Airstud From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 1855 posts, RR: 1 Posted (8 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1654 times:
A lot of you saw my cargo-bay-worthy post a week ago about how I am now the proud lessee of a bright red ("Barcelona Red," as Toyota calls it) 2012 Toyota Corolla LE. I've not had a car for a long time (and the cars I have had on occasions in the past were total unreliable crapwagons; but that's neither here nor there). I didn't have a car when I moved into my current apartment building two years ago. So I am only now discovering my parking space, and there's a big ol' concrete pillar where there shouldn't be!! It is in fact possible to get my Corolla into the space, but only barely so, as it is the last space against the garage wall. Its location thus prevents me from taking a wide left turn that I'd need to take to get in there safely past the pillar.
I got the car in there alright after work Friday (I picked up the car on Friday afternoon, and I am a night-shift dude so I got home from work early Saturday morning). Saturday afternoon, I was pulling the car out and.... scccrrrrrrape. There is no body damage to the car; but the paint is scraped. I'm taking it to the dealership Friday to see what the best course o' action is (I suspect just a paint touch-up - since this is a lease and I don't expect I'll be buying when the lease is up, it's important to me to keep the car as pristine as possible).
So a coupla questions: Is it wise or unwise to bring this to the attention of the insurance people? Is my comprehensive premium going to go up; will they put a thing on my policy that says, "Driver is enough of a gooficus to scrape against a concrete pillar; bad risk for comprehensive?" I don't want them doing that; and if the paint touch-up is inexpensive enough I doubt it'd be worth whatever dent (heh heh) this would make in my deductible.
But the main question I have is, what do you suppose the chances are of garnering some sort of compensation (toward the re-paintitude) from the building? A couple of my co-workers said I should pursue this. Yes it is I who scraped against the pillar; only, with that pillar there, my space is noticeably narrower than the others. And this is a very nice, luxury-type building, with vaunted "Award-Winning Customamer Service" and everything. I dunno, though. It seems like a silly expectation.
Hopefully they can assign me a better space. They assign one space per apartment (not per resident), and from the bulletin board in the mailbox lobby, I surmise there aren't many spares.
In any event, I will tell the building management my strong conviction that this pillared space should be set aside each month for whoever pays their rent last.
Probably. Some insurance companies don't get too worked up and give may give you a pass. It will probably be cheaper to pay out of pocket, even though dealers charge exuberant rates, especially for body work.
Quoting Airstud (Thread starter): what do you suppose the chances are of garnering some sort of compensation (toward the re-paintitude) from the building?
RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6276 posts, RR: 23 Reply 2, posted (8 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1614 times:
Assuming the concrete post didn't leap out at you and attack your car, then you have pretty much no chance I would imagine. You scraped your car against an inanimate object, so it's your fault. If you didn't think the space was adequate then you shouldn't have put the car in there to start with. May sound harsh, but I fear that is the attitude you are likely to face.
moo From Falkland Islands, joined May 2007, 3596 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (8 months 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1596 times:
I think what might also go against you is the fact that it seems that you haven't complained about the parking space before, and it doesn't sound as if you moved into the apartment building recently - yes, you just got a car, but your lack of previous complaint could be argued as an implicit acceptance of the situation.
bristolflyer From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 2135 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 months 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1576 times:
Quoting greasespot (Reply 4): Yup another symptom of the " I'm not responsible for what I do". And "it's not my fault" syndrome plugging north America.
Got to agree with this. You knew the issue with the parking space before you used it...but still decided to use it. Try and get a new space if you're not capable of using your existing one.
starbuk7 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 590 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (8 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1536 times:
Have you tried backing int the parking spot. I find it easier most of the time to back into a spot then be able to just drive out than pulling into a spot and trying to back out of it.
LAXintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22029 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (8 months 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1488 times:
Quoting Airstud (Thread starter): But the main question I have is, what do you suppose the chances are of garnering some sort of compensation (toward the re-paintitude) from the building? A couple of my co-workers said I should pursue this. Yes it is I who scraped against the pillar; only, with that pillar there, my space is noticeably narrower than the others. And this is a very nice, luxury-type building, with vaunted "Award-Winning Customamer Service" and everything. I dunno, though. It seems like a silly expectation.
If anything they might pursue you for damage to their pillar. If you scrapped it or removed the paint, they certainly can hold you liable for the damage.
Quoting Airstud (Thread starter): Hopefully they can assign me a better space. They assign one space per apartment (not per resident), and from the bulletin board in the mailbox lobby, I surmise there aren't many spares.
Yes you can try to have it swapped out, but forget trying to place blame on them for the damage.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6294 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (8 months 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1482 times:
I would say just fix it, for small damage IMO it is not worth it to tell your insurance company.
As for getting money for it. No way. You ran into it, you see this huge pillar you said ok to the parking space and you put the car in the space. Not your fault and if anything they could tell you to pay for paint to fix their pillar. But I would go up and say that your space sucks and you would like a different one as soon as possible.
