Damage to car (scraped by kid on bike)

Big Daddy Kane · 08-06-2021 4:24pm #1

Hi, parked at school. Sitting in car.

Child crashed (was going to fast or maybe didn't hit brake hard enough) he only about 6 years old. Accidents happen and he did look scared when i got out of car. Parent just ushered him to keep going and just blanked me.

Long story short, car is fairly new, I got out of my car when I heard him hitting it (with bike) parent ignored me and continiued to drop kid in school, I didn't want to make a scene but I feel the parent knew exactly what happened and played dumb.

What are my options? Its about 350.00e + Vat to repair it. I understand its cosmétic but just pissed me off this scrote gets to just walk away, no apologies, not a care in the World!

I have their address and name. Can the bill or letter be sent there from a solicitor?

Garda said it was a civil matter, unless it was intented as criminal act....

ohnonotgmail · 08-06-2021 4:28pm

It will cost you more than 350 to chase this. as for it being a criminal act, this was a 6 year old. Ridiculous to even this of it in those terms.

TheQ_Man · 08-06-2021 4:30pm

Just walk away. From the sounds of it if you chase them for the costs you’ll suffer far far worse if they know you/where you live. It’s an unfortunate but true fact of life given his you’ve described the parent.

Big Daddy Kane · 08-06-2021 4:31pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

It will cost you more than 350 to chase this. as for it being a criminal act, this was a 6 year old. Ridiculous to even this of it in those terms.

Sorry i wasn't suggesting it was criminal act. That's why I mentioned the childs age.

I rang garda to seek advice only.

So I should just pony up and take it on the chin?

I was asking what my options are

Mimon · 08-06-2021 4:31pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

It will cost you more than 350 to chase this. as for it being a criminal act, this was a 6 year old. Ridiculous to even this of it in those terms.

The way I read it the OP was asking the Guards about the situation and repeating what they said, he wasn't thinking of it being a criminal act.

I think the behaviour of the parent would make me want to pursue it. Horrible example to the child.

Big Daddy Kane · 08-06-2021 4:34pm

TheQ_Man wrote: »

Just walk away. From the sounds of it if you chase them for the costs you’ll suffer far far worse if they know you/where you live. It’s an unfortunate but true fact of life given his you’ve described the parent.

Yeah probably best, Jesús an apology would have been the decent thing to do.

Some wonder where the kids get it from, no sense of ownership or responsibility!

Smee_Again · 08-06-2021 4:36pm

If it was me I'd get it repaired, pay it and then had the bill to the parent and ask them to reimburse you.

If they do, great, but if they don't then as annoying as it is I'd forget about it.

ohnonotgmail · 08-06-2021 4:38pm

Big Daddy Kane wrote: »

Sorry i wasn't suggesting it was criminal act. That's why I mentioned the childs age.

I rang garda to seek advice only.

So I should just pony up and take it on the chin?

I was asking what my options are

your options are to take it on the chin.

Big Daddy Kane · 08-06-2021 4:39pm

Smee_Again wrote: »

If it was me I'd get it repaired, pay it and then had the bill to the parent and ask them to reimburse you.

If they do, great, but if they don't then as annoying as it is I'd forget about it.

I plan on getting it repaired anyway, its not huge but enough to enable rust to develop etc..

This parent wouldn't be approachable. The fact they blanked me suggests they will burn any bill or letter.

Best I can hope for is the child grows up and doesn't follow mothers examples.....

ohnonotgmail · 08-06-2021 4:39pm

Mimon wrote: »

The way I read it the OP was asking the Guards about the situation and repeating what they said, he wasn't thinking of it being a criminal act.

I think the behaviour of the parent would make me want to pursue it. Horrible example to the child.

the behaviour of the parents should have no bearing on whether the OP pursues this.

BettePorter · 08-06-2021 4:53pm

Almost same thing happened me years ago, driving into my estate and as i rounded corner girl on bike with no brakes whatsoever coming down passenger side at speed . i stopped dead and she went the whole length of door with steel brakes. I got out and she thought i was gonna kill her but tbh i was more grateful i hadn't killed her !!! she ran off with bike leaving me standing looking at damage. I thought about going looking for her but i know how that would have went...suddenly i'd probably have a 'so you hit my child with the car ' defense.

So i just put it down to experience and thanked christ she hadnt been hurt. But if the parent had been with her that would have been a different story i think.

You could at lease go to them and say, 'so we need to talk about what happened the the other day' making them aware you know well they saw what happened.

