What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NY
After shopping at a supermarket, I returned my cart to the coral for shopping carts located up on the sidewalk in front of the store. There were several scattered shopping carts blocking the entrance to the actual coral, so I left my cart with the others and walked away. I did not see this actually happen as I had already walked away and was almost back to my car, but a man and his wife parked in the handicapped space (which is located directly in front of the coral) claimed that the cart that I put back rolled down the ramp and hit his car leaving a scratch. It was a windy day and several people were passing back and forth. I'm certain that the cart was stationary when I walked away from it. The man claims that since it was my cart and I did not make sure that it was put back properly, I am responsible. I did file an incident report with the store but he is threatening to take me to small claims court to have his car fixed. He doesn't want to go through his own insurance or pursue it through the store. He wants me to pay for it. Who would be responsible for the damage in a case like this? Thanks in advance.
After shopping at a supermarket, I returned my cart to the coral for shopping carts located up on the sidewalk in front of the store. There were several scattered shopping carts blocking the entrance to the actual coral, so I left my cart with the others and walked away. I did not see this actually happen as I had already walked away and was almost back to my car, but a man and his wife parked in the handicapped space (which is located directly in front of the coral) claimed that the cart that I put back rolled down the ramp and hit his car leaving a scratch. It was a windy day and several people were passing back and forth. I'm certain that the cart was stationary when I walked away from it. The man claims that since it was my cart and I did not make sure that it was put back properly, I am responsible. I did file an incident report with the store but he is threatening to take me to small claims court to have his car fixed. He doesn't want to go through his own insurance or pursue it through the store. He wants me to pay for it. Who would be responsible for the damage in a case like this? Thanks in advance.