Car damage

[RJ732009]

i left furniture (a drawer from under bed) outside my flat when moving out - it fell and made VERY SMALL dent in parked car next to it...driver has told me will contact solicitor if i don't pay for 'damage' - am i responsible? This happened in London but I no longer live in the UK.

[FindLaw_Duncan]

Please can you tell us exactly where you left the drawer. For example, did you (or somebody else?) place it within falling distance of the car?

And how did the drawer fall onto the car? For example, did you knock it over?

Did the driver see the drawer fall? How did he find out it caused the damage?

Legally, the driver might argue that you were negligent and so you should pay compensation to repair the damage caused to the car.

To learn more about the laws of negligence, read:

• Negligence law: overview
  
• Rules for proving fault in accidents

As the above articles explain, if you failed to do something a reasonable person would have done, or conversely did something that a reasonable and prudent person would not have done, a court might find you liable for the damage.

Of course, there is the complicating fact that you no longer live in the UK, which would make enforcement of any court decision against you difficult.

(Do you ever plan to return to the UK or own property in this country?)

Also, since you say that the drawer made only a very small dent in the car, the driver may decide that the damage is too trivial and not worth contacting a solicitor or commencing legal action against you.

Hope the above helps. Feel free to respond to this thread if anything remains unclear or you have additional questions.

-FindLaw Moderation Team

[khurram_694]

i left furniture (a drawer from under bed) outside my flat when moving out - it fell and made VERY SMALL dent in parked car next to it...driver has told me will contact solicitor if i don't pay for 'damage' - am i responsible? This happened in London but I no longer live in the UK.

hi
i feel sorry for you because if it is only a dent then he should ignore it. Anyhow you can get reasonable information by using the keywords like "accidentatwork" at your internet search.

[Solad2b]

A dent remove firm would charge £50 - £100 to repair a small dent, You could offer to pay direct to a repairer (to stop him keeping the money) OR , was he parked on the pavement? did he contribute to the accident by parking "in the way" .... If you think he could have contributed to the accident tell him you will pay for half the bill when he gives you his share.... My preferred option is however is ask for his insurance details for you to negotiate with, this will cost him way more than he could of scammed out of you.... why not go the "Whole hog"? ask the Police"Is this man blackmailing me?" ...." he didnt leave his details (insurance) = guilty of road traffic act offence!

[chelseylewis]

i left furniture (a drawer from under bed) outside my flat when moving out - it fell and made VERY SMALL dent in parked car next to it...driver has told me will contact solicitor if i don't pay for 'damage' - am i responsible? This happened in London but I no longer live in the UK.

If it is really a small dent, then it's a strange thing that a person is contacted with a solicitor to handle the claim of 50 to 100 GBP. You must offer him to solve this issue outside the court.