Need your opinion

[vert310]

Phildelphia, PA.


My car was parked on a short driveway but parked lengthwise parallel to the garage door. My rear left tire was sticking out of the driveway into a small alley. Well a guy across the alleyway back out of his garage and hit my driver's side door. He was nice enough to leave a note but then when I started to talk to him, he was suggesting we split the cost of the door repair. He said it was my fault that I was sticking like a foot of the driveway. I was furious with the guy. Still havent figured out what to do. I dont get how if I got hit I have to pay for any of the damage. I dont want to have to get insurance involved. This guy even claiimed he couldn't really see that well out of his car because he had stuff in it. I figure, even if I was sticking out a bit, that doesnt give him the right to hit me. BTW, I live in Philly so I dont know the laws that apply to this. Some of my friends suggested me to sue him if he doesnt pay for all of it. I have no idea what to do. I'm not sure if the police got involved, it would be my fault or not. The alley is pretty small, but I made sure to leave enough room for a car to fit through. What do you guys think?

Minh

 

[seniorjudge]

Phildelphia, PA.


My car was parked on a short driveway but parked lengthwise parallel to the garage door. My rear left tire was sticking out of the driveway into a small alley. Well a guy across the alleyway back out of his garage and hit my driver's side door. He was nice enough to leave a note but then when I started to talk to him, he was suggesting we split the cost of the door repair. He said it was my fault that I was sticking like a foot of the driveway. I was furious with the guy. Still havent figured out what to do. I dont get how if I got hit I have to pay for any of the damage. I dont want to have to get insurance involved. This guy even claiimed he couldn't really see that well out of his car because he had stuff in it. I figure, even if I was sticking out a bit, that doesnt give him the right to hit me. BTW, I live in Philly so I dont know the laws that apply to this. Some of my friends suggested me to sue him if he doesnt pay for all of it. I have no idea what to do. I'm not sure if the police got involved, it would be my fault or not. The alley is pretty small, but I made sure to leave enough room for a car to fit through. What do you guys think?

Minh

Sue him in small claims court for the dollar amount of the damage; there is no such thing as "negligent parking".

 

[teflon_jones]

Yup, doesn't matter how you park, it's his fault for backing into you. Illegal parking is a criminal matter while damage to your car is a civil matter. They're unrelated in your case.