son hit neighbours car

jackie_w

Hi there,

I guess Im just on to pour this out to "someone".

My little boy aged 6, was out on his scooter, going to see his friend a few doors down. He was traveling on the pavement. There is a neighbour who tinkers about with cars. He has about 5 cars altogether, 3 are in his driveway, the other 2 are parked half on the road and half on the pavement.
My little boy as I said was travelling on the pavement, when he fell off his scooter, but, the scooter has cracked some sort of cover on his car, and the neighbour came to the door to tell me. The part of the car which is damaged, was on the side that was parked on the pavement. There isnt alot of room for anyone to pass on the pavement because of the way he parks the cars.

Anyway when he came to the door to tell me, he was of course really nice, and was saying "oh dont give the little one into trouble", but he has said he will take the car to the garage tomorrow to get an estimate for the damage.

I just really dont need this now I dont think I will be able to afford the costs of the repair and I dont know what to do because I obviously dont want to fall out with my neighbour.

Jackie

beanys

he should not have parked half on the pavment , he has no chance of making you pay , he needs to go through his insurance if he wants to claim, saying that unless you do pay or pay half iam afraid i could end with you both falling out

dirtysexymonkey

you should pay. your son damaged his car. if you dont pay you'll be liable to get a reputation as will your son. your neighbours been nice about this. if you cant afford to pay for the damage, you shouldnt be allowing your son out with something that can cause damage.

yvonne13_2

OP I am with beanys on this one. I personally wouldn't pay as the road is for parking and not the sidewalk. I would tell him to go via his insurance company.

mrbrightside842

Kids are supposed to be on pavements, cars aren't. I'm not sure what I'd do though, depending on if you want to keep things friendly with a neighbour. I'd maybe see what the estimate is and what his suggestions are. Did you agree to anything?

Person_one

mrbrightside842 wrote: »

Kids are supposed to be on pavements, cars aren't. I'm not sure what I'd do though, depending on if you want to keep things friendly with a neighbour. I'd maybe see what the estimate is and what his suggestions are. Did you agree to anything?

I agree with the bolded. Wait and see what the estimate is. If its low enough that you think its a price worth paying for good neighbourly relations then pay it, if not then just explain that you're very sorry but you don't have the money spare and he'll have to claim it from his insurance.

I think if he does claim then he might be able to take you to small claims for the cost of the excess though, so bear that in mind when deciding!

Imp

I'm pretty sure scooters aren't meant to be on pavements. Sounds like 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Go halves.

Gillyx

I wouldn't pay, if he can't park his car properly it's not your sons fault. I'm sick to the back teeth of cars parking all 4 wheels on the pavement on my street, I can just about squeeze by, but come next year when I have the pram what am I supposed to do? Walk on the road with it? I don't think I'll be doing that.

I'd try and get the point across in a friendly manner with your neighbour, if he is honest with his insurer I don't even think they'd pay out.

Guy across the road from my dad's insurer wouldn't pay out last year, because he was parked on half road/pavement.

yvonne13_2

jackie_w wrote: »

Hi there,

I guess Im just on to pour this out to "someone".

My little boy aged 6, was out on his scooter, going to see his friend a few doors down. He was traveling on the pavement. There is a neighbour who tinkers about with cars. He has about 5 cars altogether, 3 are in his driveway, the other 2 are parked half on the road and half on the pavement.
My little boy as I said was travelling on the pavement, when he fell off his scooter, but, the scooter has cracked some sort of cover on his car, and the neighbour came to the door to tell me. The part of the car which is damaged, was on the side that was parked on the pavement. There isnt alot of room for anyone to pass on the pavement because of the way he parks the cars.

Anyway when he came to the door to tell me, he was of course really nice, and was saying "oh dont give the little one into trouble", but he has said he will take the car to the garage tomorrow to get an estimate for the damage.

I just really dont need this now I dont think I will be able to afford the costs of the repair and I dont know what to do because I obviously dont want to fall out with my neighbour.

Jackie

Wait a minute is he running a business from his home? If so and he hasn't declared it to the insurance company they will not pay out.

ZenUK

Unless the pavement is specifically marked and signed I don't think it is legal to park on the pavement. So indirectly it is the car owners fault for obstructing the pavement. Hence you are more likely to have a claim against him if the scooter is damaged or your boy is hurt.
From The Highway Code:

244

You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.

Source

SkintGypsy

This is one of my pet peeves. Cars who park so people can't reasonably pass, but then expect others to walk, scoot, push their pram into the road to get by. If it was a good neighbour I would probably pay, but if it was a stranger I would fight to the death. Your household insurance may cover it also if you wanted to go that route.