Car Windscreen Smashed - School or parent responsible - Advice please

lalahland

Good evening all,

I came home from work earlier today to find my car windscreen completely smashed with glass fragments scattered on the dash, seats and even the rear seats. The bonnet was also damaged with scratches too.

There was a note on my car placed by the Deputy Head of the local Secondary school informing me that there had been an incident involving one of their pupils and asking me to call the school.

She informed me that a pupil from the school playground kicked a football (in an area where they have been told not to play football in school assemblies) which went over the wall and hit my car. she stated it was not the responsibility of the school and provided the parents name but no contact number and said that she would pass on my contact details to the parent in question.

Now I have spoken with the parent who also works at the school and she has stated that she does not believe that it is her responsibility to pay and that it is the schools responsibility.

Now this is where I'm stuck. Who is responsible?

Thanks for reading

rs65

lalahland wrote: »

The bonnet was also damaged with scratches too.

I doubt a ball would damage the bonnet and smash a windscreen.

I think you need to find out more about what happened to see whose fault it was.

lalahland

Well I was wondering if the schools were using lead-weight footballs as the impact must have been huge. What I've managed to gather from kids/deputy head at the school is that a whatever hit the windscreen was then removed by the child who climbed on the bonnet There are a lot of inconsistencies but I have taken photos to send them to the school/parent and have contacted my insurance regarding the windscreen which shouldn't affect my ncb. The deputy head did admit verbally that there was not a member of staff present when the incident occurred so they only have the word of the kids.

I'm not overly concerned about the bonnet as the scratches aren't overly bad and the cost to repair them would probably be excessive. I only want my out of pocket expenses from the windscreen damage and want to ensure I'm asking the right person.

antrobus

lalahland wrote: »

...Now this is where I'm stuck. Who is responsible? ...

Not the parent. Parents are not liable for the negligence of their children, unless they too were negligent in failing to supervise the child in question. Which they would not be in this case, because the school was supervising the child.

Possibly the school, if it can be shown that they were negligent in some way, as in allowing a child to play football in an area that they had already identified as unsuitable for the playing of football.

Very likely the child. It was a secondary school, so they are over the age of ten, and thus deemed legally 'responsible'. Won't help much though as children tend not to have much in the way of money. Although sometimes the parents may be in possession of an insurance policy that covers accidents by household members.

Glassman

A football would never cause that much damage to a windscreen; not unless it was filled with concrete and fired from a canon.

Norman_Castle

What I've managed to gather from kids/deputy head at the school is that a whatever hit the windscreen was then removed by the child who climbed on the bonnet

Its highly unlikely a football would break a windscreen and then remain on the bonnet. Is it possible a heavy school bag that had been launched over the wall could cause this damage?. You're dealing with children and a damaged car. Expect to be told it was an accident.

Quentin

It will be data protection and all that.


The parents are not involved.


Your only hope is to concentrate your guns on the school being negligent by not properly supervising.

Norman_Castle

I would be annoyed if the school was not making more effort to find out exactly what happened and helping to resolve this. They may or may not be financially responsible for the damage but they are your neighbor and as a school should be setting an example to their pupils.

PasturesNew

As you appear to be on speaking terms with both parties - could you organise a quick get-together with them to say "Look, it's one of you and I'm being caught in the middle here, so I'll now leave you two together while you thrash out who I have to sue .... let me know by the end of today".

It's unfair of them to both say "Not me, them". They need to be arguing the toss together, and telling you who will pay.

Somebody has to pay .... it's for THEM to work out who imho, as all parties are known to each other and available to have this discussion.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Contact your insurance company to replace the windscreen. Should only be around £50 if you are fully comp. If you have legal cover, they will pursue the school for negligence, and recover your £50.

If you have not got fully comp, then you are on to your own devices.

Glassman

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

Contact your insurance company to replace the windscreen. Should only be around £50 if you are fully comp. If you have legal cover, they will pursue the school for negligence, and recover your £50.

If you have not got fully comp, then you are on to your own devices.

And have an insurance claim against your record? Paying the 50-quid is not the issue here.