Someone bumped my car while parking

Portia82

I'm currently on holiday in Scotland and today my car was bumped by another as they reversed out of the parking space next to me. It was pure chance that I was in my car, along with my husband and daughter.

I jumped out of the car and hammered on the woman's bonnet, as she was about to drive off, yelling at her that she had bumped my car - there is a dent in the side and a badly scraped bumper. She nearly ran me over as I did this! She still attempted to drive off, but stopped when I took a photo of her car with my phone. She then wound down her window and denied hitting us. My daughter had actually seen her grimace at the first touch of her car against ours, and she re-manoeuvred, hitting us again. All three of us heard and felt it!

She continued to deny it and started saying she had to pick up her grandson (she was quite elderly, I'd guess mid 70s), and made to drive off again. I then said I would call the police. She then backtracked and reluctantly exchanged details, whining that she had been ill and not been herself. (If she was so ill that she didn't feel fit to drive why was she on the road?!) She also tried to blame it on my parking - I was parked squarely between the markings.

I'm phoning my insurer tomorrow, but should I also inform the police and tell them that she made several attempts to drive away? I was so angry when she did this and then lied about it!

forgotmyname

The police wont be interested if you have the owners details or insurance details.

Just pass it onto your insurance.

Strider590

It must be your fault, she's "never had an accident in 40 years of driving"!!
People like this are a menace, they leave a trail of destruction in their wake and they have more accidents per mile than any other age group. Not to mention the accidents they have and simply drive away from.

Young drivers have more accidents, but they also do MUCH more mileage. Not something the statistics ever seem to take into account!!

I once witnessed an elderly lady pull into a parking space at Tesco's, she totally misjudged it and left barely enough gap to get out. Instead of repositioning, she opened her door and repeatedly slammed it into the perfectly parked car next to her, as if she was teaching them a lesson.

gilbert_and_sullivan

On the other hand Strider, if someone is chav low life @ 18, 28, 38, its unlikely they'll suddenly morph into courteous gentlemen and ladies when they get to 70.

There are decent people with honour out there, and then there are the other sort, age is immaterial.

Silk purses are seldom made from sows ears.

dacouch

Strider590 wrote: »

It must be your fault, she's "never had an accident in 40 years of driving"!!
People like this are a menace, they leave a trail of destruction in their wake and they have more accidents per mile than any other age group. Not to mention the accidents they have and simply drive away from.

Young drivers have more accidents, but they also do MUCH more mileage. Not something the statistics ever seem to take into account!!

I once witnessed an elderly lady pull into a parking space at Tesco's, she totally misjudged it and left barely enough gap to get out. Instead of repositioning, she opened her door and repeatedly slammed it into the perfectly parked car next to her, as if she was teaching them a lesson.

The cost per claim for young drivers is many many times the cost per claim of the age group you bemoan. Accidents by young drivers tend to be at higher speeds and involve multiple personal injuries.

Hintza

Strider590 wrote: »

they leave a trail of destruction in their wake and they have more accidents per mile than any other age group.

Do you have any evidence for this claim of yours? Link?

bod1467

Ah the aged driver ... never had an accident in 50 years - seen quite a few though.

4743hudsonj

When still living with my parents i had an elderly driver take off my wing mirror whilst I was parked at the roadside legally. She stopped and went to drive of until my mum rand out shouting her to stop and the old lady thought better of it.

The lady tried to blame me for NOT parking up the kerb and parking fully on the road until I pointed out that what she was saying is technically illegal (and given the width of the path would block wheelchair users and prams). There were no other cars parked near me and its a wide road with enough space for 2 cars to pass even with my car parked fully on the road so its was a simple case of poor control and/or judgement.

She claimed the old "I've never had an accident before" but she had a battered polo covered in scrapes and scuffs and she even used P plate as "I'm not a confident driver". She just seemed oblivious to it all.

In the end she offered to pay for a wing mirror as "it should only cost £30". £100 later and me fitting it myself my car was repaired.

neilmcl

Strider590 wrote: »

It must be your fault, she's "never had an accident in 40 years of driving"!!
People like this are a menace, they leave a trail of destruction in their wake and they have more accidents per mile than any other age group. Not to mention the accidents they have and simply drive away from.

Young drivers have more accidents, but they also do MUCH more mileage. Not something the statistics ever seem to take into account!

Can we assume you'll be handing your license when you reach 70 then?