Bashed a car

[Covenant]

Yesterday I was on a building site with a ladder. I finished what I was doing got off the ladder and a gust of wind blew it on to a sub contractors car.:steam:
After a few well chosen expletives,I went and found the subby and told him I would pay for it.
The ladder dented the wing right next to the bonnet. Maybe 2 inches wide by half an inch deep.
Wonder how much that will cost me? :scratch:

[synsei]

Surely the insurance will cover that, I presume the site is insured?

[Rare Bird]

O dear thats your neighbours willow on the back burner..

[Covenant]

Surely the insurance will cover that, I presume the site is insured?

Don't think so

[synsei]

Don't think so

Might be worth checking on, I thought all building sites had to be covered by liability insurance. I stand to be corrected of course...

[Covenant]

O dear thats your neighbours willow on the back burner..

I was at a mates on Saturday night and he wants to cut it down with me! He can get a skip as a favour, all I need to do is get a big bow saw.
He was tanked up at the time though :lol:

[Rare Bird]

A pint of Absinthe should sort him..

[Thing Fish]

I was at a mates on Saturday night and he wants to cut it down with me! He can get a skip as a favour, all I need to do is get a big bow saw.
He was tanked up at the time though :lol:

Next time he gets drunk pull out your pre-drawn up contract and get him to sign it...:eyebrows:

[Alex_UK]

Might be worth checking on, I thought all building sites had to be covered by liability insurance. I stand to be corrected of course...

Employer's Liability (injury to employees) is compulsory but not Public Liability (injury to third parties or damage to third party property) - however, the vast majority of contractors/business policies would cover Public Liability.

Regardless of insurance, it is not your responsibility in law, Jerry - if in your capacity as an employee of the company - even if you caused the damage you are not personally liable - the firm should still be responsible for the damages.

[Alex_UK]

...however, the claimant would still have to prove you were negligent... regardless of who is opening the cheque book. In law, of course - your only legal responsibility is if you can be held liable - dubious (IMO) in the situation you've described.

[Covenant]

It's just not worth the hassle Alex. I am self employed and this was the first job I have done for this particular client, don't want to rock the boat. I have sent them an email explaining that I am paying for it.
Just hope the guy does what I suggest and gets one of the mobile repair firms to fix it. They are a lot cheaper than the big garages.

[Alex_UK]

Fair enough, Jerry - I understand.

If you're self-employed though, does that not make you a sub-contractor, too? In which case, aren't you insured? (Not worrying about the wing, but what if it was something more serious...?)

[Covenant]

I suppose if it was serious then the insurance of the firm I was working for would cover it.
I am far more concerned that they have PII in place, I could lose my house if I make a mistake and their not covered.

[Alex_UK]

I suppose if it was serious then the insurance of the firm I was working for would cover it.
I am far more concerned that they have PII in place, I could lose my house if I make a mistake and their not covered.

Don't "suppose" Jerry, get it checked out... Sorry, I'll get off my soap-box now - but nearly 30 years in the insurance industry has taught me never to suppose or assume...

My contribution to this thread is meant with the best of intentions - I appreciate I am likely to be considered only slightly higher in the food-chain than greedy bankers by most, but in reality insurance companies have saved millions of people from losing everything.

[Covenant]

'Tis appreciated Alex. I have tried to avoid the expense of PII by working for others with the relevant insurance. Its having to pay roll off insurance for seven years that gets me

[Beobloke]

Employer's Liability (injury to employees) is compulsory but not Public Liability (injury to third parties or damage to third party property) - however, the vast majority of contractors/business policies would cover Public Liability.

Regardless of insurance, it is not your responsibility in law, Jerry - if in your capacity as an employee of the company - even if you caused the damage you are not personally liable - the firm should still be responsible for the damages.

Is it just me or does this sum up a large part of what is wrong with today's society? Why must we have someone to blame, or someone else to shift responsibility onto?

As far as I can see, if I'm holding a ladder and it smacks into something, then it's my fault - pure and simple, unless of course you wish to blame god/allah/mother nature for making the wind blow in the first place, but that could be even trickier.

Jerry had an accidental misfortune - he's manned up, owned up and offered to make good the damage. Good for him, I say.

[Covenant]

I had a phone call about it this afternoon. Because the ladder damaged the crease between bonnet and wing it means the wing has to be replaced.
The cost is an eye watering £1150. I could have got a lovely Croft pre for that....:(

[Beobloke]

I had a phone call about it this afternoon. Because the ladder damaged the crease between bonnet and wing it means the wing has to be replaced.
The cost is an eye watering £1150. I could have got a lovely Croft pre for that....:(

Bloody 'ell. I take it back. Follow Alex's wise words and get your employer to cough up...

[Alex_UK]

Is it just me or does this sum up a large part of what is wrong with today's society? Why must we have someone to blame, or someone else to shift responsibility onto?

I don't disagree - I was just explaining the legal position regarding liability.


Bloody 'ell. I take it back. Follow Alex's wise words and get your employer to cough up...

:lol: Yes, morals do have a price limit!;)