My Car was Parked, Quite Happily

carlostevez90

until someone who was obv trying to park in the bay in front of me, clipped around where my reg is and its slightly bent, it was dark so couldnt see any marks at the time but ther seems to be a paint mark at the side, didnt see it so only surmissing, what action can i take? and what recourse could i get?

craichoe

carlostevez90 wrote: »

until someone who was obv trying to park in the bay in front of me, clipped around where my reg is and its slightly bent, it was dark so couldnt see any marks at the time but ther seems to be a paint mark at the side, didnt see it so only surmissing, what action can i take? and what recourse could i get?

Don't bother, the hassle you will go to will eat up more of your time than its worth.

carlostevez90

Ye?
if someone on my road saw though, what could i get done to the motorist
thanks for the speedy reply

Martron

take photos of both cars. take the reg of the other car. right a brief note saying that their car has obviously damaged your. and state that if they do not call you that it will be a matter for the guards.

usually gets a prompt responnse. if they ring you up and say it was not them you really cant do much else because you have no reall proof it was them. but if they ring you up and apoligise .... game on.

carlostevez90

No, they drove away, the bay in front was empty, but my car wasbnt marked when i left it.

Anan1

Maybe start by looking at it in the daylight? And remember - it's a bumper.:)

Martron

carlostevez90 wrote: »

Ye?
if someone on my road saw though, what could i get done to the motorist
thanks for the speedy reply

there is no evidence to suggest that they did it. unlss you actually had a reg plate and got them to say it was them there really nothing you can do. if its just a ding i would not bother with it to be honest. its just the way people treat things these days.

carlostevez90

so i shouldnt get all pissed off?

Martron

Anan1 wrote: »

Maybe start by looking at it in the daylight? And remember - it's a bumper.:)

its a bumper but not a reversing aid!!!

carlostevez90

i agree
what ould the gaurds do iff they found the chap/girl?

Martron

carlostevez90 wrote: »

so i shouldnt get all pissed off?

i would be pissed!!!! but chances of finding the suspect is pretty slim i would imagine.

Martron

carlostevez90 wrote: »

i agree
what ould the gaurds do iff they found the chap/girl?

if they really wanted to they could say that would be leaving the scene of an accident. but in my experience and i hate to say this they usually just file it in the unsolved "filing cabinet/ bin"

carlostevez90

but thats not what theyre there for
like, i wouldnt want them charged with something serious,
i mean, i few quid for paintd be nice

Anan1

carlostevez90 wrote: »

so i shouldnt get all pissed off?

No. What's the point? Trying to keep a car perfect in Dublin is a game for masochists. That's what bumpers are there for - keep this attitude and your motoring life will be a lot happier.:)

carlostevez90

yeah, and im trying to sell it
has this happened anyone on boards?
and whatve they done

Martron

dont get me wrong i dont like getting people into troble but it boils my blood when people do that.... although its a few quid for paint or whatever. ..... but why she he pay it!

craichoe

Unless you, or a third party saw them do it and is willing to make a statement to the Gardai there is absolutely NOTHING they can do.

Unless theres video footage of the incident.

carlostevez90

so lets say i found out
would i get them in serious trouble if i reported it, i think i'll ask neighbours later if they saw

Anan1

If you managed to prove it was them, then i'd imagine the Gardai would give them the option of paying you for the damage or being prosecuted.

carlostevez90

Anan1 wrote: »

If you managed to prove it was them, then i'd imagine the Gardai would give them the option of paying you for the damage or being prosecuted.

atm with my anger id prosecute
could i force points or whatever?

carlostevez90

would the gaurds even care?:rolleyes:

Martron

guards would try and settle it outside legal proceedings. at the end of the day it does not sond like much was damaged and nobody was hurt so as far as the guards would be concerned its up to you to sort it out.

not sure if the guards would even be able to give you name and address of person even if you got reg plate

carlostevez90

Right, Im in Work Atm,
So lets say i go home, Ask a Neighbour, and they Tell me they took down the Reg.
Could i go to the Gaurds on That?.