Mimon · 08-06-2021 4:56pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

the behaviour of the parents should have no bearing on whether the OP pursues this.

Of course it does. It's a normal human reaction to stick it to aholes with ****ty attitudes.

dubrov · 08-06-2021 4:57pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

the behaviour of the parents should have no bearing on whether the OP pursues this.

It would for me. If the parent came over and profusely apologised, I'd be inclined to let it go.

If they blatantly ignored it, I'd be more likely to chase it.

jimmycrackcorm · 08-06-2021 4:59pm

Big Daddy Kane wrote: »

So I should just pony up and take it on the chin?

I was asking what my options are

A number of years I came back to my car in a car park to find it had been keyed all along both sides. No way of finding the culprit so I had to just pony up and take it on the chin.

That's life.

ohnonotgmail · 08-06-2021 5:00pm

Mimon wrote: »

Of course it does. It's a normal human reaction to stick it to aholes with ****ty attitudes.

are you familiar with the phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face"?

08-06-2021 5:00pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

the behaviour of the parents should have no bearing on whether the OP pursues this.

Big US medical insurance study discovered that the doctors that got sued the most weren't the ones who made the most mistakes but the ones who were arrogant or dismissive with their patients.

ohnonotgmail · 08-06-2021 5:01pm

dubrov wrote: »

It would for me. If the parent came over and profusely apologised, I'd be inclined to let it go.

If they blatantly ignored it, I'd be more likely to chase it.

so you would spend money chasing money you will never get? a really smart reaction.

ozmo · 08-06-2021 5:01pm

Its why I dont have a nice car - all cars I had got mystery dings and scrapes while parked and I was away from car - no respect for cars in this country.

Big Daddy Kane · 08-06-2021 5:02pm

I'll have to think further about this. Part of me wants to pursue it, not for financial gain, but principle of the matter.

Other part of me thinks better to let sleeping dogs lie, for the sake of 360e I could be getting dogs abuse dropping kids to school.

I now park well away from the gate of school, at least chances of that happening (again) will be slim.

Poor kid really. Only a baby but yet already taught to avoid any responsibility.

Bannasidhe · 08-06-2021 5:04pm

I am awaiting the arrival of a touch up pen to repair the scratches on my car from the local kid's bikes.

On both sides.

Mimon · 08-06-2021 5:05pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

are you familiar with the phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face"?

Principles matter, it's not just about the money. Might be an education for the kid to show their parent having to be an responsible adult.

qwerty13 · 08-06-2021 5:11pm

It shouldn’t be a consideration, but if it were me, I’d take into account what siblings the 6yo has, and whether they were in any of the same classes as my kids, and whether the responsibility-dodging parent is on any school committees that could affect you/your kids.

It would annoy me, but I’d be surprised if you get anywhere re getting the money back - so why cause yourself/your kids grief over something that you’re unlikely to succeed with. I’d more than likely just pay it myself and park well away from the gates. Save your battles over principles for ones that don’t potentially impact your kids.

Mimon · 08-06-2021 5:14pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

so you would spend money chasing money you will never get? a really smart reaction.

Yeh we get it, you are thinking of only the money. Other people believe in principles, do you not get that?

bertsmom · 08-06-2021 5:17pm

Tbh I think I'd want to send a letter to the parents stating the cost of repairing the damage their kid did and that you are pursuing the matter. Then I would actually just walk away from it knowing you probably won't get the money but to me the principle of the matter is the parent is an absolute wagon for not apologising and offering to pay but it's all to common that parents are bull headed about their kids damage to property in my experience.
I'd send the letter just giving the parents something to have annoying them in the back of their heads as they go.

ohnonotgmail · 08-06-2021 5:20pm

Mimon wrote: »

Yeh we get it, you are thinking of only the money. Other people believe in principles, do you not get that?

this is the legal discussion forum not AH.

Mimon · 08-06-2021 5:49pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

this is the legal discussion forum not AH.

:rolleyes:

The motives of the OP will affect how he proceeds with this so is relevant in this discussion.

hullaballoo · 08-06-2021 5:49pm

Similar thread a while back where we had a discussion on this point.

Children are not liable for tortious acts.

From a legal point of view, there is nothing to "pursue" here. If a child damages your property either get it repaired or don't but no one else is going to pay for it.

Del2005 · 08-06-2021 10:42pm

Mimon wrote: »

Principles matter, it's not just about the money. Might be an education for the kid to show their parent having to be an responsible adult.

With our system you don't have to be a responsible adult. There's no way to get money off people if they aren't willing to pay. So even if the child could be held responsible there's zero chance that someone who looked at their child damaging someone else's property and walked off is going to pay for it.

