Minor car bump

[Shazza36]

My 18 year old son was driving my car (he is insured on it), out of the school car park when he damaged a parked car. The car was illegally parked on double yellow lines around a mini roundabout in the entrance to the school, my son was avoiding a pupil he stepped into the road and just touched the parked car, it was so minor he didn;t know he had done it. I haven't seen the damaged car yet I'm going to meet the driver at school this afetrnoon, but a teacher saw what happened and said the mark could be 'T Cut' out and that the school would report the driver for his parking. My car has a black scuff mark on it which looks like it has gone against plastic trim and looks like it will rub off. The driver initially wanted insurance details off my son which obviously he didn't know and I haven't given them to him as I spoke to the drivers son on the phone and he said he didn't want to go through insurance companies. What should I do? My son said the driver pointed out a white mark on his car that looked like it had been scraped downwards and the car had lots of other scratches and dints in it, but the mark on my car gous horizontal and is below the trim right near the bottom of the back wing. I don;t know whether I should offer to buy him so 'T Cut', pay for the damage or tell him to go to the police if he is that bothered as he was illegally parked and we have a photo of his parking. Any suggestions???TIA

[Twenty20]

Either the person your son drove into can go the insurance route or he could sue you for the repair costs. I don't think that not giving your insurance details is a good idea if there's been an accident - no matter how minor you think it was. Give him the details and leave it up to them either to claim on the insurance or to make a claim against you. I'd guess that, given the hassle, they'll probably forget about it if it really is that minor.

I'm slightly surprised though that school kids feel the need to drive to school these days!

[jake-the-peg]

The fact that he was illegally parked is pretty irrelevant.

I'd certainly not suggest he go to the police as they may well bring charges against your son for careless driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

If he wants to avoid insurance companies (and lets face it although you're obliged to tell them all that'll happen is you'll both end up with higher premiums) I'd be tempted to ask him to get a quote and take it from there.

That is provided that everybody's on speaking terms and nobody got into a name calling contest.

And Twenty - we don't all live in cities you know, my kids go to school 15 miles away with no transport as it's across a county boundary - rather looking forward to when my son can drive himself to school!

[Shazza36]

He drives to school after finishing his part time job in the morning, he wouldn't get to school on time if he didn't, he also brings his girlfriend and my other son home from school (saving me �26 a month in his bus fares and the other parent the same) and picks me up from work as its on the way home saving me another �5 per week. So he doesn't just take the car for the fun of it.

[mattie]

I would exchange insurance details, even though you may settle the matter yourselves.

I think that you have to report any accident to your insurance company even though you don't make a claim

I was hit from behind by an MP (military policeman), he offered to and did pay for the damage to my car, but I reported it to my insurance company anyway.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

your son hit the other car,end of story,whether the car was parked illegally or not,and as for not giving him your insurance details,he does not need them,just your reg number will do,his insurance company can get all your details from that,and you say there was a witness,that your son hit the car,you dont have a leg to stand on,sort it out with the other car owner or he will go through his insurance and that could cost you a lot more in the future.

[Androcles]

The advice you have been given is correct, illegal parking does not get you off the hook.

I had a similar accident with a car belonging to a guy who regularly parks illegally in a position which makes it difficult for people who are parked legally to maneouvre, which is what made me hit him. My fault and put my hand up, but I couldn't help feeling a bit peeved about it.

Fortunately I spotted him parked in the same selfish place a week later and lo and behold, there was a PCSO just around the corner, to whom I gave some helpful information on which he acted..... Made me feel a bit better!

[Shazza36]

I sorted it- gave the chap �15 for a tin of bumper restorer as it was actually only the plastic strip within the bumper that had been caught-it just looked scuffed if it had been done to my car I wouldn't have bothered about it it just needed a slight bit of sanding to get the rough edge off. He did however try to get a new bumper out of me as there was a scrape below the plastic strip which I pointed out was impossible for my car to have done-he did then own up and say no it wasn't done by my car so I suggested he get who ever did that damage to pay for the bumper and he could always put my �15 towards that. I also pointed out that he was endangering the pupils of the school by parking illegally. My son says he parks there most days so he's going to report him next time as there are usually PCSO's or Police around at the end of school- (says alot about the school). Thanks for all your answers. :)

[LAW_DROP-OUT]

iwas compensated some years ago . by ~motor insurers bureau - i was hit in the rear , i later reported it to the police ( traffic division took the incident over ,,,,,, hes prosecuted undue car aatn etc ,,,, and no insurance !!) ....... he was dq for 3 months ,,,,,, - he looked like he was going to a prayer meeting in ....finsbury park , the way he was dressed .......

[LAW_DROP-OUT]

SHAZZA 36 ... HI FRM- A level drop out - " AS you say HE WAS ILLEGALLY PARKED " , when his vehicle was hit - WILL ONLY HAVE ANY RELEVANCE IF THE "police were to get involved and PROSECUTE him for dangerous driving which is UNLIKELY ..... NO DOUBT IF THE ACCIDENT IS REPORTED THRU , INSURER(s) .... you will put down REGARDING HIS "hazardus parking " .......