Damaged my courtesy car on a dangerously parked shopping trolley in Sainsbury's car park

Ermyeah

Hi,

While parking a courtesy car in Sainsbury’s car park, I accidentally reversed into a shopping trolley, which resulted in a dent and scratch on the boot. The trolley was the last in a long stack that extended out of the trolley bay and into the car park lane. I have photos of the incident.

Could you advise on my options? Am I solely liable for the damage, or does Sainsbury’s bear any responsibility for allowing their trolleys to block a lane intended for cars?

Thank you.

facade

You reversed into a stationary object that was visible.

It is 100% on you I'm afraid.

Ayr_Rage

Oops.

Entirely your fault for reversing without checking what was behind you, just be thankful it was only a trolley.

WellKnownSid

On the other hand, car parks are full of vulnerable targets - it could have easily been a pushchair / small child / dog you drove into so you were lucky.  Just don't tell Mr Sainsbury.

Iceweasel

Was the trolley damaged at all?
If so, did you tell Sainsbury's you were responsible?

Samnormanski21

I’d still look at duty of care and health and safety with regards to this. There is precedence about carts hitting cars stationary and where liability lies, may be be difficult if you drive into it.but they still have a responsibility to keep the area safe and free of dangerous objects.

long shot mind

CliveOfIndia

Samnormanski21 said:

I’d still look at duty of care and health and safety with regards to this. There is precedence about carts hitting cars stationary and where liability lies, may be be difficult if you drive into it.but they still have a responsibility to keep the area safe and free of dangerous objects.

long shot mind

Really?  If your car was stationary and a rogue shopping trolley ran into it, then yes you'd probably have a case.

But the OP reversed into a stationary object, and the only person at fault is the OP.  It's not even as though the object was difficult to see, it's a clear case of not looking behind you properly.

I must also agree with the posters who have said "thank goodness it was only a trolley".

As I've always emphasised to my kids, at great length, when I've been teaching them to drive - supermarket car parks are one of the most dangerous places there are.  OK, slightly tongue in cheek, but I wouldn't mind betting that the vast majority of minor prangs happen in them.  Quite apart from situations like this one, they seem to be a Mecca for people who open doors without looking or who reverse into stationary vehicles with gay abandon.

user1977

Samnormanski21 said:

I’d still look at duty of care and health and safety with regards to this. There is precedence about carts hitting cars stationary and where liability lies, may be be difficult if you drive into it.but they still have a responsibility to keep the area safe and free of dangerous objects.

They don't need to warrant that it will always be though. In this case I can't see any duty extends beyond having a regular round to collect/tidy the trolleys, and I doubt the supermarket would have a problem demonstrating that they did so.

lisyloo

Could have been a nun carrying a basket full of kittens (I love that one)

My suggestion is that you pretend you were hit by Wile E coyote

Mildly_Miffed

stusam81 said:

While parking a courtesy car in Sainsbury’s car park, I accidentally reversed into a shopping trolley, which resulted in a dent and scratch on the boot. The trolley was the last in a long stack that extended out of the trolley bay and into the car park lane.

It wasn't even a random loose (if stationary) trolley...? It was one of a long line of trolleys in a bay?

And you think this is somebody else's fault?

Ayr_Rage

lisyloo said:

Could have been a nun carrying a basket full of kittens (I love that one)

My suggestion is that you pretend you were hit by Wile E coyote

Do you think the garage will be amused when they return the courtesy car ?