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Car park incident

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  • 13-07-2014 7:30pm
    #1
    Larry Wildman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭


    Some advice please folks...

    I was reversing in a car park today and tipped into another car. It was straight on - bumper to bumper. Not particularly hard. I checked both cars and there were no marks so I thought nothing further of it (other than to be more careful).

    Anyway, 2 minutes later I was near some shops when a woman started attacking me about smashing into her car and not leaving a note. I explained what had happened and that there was no damage. I offered my number and she declined and called me scum.

    I decided to go back to the car and she was there with her husband and a "witness" - Some guy in a car beside her. They were all ranting and raving about cctv and not leaving a note. I pointed out that the cars had essentially tipped bumper to bumper and that there was no damage to either car.

    She pointed to a scratch to the side which clearly was an old one. I again offered my details and number and they declined. The "witness" kept chiming in so I told him to butt out.

    What worries me though is that the husband said "we have what we need".

    I did apologise and she accepted it.

    What should I be expecting and what should I do?


«1345

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    #2
    djimi
    Registered Users Posts: 13,238 ✭✭✭✭djimi


    Is there any way that it could look like you caused the scratch to the side? Did you take plenty of pictures? The witness could make things awkward if they are making up stories to back up the other party, but if you have photographic evidence and it doesnt back up the claim about the scratch then I wouldnt worry too much about it.


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    #3
    Larry Wildman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭Larry Wildman


    djimi wrote: »
    Is there any way that it could look like you caused the scratch to the side? Did you take plenty of pictures? The witness could make things awkward if they are making up stories to back up the other party, but if you have photographic evidence and it doesnt back up the claim about the scratch then I wouldnt worry too much about it.

    There's no way that it could have caused the scratch. It was a gentle bumper to bumper tip with the cars perfectly aligned.

    Do you think the fact that they declined my contact details is helpful?


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    #4
    Aint Eazy Being Cheezy
    Registered Users Posts: 4,630 ✭✭✭Aint Eazy Being Cheezy


    Larry Wildman wrote: »
    There's no way that it could have caused the scratch. It was a gentle bumper to bumper tip with the cars perfectly aligned.

    Do you think the fact that they declined my contact details is helpful?

    Not really, is there a chance that they could have taken your insurance policy details from the windscreen?


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    #5
    Chris_Heilong
    Registered Users Posts: 4,973 ✭✭✭Chris_Heilong


    try to obtain a copy of the CCTV as its the only thing that shows what happened.


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    #6
    Larry Wildman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭Larry Wildman


    Duracell Bunny wrote: »
    Not really, is there a chance that they could have taken your insurance policy details from the windscreen?

    Absolutely.

    But there is definitely no damage to their car.

    Even if I "lost" wherever this goes, I'd pay rather than go the insurance route.


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    #7
    Larry Wildman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭Larry Wildman


    Chris_Heilong wrote: »
    try to obtain a copy of the CCTV as its the only thing that shows what happened.

    It'll show me tipping into their car but what caused a scratch won't be clear.


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    #8
    Larry Wildman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭Larry Wildman


    If they do try some kind of nefarious claim, can I cut the insurance company out of it?


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    #9
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    Howdy,

    was there a barrier / ticket system in this car park ?

    example. did you need to take a ticket entering the car park ?


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    #10
    Aint Eazy Being Cheezy
    Registered Users Posts: 4,630 ✭✭✭Aint Eazy Being Cheezy


    Larry Wildman wrote: »
    If they do try some kind of nefarious claim, can I cut the insurance company out of it?

    No. But you can repay them any payout which they may make and your no claims bonus will be intact.


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    #11
    whodafunk
    Registered Users Posts: 548 ✭✭✭whodafunk


    A friend of mine experienced something like this recently. Complete chancers.

    In his case he said he had taken camera shots to prove no other damage to the car and once he mentioned calling the cops they said to leave it.


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    #12
    djimi
    Registered Users Posts: 13,238 ✭✭✭✭djimi


    Larry Wildman wrote: »
    If they do try some kind of nefarious claim, can I cut the insurance company out of it?

    I wouldnt in this case. Tell your insurer your full side of the story and let them deal with it. Let them know that you caused no damage and that they are making up stories, including them having a witness who seems happy to corroborate their dodgy story.

    Id be contacting your insurer before they do also; it will look worse on you if they hear from the other party before they hear from you.


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    #13
    oldyouth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,754 ✭✭✭oldyouth


    Larry Wildman wrote: »
    If they do try some kind of nefarious claim, can I cut the insurance company out of it?

    Don't do that, it could end bad for you if you don't notify your insurers. It will also look like an admission of guilt if tell the other party you want to deal with it privately. Motor assessors are good at working out angles of impact, height of contact, direction of scratch etc. Leave them to it, if the other party is determined to get you and have a 'witness', you might just have to suck it up. Insurers can always be repaid to reinstate your NCB


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    #14
    djimi
    Registered Users Posts: 13,238 ✭✭✭✭djimi


    Larry Wildman wrote: »
    It'll show me tipping into their car but what caused a scratch won't be clear.

    If the scratch is on the side, and if it was a straight bumper to bumper then why would CCTV not show that you did not cause the damage?


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    #15
    Larry Wildman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭Larry Wildman


    djimi wrote: »
    If the scratch is on the side, and if it was a straight bumper to bumper then why would CCTV not show that you did not cause the damage?

    Sorry, I mean it was on the right hand side of the bumper if you were standing behind the car looking at the boot. I don't see how a scratch can arise when two flat surfaces touch "head on" (i.e. no glancing blow). It wasn't a fresh scratch either.