Peregrinus · 09-06-2021 2:50am

This is why you have insurance, people.

You'll be using your car in a public space. Public spaces include children. Children have poor foresight and poor judgment and cause accidental damage all the time; it is unreasonable and unrealistic to think that this won't happen. There is no principle of law under which the adults who are most closely related to children are liable for the accidental damage the children cause. If a child accidentally damages your car, nobody is obliged to compensate you for this.

09-06-2021 4:48am

Mimon wrote: »

Principles matter, it's not just about the money. Might be an education for the kid to show their parent having to be an responsible adult.

How so? They are not liable.

09-06-2021 5:34am

Not necessarily the OP, but lots of cars parking on footpaths near schools. Interesting to know they do so at their own risk if damaged by kids.

Irishphotodesk · 09-06-2021 6:14am

Mimon wrote: »

Principles matter, it's not just about the money. Might be an education for the kid to show their parent having to be an responsible adult.

Do you really believe that any child would be kept in the loop about what's happening, this child is approx 6 -where the parent has already avoided responsibility, I would suggest any bill/solicitor letter would result in the child getting the blame (within the household) and punished internally, whether or not the family pay up.

Let's assume that the family are a low income earner or like most people were unable to work over the past 12-15months, money would be very tight and the family may not be able to afford the repairs.

Personally I would be inclined to ask the parent, but, would try to judge their situation, ultimately it would result in me paying for it.

On a side note, when a criminal is sent to jail, do you think the parent that's at home tells the kids it's because daddy did something illegal and got caught or do you think they tell them the gardai took daddy away and put him into jail?

tscul32 · 09-06-2021 8:26am

Won't help you this time but you could mention it to the school and they might send a "watch your kids on their bikes, cars being damaged" note/message to all parents. We regularly get these kinds of messages about parking, damage etc.

ted1 · 09-06-2021 12:24pm

tscul32 wrote: »

Won't help you this time but you could mention it to the school and they might send a "watch your kids on their bikes, cars being damaged" note/message to all parents. We regularly get these kinds of messages about parking, damage etc.

our school do this by asking parents not to park so close to the school and park legally.

In fact they encourage kids to scoot or cycle, and unlike others here, the parents who are bringing their kids to school using sustainable and healthy transport are giving their kids a better head start than those who get dropped off on the doorstep

ittakestwo · 09-06-2021 1:16pm

Peregrinus wrote: »

This is why you have insurance, people.

You'll be using your car in a public space. Public spaces include children. Children have poor foresight and poor judgment and cause accidental damage all the time; it is unreasonable and unrealistic to think that this won't happen. There is no principle of law under which the adults who are most closely related to children are liable for the accidental damage the children cause. If a child accidentally damages your car, nobody is obliged to compensate you for this.

Is this true in Ireland?

ohnonotgmail · 09-06-2021 2:57pm

ittakestwo wrote: »

Is this true in Ireland?

yes. parents are not vicariously liable for torts committed by their children.

Big Daddy Kane · 09-06-2021 3:04pm

Okay all, thanks for replies.

I have decided to take this on the chin and pony up the cost of repair. As mentioned here, I wouldn't want the child to suffer or be on the receiveing end of abuse.

Lessons learned, I hope the mother can change (ha!) but no point pursuing.. lost cause.

Might have to set up a go fund me page ^_^

Fann Linn · 09-06-2021 3:14pm

I enjoy sitting in supermarket car parks watching the idiotic gob****es bounce their trollies up and down paths and into cars without a care in the world. That's even before the clowns looking for parking tip back and forwards into other parked cars. I try to stay well away from these entrances and exits.

Dial Hard · 09-06-2021 3:58pm

Big Daddy Kane wrote: »

Okay all, thanks for replies.

I have decided to take this on the chin and pony up the cost of repair. As mentioned here, I wouldn't want the child to suffer or be on the receiveing end of abuse.

Lessons learned, I hope the mother can change (ha!) but no point pursuing.. lost cause.

Might have to set up a go fund me page ^_^

Did you actually approach the mother, OP, or did you just get out of your car and hope she'd come to you? It's not really clear from your description.

Mimon · 09-06-2021 4:07pm

Del2005 wrote: »

With our system you don't have to be a responsible adult. There's no way to get money off people if they aren't willing to pay. So even if the child could be held responsible there's zero chance that someone who looked at their child damaging someone else's property and walked off is going to pay for it.

