Somebody broke my laptop, what can I do?

[TentMan]

I'm attending college in Wisconsin. In class today this guy kicked my backpack as he was walking past. I don't think it was intentional, but he broke my laptop. It won't turn on and the USB slots are too bent to accept anything.

I didn't get a look at his face since I didn't know he had broken anything at the time. I emailed my professor, and she gave me his name and email.

I've never had anything like this happen to me before, and I'm unsure what to do next. I haven't emailed him yet, and I'm wondering if I should just go ahead, email him and ask if he's willing to pay for repairs or replacement, or if there's something else I should do first.

 

[Just Blue]

I'm attending college in Wisconsin. In class today this guy kicked my backpack as he was walking past. I don't think it was intentional, but he broke my laptop. It won't turn on and the USB slots are too bent to accept anything.

I didn't get a look at his face since I didn't know he had broken anything at the time. I emailed my professor, and she gave me his name and email.

I've never had anything like this happen to me before, and I'm unsure what to do next. I haven't emailed him yet, and I'm wondering if I should just go ahead, email him and ask if he's willing to pay for repairs or replacement, or if there's something else I should do first.

Where was the backpack/laptop when it was kicked?

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

Well, you can email him and say, "Hello, you kicked my backpack in class the other day an broke my computer. Please send me a check for $XXX.XX."

When he stops laughing he will probably delete your email as he should because I think you would be hard pressed to prove he broke your computer.

How does one bend a slot?

 

[TentMan]

Where was the backpack/laptop when it was kicked?

It was leaning on the desk I was sitting at.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

It was leaning on the desk I was sitting at.

Where was it in relation to the walkway, is the question I think @Just Blue is asking.

 

[TentMan]

How does one bend a slot?

USB slots are sized pretty tight. It doesn't take much to bend them.

 

[TentMan]

Where was it in relation to the walkway, is the question I think @Just Blue is asking.

It was off to the side of the walkway.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

I just looked at three different laptops from three different makers. On all three one would have to kick the heck out of it to bend the slot because it is surrounded by the case.

 

[TentMan]

I just looked at three different laptops from three different makers. On all three one would have to kick the heck out of it to bend the slot because it is surrounded by the case.

He pretty-much did kick the heck out of it.

 

[Just Blue]

It was off to the side of the walkway.

So on the floor? That's really your own negligence.

 

[Zigner]

Why would you leave such a delicate piece of equipment in the walkway?

 

[TentMan]

Why would you leave such a delicate piece of equipment in the walkway?

Not hall-way, walk-way. The gap between desks in the class. I just had it leaning on the side of my desk.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

He pretty-much did kick the heck out of it.

I believe that had someone kicked the heck out of a backpack that held my computer I would have looked at that moment. But even if you did you would be hard pressed to prove the damage was caused by the kicker unless the damage matched his shoe.

 

[TentMan]

I believe that had someone kicked the heck out of a backpack that held my computer I would have looked at that moment. But even if you did you would be hard pressed to prove the damage was caused by the kicker unless the damage matched his shoe.

Even though I have at least one witness who saw him kick my laptop?

 

[Just Blue]

Not hall-way, walk-way. The gap between desks in the class. I just had it leaning on the side of my desk.

Walkway...That what Zig said. It's your own fault for putting your LT on the floor.