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Alleged insurance incident in car park - what do we do?
A woman friend, aged about 80, has recently been accused by another woman of scraping her Mercedes in a public car park.
The Mercedes owner stated that, two weeks previously, she had parked next to a ‘light blue car with a boxy rear end’ and returned to find that her car had been damaged.
She claimed that my friend’s mid-blue Golf was the vehicle involved but offered no proof or witnesses, other than to claim that a mark on the Golf’s front plastic moulding was the contact point.
By this time the Mercedes was being repaired in the garage and its owner was driving a courtesy car, so there was no opportunity for any damage to be examined.
My friend’s insurance company has now informed her that the other company is pursuing a claim against her. I have examined the Golf, a seven year old car, and, apart from some age-related nicks, there is nothing to indicate a recent engagement with another vehicle.
Furthermore, my friend, although aware that a car was next to hers when she left the car park, is certain that she did not make contact with it on departure. Can you please advise where my friend stands and suggest a course of action?
The Mercedes owner stated that, two weeks previously, she had parked next to a ‘light blue car with a boxy rear end’ and returned to find that her car had been damaged.
She claimed that my friend’s mid-blue Golf was the vehicle involved but offered no proof or witnesses, other than to claim that a mark on the Golf’s front plastic moulding was the contact point.
By this time the Mercedes was being repaired in the garage and its owner was driving a courtesy car, so there was no opportunity for any damage to be examined.
My friend’s insurance company has now informed her that the other company is pursuing a claim against her. I have examined the Golf, a seven year old car, and, apart from some age-related nicks, there is nothing to indicate a recent engagement with another vehicle.
Furthermore, my friend, although aware that a car was next to hers when she left the car park, is certain that she did not make contact with it on departure. Can you please advise where my friend stands and suggest a course of action?
Asked on 30 March 2012 by Iwannajag
Answered by
Honest John
Tell the insurer to refuse the claim and let the matter go to court. Tell the insurer that if it pays out and penalises your friend in any way, your friend will sue the insurer for any loss.
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