Scratched car: can I claim against my local Authority?

WombleSW20_2

While reversing my car into a parking space this week, I failed to notice a small pillar at the back of the space that was protecting a lamp post and managed to nudge it. My bumper is quite flexible and I noticed pretty quickly that I had made contact with the pillar so wasn't too worried that there would be a significant scratch. However, when I looked closer, I noticed a small spike of about 3 millimetres sticking out of the pillar which had made a deep scratch into my bumper. There was no other sctaches on the bumper other than that.

Do I have grounds to claim again the local authority who manage the car park? While I accept responsibility for nudging the pillar, the pillar should not have had the spikes sticking out as it did. Is there a ‘duty of care’ here?

Thanks

Tilt

Have you any pics to show us? Not easy to pass an opinion without seeing what you are talking about.

poppasmurf_bewdley

WombleSW20 wrote: »

Is there a ‘duty of care’ here?

I would think so, yes. A duty of care to park carefully. What if that post had been a child? You should have noticed it - it's your fault and you can't blame anyone else for your mistake.

Enfieldian

You what?

You hit a stationary object and you think it is someone else's fault?

Wow.

slyracoon

So you crashed into a stationary object and want to blame somebody else other than yourself? :rotfl:

Hammyman

WombleSW20 wrote: »

While reversing my car into a parking space this week, I failed to notice a small pillar at the back of the space that was protecting a lamp post and managed to nudge it. My bumper is quite flexible and I noticed pretty quickly that I had made contact with the pillar so wasn't too worried that there would be a significant scratch. However, when I looked closer, I noticed a small spike of about 3 millimetres sticking out of the pillar which had made a deep scratch into my bumper. There was no other sctaches on the bumper other than that.

Do I have grounds to claim again the local authority who manage the car park? While I accept responsibility for nudging the pillar, the pillar should not have had the spikes sticking out as it did. Is there a ‘duty of care’ here?

Thanks

No you flipping don't. It is up to the driver to look and see if there are any obstructions.

funkycoldribena

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.funnyaccidents.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/nissan-z-accident.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.funnyaccidents.org/tag/snow-accident/&h=480&w=640&sz=122&tbnid=vxvFxrXtnplQqM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dfunny%2Broad%2Bcrash%2Bpics%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=funny+road+crash+pics&docid=3d0nPkJ1DtK3RM&sa=X&ei=URuXTpjHIsWb8QP2nKHLBQ&ved=0CCAQ9QEwAA

Bl%^dy authorities always putting something in the way....

eschaton

WombleSW20 wrote: »

While reversing my car into a parking space this week, I failed to notice a small pillar at the back of the space that was protecting a lamp post and managed to nudge it. My bumper is quite flexible and I noticed pretty quickly that I had made contact with the pillar so wasn't too worried that there would be a significant scratch. However, when I looked closer, I noticed a small spike of about 3 millimetres sticking out of the pillar which had made a deep scratch into my bumper. There was no other sctaches on the bumper other than that.

Do I have grounds to claim again the local authority who manage the car park? While I accept responsibility for nudging the pillar, the pillar should not have had the spikes sticking out as it did. Is there a ‘duty of care’ here?

Thanks

You should be on the stage :rotfl:

Maybe some driving lessons are in order to sharpen your driving skills.

glasgowdan

This attitude is what's wrong with this country - I do something wrong; can I blame someone else?

vikingaero

A "3mm spike" would probably be the burr leftover from casting the pillar - absolutely normal and nothing wrong or dangerous about it.

paddedjohn

OP, find a good claims company and take the council to the cleaners, dont forget to sue the lamp-post manufacturer aswell. You should try and get at least £26,000,000 for damages to your feelings and £35 to t-cut the scratch out of your car. The council will probably settle out of court for about £20,000,000 which you will be able to spend on driving lessons, new glasses and you can employ a shrink with the change.:rotfl::j:rotfl: