QuestionI live in a townhome community where my assigned parking spot is in between 2 other spots. The people who live next to me (and thus park next to me) regularly open their car doors into my car scratching the paint off down to the metal. I have had enough of this damage to my car. I have talked to them about it and they say "Sorry, it won't happen again." But, of course, it does a few weeks later. What recourse do you think is best? I don't want to file a claim to get the repairs done if I don't need to. I want the people who have damaged my car to pay for the repairs. Thank you.
AnswerMike,
How inconsiderate! Well, you are in a tough position. This could be considered vandalism (if it were done on purpose), but before you go there . . . .
1. You need good evidence that they caused the damages. The best evidence is their admission of guilt. Try and get them to sign a statement or record them admitting to damaging your vehicle (on accident). Insurance doesn't cover intentional acts.
2. You need their auto insurance information. If they'll be honest with their insurer, then their insurance will pay for your damages and it shouldn't really affect their insurance rate too much unless they have had a lot of claims recently (a lot being more than two).
Simply be nice and see if you can get them to provide you with their auto insurance information and cooperate with filing a claim. The problem you have is proving that they caused the damages, so you need to get them to cooperate. Your other options:
1. Report their damaging actions to the authorities and hope it helps.
2. Resort to parking somewhere different at your own inconvenience and expense.
3. Litigate (you still have to prove they caused damages) either with an attorney (probably not worth it) or in small claims court.
I hope this helps.