Are you joking? Anyone with an ounce of decency would offer to pay for the damage. Obviously truly in a post honour society if you think no one would.

jrosen · 09-06-2021 4:15pm

I dont think you should take this on the chin. You have nothing to loose an all to gain by approaching the parent of the child. Maybe they didn't notice the damage, maybe they were pissed off and paying no heed. Either way I think you should approach them. Some people pay up out of shame and embarrassment and others wont care.

Calahonda52 · 09-06-2021 4:16pm

OP, how did you get the name and address?

starbaby2003 · 09-06-2021 4:30pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

Did you actually approach the mother, OP, or did you just get out of your car and hope she'd come to you? It's not really clear from your description.

Exactly this, how do you know the parent noticed the damage. The parent may just have been concerned about their kid. Were you parked legally? Be careful you don’t open a can of worms for yourself.

Big Daddy Kane · 09-06-2021 4:58pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

Did you actually approach the mother, OP, or did you just get out of your car and hope she'd come to you? It's not really clear from your description.

Yes, I was in the car, i saw the kid coming down the ramp (its a hill and the way its laid out ) basically hit my car BANG, kids Mother walking behind alone, told kid to keep going, I got out and called the Mother, excuse me etc.. about 5 times, no response. Looked at me and then kept walking . I didn't want to cause a scene. Kid went into school, Mother went on home.

What could I do, im.not going to shout etc..

So yes, she was approached, my feeling is she would deny anything and her kid was going to keep quiet.

09-06-2021 4:59pm

Big Daddy Kane wrote: »

I'll have to think further about this. Part of me wants to pursue it, not for financial gain, but principle of the matter.

Other part of me thinks better to let sleeping dogs lie, for the sake of 360e I could be getting dogs abuse dropping kids to school.

I now park well away from the gate of school, at least chances of that happening (again) will be slim.

Poor kid really. Only a baby but yet already taught to avoid any responsibility.

I have to ask, why didn't you wait until the parent had dropped of their child, and then approached them as they were leaving the school to point out the damage that had been done?

If you didn't confront them at the time the damage happened, they are going to deny anything to do with it now?

Edit: I see others have asked, and you've answered this already

Big Daddy Kane · 09-06-2021 5:01pm

jrosen wrote: »

I dont think you should take this on the chin. You have nothing to loose an all to gain by approaching the parent of the child. Maybe they didn't notice the damage, maybe they were pissed off and paying no heed. Either way I think you should approach them. Some people pay up out of shame and embarrassment and others wont care.

Hi, sorry, this "parent" knew well what happened, the kid called her when hit my car, she told him to keep going. Ignored me, the least you would do is deny it or tell me to **** off.

She did nothing, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

Big Daddy Kane · 09-06-2021 5:05pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I have to ask, why didn't you wait until the parent had dropped of their child, and then approached them as they were leaving the school to point out the damage that had been done?

If you didn't confront them at the time the damage happened, they are going to deny anything to do with it now?

As i mentioned, this parent is a scrote, the fact they ignored me when I called her and was only us there at the time. Showing her my car would acheive nothing.

As a side, the kid now gets dropped to school and doesn't ride the bike.

Rules of the World (chavs) deny everything, even if it is in plain site. She should have apologised and offered to pay half, at least, or just apologised!

Big Daddy Kane · 09-06-2021 5:06pm

starbaby2003 wrote: »

Exactly this, how do you know the parent noticed the damage. The parent may just have been concerned about their kid. Were you parked legally? Be careful you don’t open a can of worms for yourself.

Parked legally. 100%. The kid didn't brake. Hit my car. Damaged it. Parent was told (by kid) parent told kid to " keep going "

DuffleBag · 09-06-2021 5:23pm

If it was me, and money wasn't an issue so to speak, I'd see it through purely to teach the parent a lesson. But I'm stubborn and spiteful, so it's up to you OP. Pay for it yourself and take it on the chin, or see it through.

ohnonotgmail · 09-06-2021 6:01pm

DuffleBag wrote: »

If it was me, and money wasn't an issue so to speak, I'd see it through purely to teach the parent a lesson. But I'm stubborn and spiteful, so it's up to you OP. Pay for it yourself and take it on the chin, or see it through.

see what through? the parent isn't liable. would you be hoping to get an instalment order on the kids pocket money?

Milly33 · 09-06-2021 6:04pm

Feck that crap, I would be taking it further with the parent.. They should have apologized for it and so should the kid 6 or not.Sounds like they are arseholes. Sick of this kinda stuff happening today no one has any respect

Damage to car (scraped by kid on bike)

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