Trampoline damage to vehicle

AJ2211

During the recent high winds, our trampoline broke free, somersaulted our 6ft fence and damaged a nearby neighbour's vehicle. Trampoline was tucked in corner of garden, surrounded on three sides and weighted down with sandbags but the winds were freakishly strong that night. Advised neighbour to obtain three quotes from reputable garages to see what the costs would be like. Just had a single quote pushed through the door for just under £3,500 from an approved garage. Apparently he only wants to use this one garage so it doesn't affect his warranty. The quote seems extortionate considering the vehicle is only worth about £10,000. Spoke to house insurance who stated that any claim would need to be started via neighbour's vehicle insurance before being investigated. I have suggested the insurance route which neighbour is not keen on as unsure whether no claims and premiums would be affected. What are my options please? Firstly we don't have that sort of money lying around and secondly the damages are no way on earth that amount of money but neighbour is adamant his vehicle is to be repaired there. TIA

unforeseen

Let the neighbour go through his insurance and let the insurance companies fight it out.

Unless negligence can be proven then your insurance will probably deny liability and leave it all to the car insured

Johno100

Well you are going to have to tell him to go through his car insurance then.

And give him your house insurance details so his insurance can try and claim their outlay from your insurers. How hard they'll try and whether they'll be successful is another question.

Mercdriver

Haven't we had this post before? Same model of car too. Why would anyone copy someone's situation?

AJ2211

Pass, I've literally only joined today

k3lvc

Mercdriver wrote: »

Haven't we had this post before? Same model of car too. Why would anyone copy someone's situation?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5729965

Mercdriver

k3lvc wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5729965

You search quicker than me

It is remarkably similar...

AJ2211

Nope, this occurred last week so not the same

Mercdriver

AJ2211 wrote: »

Nope, this occurred last week so not the same

OK. Remarkable coincidence then, as in that circumstance it was a Dacia too, and the same belligerence from the neighbour.

It will all come down to whether you were negligent. Was the trampoline weighted down in any way? The winds were forecast so you do have a duty to ensure that none of your property will damage things or injure people. If you had taken all reasonable steps, then you wouldn't be liable. As in the last instance, best to let insurance companies sort things like this out if possible.

Your neighbour also has a duty to mitigate his costs. He can't simply insist on one place if another place will be acceptable within the terms of the warranty. It would be better to be in contact with Dacia UK than a local dealer who has a vested interest in having the car come to them. Many dealers go through the same bodyshop in any case.

Warwick_Hunt

Mercdriver wrote: »

OK. Remarkable coincidence then, as in that circumstance it was a Dacia too, and the same belligerence from the neighbour.

It will all come down to whether you were negligent. Was the trampoline weighted down in any way? The winds were forecast so you do have a duty to ensure that none of your property will damage things or injure people. If you had taken all reasonable steps, then you wouldn't be liable. As in the last instance, best to let insurance companies sort things like this out if possible.

Your neighbour also has a duty to mitigate his costs. He can't simply insist on one place if another place will be acceptable within the terms of the warranty. It would be better to be in contact with Dacia UK than a local dealer who has a vested interest in having the car come to them. Many dealers go through the same bodyshop in any case.

Yes, with sand bags.

AJ2211

As previously stated the trampoline had sandbags sitting on the legs and it was tucked away in corner of garden with three sides protected by fencing and house. It is a setup that has survived windy storms with no problems in the past year however these winds were crazy, trees (and big ones at that) down all over the place.