 wrote: »

Thank you for this helpful clarifcation which Im sure will help many moneysavers...........

Don't mention it. It's been my pleasure.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

i'm shocked at responses in this thread.

those slating the OP's wife and parenting skills over an accident should hang their heads in shame! most negative posts has spiraled the OP's original question out of all proportions.

i didnt read it as he was trying to wriggle his way out of paying, it was mere asking an accident happened, they were told the house was secure for children but seems not, as a parent being assured your childs surroundings are safe makes you feel at ease and not on pins this must have been a real shock to the op and his wife and the child that a heavy object was in what was regarded as a safe area was there to begin with and that if their childs foot had been there could have easily broke it, but that aside OP just wanted some advice on how much will it cost, should they meet half way with a payment.

what gives you all (some excluded) the right to judge parenting skills? and slate the OP's wife over an ACCIDENT?

huckster

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

i'm shocked at responses in this thread.

those slating the OP's wife and parenting skills over an accident should hang their heads in shame! most negative posts has spiraled the OP's original question out of all proportions.

but that aside OP just wanted some advice on how much will it cost, should they meet half way with a payment.

what gives you all (some excluded) the right to judge parenting skills? and slate the OP's wife over an ACCIDENT?

Exactly, they only wanted advice, not abuse in the form of robust opinion from some posters.

As for the term 'fish wives' this was in regard to the type of opinion being voiced and not directed at a particular poster, ' but if the cap fits' then I think I have made my point.

Perhaps apple you are of the Newhaven variety and not Billingsgate. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishwife )

PS. ( Atrix, seen Maiden 5 times, first on their Powerslave Tour back in 1984)

vaio

vaio wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

That would cheer the court staff up no end but the only lessons learned would be

1. You can’t sue two year olds and

2. Parents are only liable for damage their children cause if you can prove negligence in the legal sense which for a two year old invited into a “child proof” house would be just about impossible.

On the original post and accident…….

My child, I’d probably offer to pay

My house, I’d be pleased if the visitor offered to pay but probably wouldn’t accept unless there was malice involved (which doesn’t seem to be the case here).

apple111 wrote: »

And can you provide the LEGAL definition of a "child proof" house????? I didnt think so..................

I’m pretty sure there isn’t a legal definition or if there was it would include lots of padding & bubble wrap.

It certainly wouldn’t include ornaments heavy enough to break a fireplace (or presumably small toes) when handled by a two year old.

On the parental negligence thing generally, I think the only cases I’ve heard of succeeding have been ones where the children involved were in care and had a documented history of causing harm so the carers knew about the problem and were negligent by not taking steps to prevent it occurring again.

With an ordinary child I don’t think you’ve got any chance of getting a parental negligence case to stick.

Children break things in ways us mere adults can’t imagine, it’s part of the being a growing/learning child thing and I’ve always taken the view that whilst all adults should do their best to guide children and try prevent damage/harm, the occasional one will slip through the net and if you want to avoid that risk then don’t invite the little darlings into your home.

hopefulfooluk

Back to original post...

Yes, OP should pay - if my kids went to someone's house and broke something, I would fully expect to foot the bill regardless of who was supposed to be supervising them.

Hopefully it won't cost that much - it happens, and to expect the person who's property was damaged to pay is unfair.

wendyloub

Myself I would offer to pay if my child broke something, but should the reverse happen and a child broke something in my house I wouldn't dream of making the parents pay.

timmybear

I am astounded at the comments made in this thread...having been through hell & back this last 18 months, i could not have managed without my friends...they've supported me & my partner to the end and i love them more than words can tell...and i've done the same for them in the past. Whatever it costs, whoever is to 'blame' or 'at fault', i can safely say that my own friends are worth far more than the cost of a new hearth.

Were it my child, i would offer to pay. Were it my hearth, i would look into claiming on my own insurance. Whatever happened, i could not afford to lose a friendship over a physical 'thing' which was damaged by accident. I love my friends far too much to lose them.

SandC

If it was me I would offer to pay. This is on the basis of what has actually been broken here - and that's the hearth. A permanent fixture. I wouldn't really give a hoot about an ornament or plate.

I do not think for one second that the OP's wife was in any way irresponsible in looking after her child and nor was the home owner for having a heavy ornament on the hearth. In my home I've usually got candles flickering on the hearth. If I knew a child was coming I'd probably not have them lit and might even move them. I probably wouldn't consider an ornament that the OP openly describes as 'heavy' to be any sort of danger to a 2 year old in fairness. I would presume they wouldn't attempt to lift it up.

So this was an accident but even so needs an offer to repair the hearth. I don't know why the OP even needs to ask the question of whether they should offer or not. Have you ever broken a cup or glass of a friend's? Would you not offer to replace it if you had? Yet knowing that your friend would say 'oh no it's just a cup!'??

ShaneUK

Is it worth losing a friendship over?

How would you feel as well if this was the other way round, and happened to you......