    The "witness" was the problem here. He was sitting in the car beside their car (but facing the other way). He was giving it loads about me "smashing into their car" and an "almighty bang". Presumably when they came back, he told them "that fella over there crashed into your car".


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    #16
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    Larry Wildman wrote: »
    Sorry, I mean it was on the right hand side of the bumper if you were standing behind the car looking at the boot. I don't see how a scratch can arise when two flat surfaces touch "head on" (i.e. no glancing blow). It wasn't a fresh scratch either.

    The "witness" was the problem here. He was sitting in the car beside their car (but facing the other way). He was giving it loads about me "smashing into their car" and an "almighty bang". Presumably when they came back, he told them "that fella over there crashed into your car".

    which car park was it in ?


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    #17
    Larry Wildman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭Larry Wildman


    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »
    which car park was it in ?

    Carrickmines - The Park


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    #18
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    Larry Wildman wrote: »
    Carrickmines - The Park

    Grand stuff...

    i know that car park to be a private car park.... with private clamping etc.

    i.e its private property.

    would i be right in saying your insurance company doesn't have to do anything because its private property ? ;)


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    #19
    Larry Wildman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭Larry Wildman


    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »
    Grand stuff...

    i know that car park to be a private car park.... with private clamping etc.

    i.e its private property.

    would i be right in saying your insurance company doesn't have to do anything because its private property ? ;)

    I don't know - I'm clueless about this kind of thing.

    You reckon it's okay?


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    #20
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    Larry Wildman wrote: »
    I don't know - I'm clueless about this kind of thing.

    You reckon it's okay?

    If i was you, i'd tell my insurance company that it was on private property and instruct them to take no action

    it should be grand i think.


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    #21
    djimi
    Registered Users Posts: 13,238 ✭✭✭✭djimi


    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »
    Grand stuff...

    i know that car park to be a private car park.... with private clamping etc.

    i.e its private property.

    would i be right in saying your insurance company doesn't have to do anything because its private property ? ;)

    Its not private property; its a public place.


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    #22
    Cyrus
    Registered Users Posts: 19,880 ✭✭✭✭Cyrus


    If it was my car you reversed into I'd be pissed to be honest you should have left a note whether it looked to you if there was damage or not


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    #23
    djimi
    Registered Users Posts: 13,238 ✭✭✭✭djimi


    Cyrus wrote: »
    If it was my car you reversed into I'd be pissed to be honest you should have left a note whether it looked to you if there was damage or not

    To say what exactly? Sorry I bumped into your car; theres no damage but if you fancy an aul chat anyway heres my number?


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    #24
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    djimi wrote: »
    Its not private property; its a public place.

    its questionable to be honest.... i used to work in an office down there at night and at night its all gated and security with clamping.... and you can only clamp on private property ?

    im not sure but id say it anyway about it to the insurance company just to see


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    #25
    challengemaster
    Registered Users Posts: 16,931 ✭✭✭✭challengemaster


    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »
    Grand stuff...

    i know that car park to be a private car park.... with private clamping etc.

    i.e its private property.

    would i be right in saying your insurance company doesn't have to do anything because its private property ? ;)

    If it's not gated (ie. there's free access to vehicles) it's as djimi has said, it's a public place as defined in the RTA.


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    #26
    Larry Wildman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭Larry Wildman


    Cyrus wrote: »
    If it was my car you reversed into I'd be pissed to be honest you should have left a note whether it looked to you if there was damage or not

    There was no damage to either car...for sure.


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    #27
    repsol
    Registered Users Posts: 754 ✭✭✭repsol


    My mothers car was damaged in an Aldi car park last year.The other driver moved to the other side of the carpark and then went shopping as if nothing happened. Luckily a witness noted the other cars details and kindly waited for my mum to return to pass them on. My dad went to the Gardai and the guard dealing with it visited the owners home. We don't know what was said but the guard rang my dad and told him to call to a specific address the next evening to get the cost of repair (about 400 euro). My dad went to the guys house and he paid up no problem and said he didn't realise he hit the car and apologised. I don't know what the legal position was but the guard did a good job in fairness


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    #28
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »
    Grand stuff...

    i know that car park to be a private car park.... with private clamping etc.

    i.e its private property.

    would i be right in saying your insurance company doesn't have to do anything because its private property ? ;)

    Is this 'advice' or are you having a laugh at the OP?


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    #29
    Jesus.
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,794 ✭✭✭Jesus.


    djimi wrote: »
    To say what exactly? Sorry I bumped into your car; theres no damage but if you fancy an aul chat anyway heres my number?

    Don't you think the witness was right to inform on his fellow citizen????


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    #30
    Aint Eazy Being Cheezy
    Registered Users Posts: 4,630 ✭✭✭Aint Eazy Being Cheezy


    djimi wrote: »
    To say what exactly? Sorry I bumped into your car; theres no damage but if you fancy an aul chat anyway heres my number?

    Clever, aren't you?

    Maybe "I'm not qualified to inspect and diagnose any damage I may have done to your car just by standing and looking at it whilst scratching my nuts, so if you'd like to take it to a mechanic or panel beater and have it inspected, please do and then maybe give me a call on this number to arrange repairs."


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    #31
    Greenmachine
    Registered Users Posts: 5,063 ✭✭✭Greenmachine


    The Op is not in a position to say that there was no damage to the other car. Even a structural engineer would not be so quick to come to that conclusion.


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