Who is liable for repairs because my kid dented a car? Please read the details.?

[mlholley1]

My eight year old was riding his bike, on the sidewalk. Easily distracted by another child, turned his head around to look, when he turned back, SMACK into the rear fender of a car parked in a neighbors driveway. The back half of the car was completely blocking the sidewalk, and that's what he hit, leaving a fully visible dent. My husband accepted responsibility, and offered to have them bring an estimate to him. I'm not so sure. These people didn't even live in the neighborhood, they were visiting friends, so then could their friends home owners insurance cover it because it happened at their home? Or because it was on the sidewalk, is it not covered? Or are the idiots who blocked the sidewalk just going to have to report it to their insurance?

 

[?Fairy?]

ummm...I think Judge Judy would rule against you in this one. If your son were paying attention or being supervised it wouldnt have happened. Even though the sidewalk may have been blocked there is not a sidewalk technically at the end of their driveway. It is just a driveway. There may be sidewalk on both sides of the driveway but the actual driveway is theirs to park in. Sorry

 

[San Diego Art Nut]

Assuming that it is illegal to block a sidewalk then they could probably not recover damage. I doubt that the friends insurance will pay for it because it was over the sidewalk. That's the legality.
But morally, your son was at fault by negligence. He needs to be responsible enough to pay attention or not go out on his own. He could have been badly hurt if the car had been backing out. Morally you should pay for the damage. Legally you don't have to.

 

[Ace]

The fault can be 50% for the car owner because he let the car block the sidewalk. Your son is 50% at fault because he did hit the car. Your husband should not have volunteered to pay. I suggest both parties let the insurance companies handle it. Contact your auto insurance company and your home owners insurance company. Let them decide who was at fault, that's their specialty.

I don't think your auto insurance will cover it though, because auto insurance covers one car hitting another car, and of course your son is not listed on the auto policy.