Quoting starbuk7 (Reply 6): Have you tried backing int the parking spot. I find it easier most of the time to back into a spot then be able to just drive out than pulling into a spot and trying to back out of it.
I agree with you there. I always find it easier to back into a small space and then pull out of the space straight.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
lewis From Greece, joined Jul 1999, 3446 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (8 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1427 times:
Quoting greasespot (Reply 4): Let's see. You scratch your car on something that is stationary and you want someone else to pay for it.
Yup another symptom of the " I'm not responsible for what I do". And "it's not my fault" syndrome plugging north America.
Hwo about you are responsible 100% and you do not want to face that they are responsible and need to blame someone else.
Gs
Ps. Maybe get a lawyer and sue.
My thoughts exactly! If "wanting someone else to pay for it" means the insurance, as long as it is within policy, that's fine. Blaming the building though... unless that pillar jumped out of nowhere, makes no sense!
Explains why the legal system is working the way it is in this country.
bristolflyer From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 2135 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (8 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1342 times:
Quoting lewis (Reply 10): unless that pillar jumped out of nowhere
Actually, seems like that may have been the case...
Quoting Airstud (Thread starter): there's a big ol' concrete pillar where there shouldn't be
If there's a pillar somewhere were it shouldn't be, perhaps you can request to the building management that it be removed. I would suggest you move your car before it's removed otherwise you may find that your paint scrape pails into insignificance compared to the potential new damage.
I think the point is that the pillar should be there and your car shouldn't.
Airstud From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 1855 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (8 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1307 times:
Quoting greasespot (Reply 4): Let's see. You scratch your car on something that is stationary and you want someone else to pay for it.
Yup another symptom of the " I'm not responsible for what I do". And "it's not my fault" syndrome plugging north America.
Hwo about you are responsible 100% and you do not want to face that they are responsible and need to blame someone else.
Quoting Jetsgo (Reply 9): Is this thread real? Who could possibly think anyone owes them anything under these circumstances?
Quoting lewis (Reply 10): Blaming the building though... unless that pillar jumped out of nowhere, makes no sense!
Explains why the legal system is working the way it is in this country.
People: read my original post. I said that my co-workers suggested I pursue this; and that I, for my part, deemed it a silly expectation. I tossed the balloon up here to see what other folks' thoughts/experiences were with this sort of thing; this sort of thing being testing the extent of vaunted customer service. At no point did I suggest the building should be held legally liable.
lewis From Greece, joined Jul 1999, 3446 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (8 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1297 times:
Quoting Airstud (Reply 12): And then people think I plan on filing a lawsuit
No, we do not, at least me. I read your post carefully. My issue was not personally with you, but with the idea of suing whoever possible when it is clear whose fault it is. I am actually not surprised that people (plural) suggested such a thing, hence my comment on the legal system.
Airstud From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 1855 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (8 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 1280 times:
Quoting lewis
I read your post carefully. My issue was not personally with you, but with the idea of suing whoever possible when it is clear whose fault it is. I am actually not surprised that people (plural) suggested such a thing, hence my comment on the legal system.
Hehe, I didn't notice that, good catch! Even so, the pillar was there already and as long as it was visible, could there be a case?
Thank you; and yes, I also felt bristolflyer's post nailed it. My car shouldn't (have to) be there, which is why I shall ask nicely for a new parking space; and if necessary I will create headaches for building management till they get me one. I'm rather keen on my idea that that space should go to each month's latest rent-payer.
DeltaMD90 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 5297 posts, RR: 47 Reply 15, posted (8 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1261 times:
You should have pursued a bigger space (and should now I guess.) But yeah, sorry, it was your fault. Your co-workers' attitudes of trying to get money is very entitled IMO. I'm not sure if I'd let your insurance company know. They'll probably get their money back in the future (and much much more.) Depends on your insurance company though
photopilot From Cuba, joined Jul 2002, 2439 posts, RR: 20 Reply 16, posted (8 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1237 times:
Quoting greasespot (Reply 4): Let's see. You scratch your car on something that is stationary and you want someone else to pay for it.
Yup another symptom of the " I'm not responsible for what I do". And "it's not my fault" syndrome plugging north America.
Hwo about you are responsible 100% and you do not want to face that they are responsible and need to blame someone else.
Quoting Airstud (Thread starter): what do you suppose the chances are of garnering some sort of compensation (toward the re-paintitude) from the building?
Braybuddy From Ireland, joined Aug 2004, 5285 posts, RR: 35 Reply 17, posted (8 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1200 times:
Insurance companies have a very simple philosophy, no matter where in the world they are. 1: When buying insurance they will list all the things you can claim for, and 2: When claiming they will list all the reasons why you can't claim on them.
grozzy From Australia, joined Oct 2007, 155 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (8 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1184 times:
If the carspace is part of the title to your unit you won't be able to swap it. You should have checked the space when you bought or rented your apartment. You should also have considered the size when you got your car. It is only your fault for trying to fit a car into a space that's too small.
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