Martron

i dont see why not. but when the guard asks you what damage was done to your car and you say he bent my reg plate i will assume they may laugh at you

Anan1

What reg? There could have been several cars parked beside you, how could anyone prove which (if any) car did the damage?

carlostevez90

but th paint too?
can gaurds just take that attitude?

carlostevez90

Anan1 wrote: »

What reg? There could have been several cars parked beside you, how could anyone prove which (if any) car did the damage?

if a neighbour saw them

daveharnett

carlostevez90 wrote: »

Right, Im in Work Atm,
So lets say i go home, Ask a Neighbour, and they Tell me they took down the Reg.
Could i go to the Gaurds on That?.

Yes. How seriously they'd take it would be another matter.

"can gaurds just take that attitude?" - yes. they are not in the business of making work for themselves. They will take the position that this is a civil disagreement, and not a criminal matter.

The most i'd hope for would be a police phone call to the other driver and an agreement to pay for repair costs.

Wouldn't say that the odds are good though. Sorry for your trouble.

Martron

some can be quite helpful ......( if you catch them on a good day) but proving that it was the other car will be the problem.

faceman

Jaysus calm down OP, i can relate to your anger but whoa there ted!

Unfortunately unless you have proof, i.e. a witness or video footage then there is bog all you can do. And i wouldnt go making accusations without proof or you will end up in hot water!

The gardai wont get involved anyway as no one was hurt. You would need to follow up with their insurance company.

carlostevez90

so if it happened you
would you just leave it
might just get a paint stick from a car shop

carlostevez90

and how do you follow up with insurance?

faceman

carlostevez90 wrote: »

so if it happened you
would you just leave it
might just get a paint stick from a car shop

it happened to me in a multi-story car park. Wheel arch was dented. No CCTV footage and no witnesses. You are wasting your time and energy dude.

carlostevez90

and the witnesses would just be hear-say, its lose lose

Anan1

carlostevez90 wrote: »

if a neighbour saw them

That's not proof!

craichoe

carlostevez90 wrote: »

but th paint too?
can gaurds just take that attitude?

Its the Gardai, not CSI.

listermint

Just get a colour match stick. If its that bad rub it back lightly with wet and dry sandpaper first. It doesnt sound that bad, however you havent elaborated on it.

Your best bet is to move on. its not nice but sh*t happens

If get so worked up over little things you will only end up with a hernia...

Rowley Birkin QC

Any chance of a picture of this damage OP?

I honestly can't see the guards getting excited about this, my window got smashed, door bent back and phone stolen in Dublin city centre about 9 months ago. Rang the law just in case I needed anything if I decided to use my insurance afterwards and was met with "What do you want me to do about it?".

Granted on another occasion my wallet was stolen from the car they were excellent about it, full "CSI" examination, kept in touch with me and eventually caught the guy, a strung out guy from Dublin who they connected with a string of break ins from the evidence gathered from my car.

Though that was in Cork, a better class of people all round

carlostevez90

Thanks
bought colour match stick, looks fine
its just the principle you know
would my neighbour seeing them be proof enough for the law?

Anan1

carlostevez90 wrote: »

Thanks
bought colour match stick, looks fine
its just the principle you know
would my neighbour seeing them be proof enough for the law?

We all agree with you on the principle, but look at it this way - how much stress and anger have you allowed this to cause you so far? As I implied in my very first post, life is too short to get upset about marks on bumpers.:)

carlostevez90

Yeah, im gonna leave it this time. just im thinkin i got off lucky, but if lets say my whell arch was smashed or something serious, what do i do,is a witness enough? im really about tentative parking in the capital now

Anan1

The only way to make sure nothing happens to your car is to keep it at home in a fortified garage. Just accept that it's a car and that cars get marked. Kind of like shoes, really.:)