Trampoline damanged car

[cnn256]

I am not sure what can be done here. I got a new trampoline 2 weeks ago, I have not added it to my home insurance. yesterday a trampoline flew into my neighbor's new car and did serious damage, breaking the car windshield and radar, electronics under the windshield and scratching on the door. What are the options to cover the expenses?

[Alex Z]

You may not have needed to specifically add it to your household insurance. You have nothing to lose by asking them. If not, pay your neighbour’s repair bill.

You could in theory refuse, at which point he’ll have to claim off his own insurance and they may try and recover the costs from you anyway

[lost in espace]

Isn't it up to your neighbour to prove negligence on your part?

I would give your household insurance details to him and leave it at that. He should be able to start his claim with his own insurer to get this sorted and his insurer should claim off your policy, if you are considered liable.

[E63eeeeee...]

cnn256 said:

I am not sure what can be done here. I got a new trampoline 2 weeks ago, I have not added it to my home insurance. yesterday a trampoline flew into my neighbor's new car and did serious damage, breaking the car windshield and radar, electronics under the windshield and scratching on the door. What are the options to cover the expenses?

It sounds like you're not sure it was the same trampoline. I'd start the investigation there. Maybe bounce it around an interrogation suite until it confesses.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

If you were negligent, your house contents insurer should cover your neighbours damage, regardless of it being specifically added. If you weren't negligent, they won't cover it, and you don't have to pay it either. Your neighbour's comp car insurance will cover it.

[bad company]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If you were negligent, your house contents insurer should cover your neighbours damage, regardless of it being specifically added. If you weren't negligent, they won't cover it, and you don't have to pay it either. Your neighbour's comp car insurance will cover it.

So what’s the test for ‘negligent’? Sounds like the op may have set up the trampoline without fixing it to anything to prevent it from blowing away in the wind.

[mac96]

bad company said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If you were negligent, your house contents insurer should cover your neighbours damage, regardless of it being specifically added. If you weren't negligent, they won't cover it, and you don't have to pay it either. Your neighbour's comp car insurance will cover it.

So what’s the test for ‘negligent’? Sounds like the op may have set up the trampoline without fixing it to anything to prevent it from blowing away in the wind.

So probably the first question is was it fixed down in accordance with the manufacturers instructions?
If not, hard to see how not liable.
If no instructions, comes down to what precautions were reasonable in the circumstances.

[biggbn]

A bit early for trampoline shennanigans isn't it, schools not out for summer yet....?

[Pica-Pica]

mac96 said:

bad company said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If you were negligent, your house contents insurer should cover your neighbours damage, regardless of it being specifically added. If you weren't negligent, they won't cover it, and you don't have to pay it either. Your neighbour's comp car insurance will cover it.

So what’s the test for ‘negligent’? Sounds like the op may have set up the trampoline without fixing it to anything to prevent it from blowing away in the wind.

So probably the first question is was it fixed down in accordance with the manufacturers instructions?
If not, hard to see how not liable.
If no instructions, comes down to what precautions were reasonable in the circumstances.

I would have thought that anyone who has contemplated buying a trampoline must have seen images of them flying away.

[mac96]

Pica-Pica said:

mac96 said:

bad company said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If you were negligent, your house contents insurer should cover your neighbours damage, regardless of it being specifically added. If you weren't negligent, they won't cover it, and you don't have to pay it either. Your neighbour's comp car insurance will cover it.

So what’s the test for ‘negligent’? Sounds like the op may have set up the trampoline without fixing it to anything to prevent it from blowing away in the wind.

So probably the first question is was it fixed down in accordance with the manufacturers instructions?
If not, hard to see how not liable.
If no instructions, comes down to what precautions were reasonable in the circumstances.

I would have thought that anyone who has contemplated buying a trampoline must have seen images of them flying away.

Absolutely!

[Monkeylegend]

If I was the neighbour I would be jumping up and down if OP refused to pay for the damage.

[Pica-Pica]

Monkeylegend said:

If I was the neighbour I would be jumping up and down if OP refused to pay for the damage.

Yeah, outside their bedroom window.

[OddCat]

Are you sure there isn’t some kind of misunderstanding here and that the damage might actually have been caused by a tramp called Pauline ?

[Heathwood]

Surely, given that a trampoline should be appropriately anchored down, if it manages to fly into a neighbours car, it’s highly likely that the owner has been negligent.

[Deerfoot]

Heathwood said:

Surely, given that a trampoline should be appropriately anchored down, if it manages to fly into a neighbours car, it’s highly likely that the owner has been negligent.

Can you provide a link to the legislation that states they have to be anchored down?

[E63eeeeee...]

Deerfoot said:

Heathwood said:

Surely, given that a trampoline should be appropriately anchored down, if it manages to fly into a neighbours car, it’s highly likely that the owner has been negligent.

Can you provide a link to the legislation that states they have to be anchored down?

It's in the Unfortunate and Excessive Wind Act 1973. Most people think that legislation is about something entirely different.

[rallycross]

Pica-Pica said:

Monkeylegend said:

If I was the neighbour I would be jumping up and down if OP refused to pay for the damage.

Yeah, outside their bedroom window.

For maximum effect they should do this at night with a powerful Led head torch!

[DonkeyApple]

mac96 said:

Pica-Pica said:

mac96 said:

bad company said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If you were negligent, your house contents insurer should cover your neighbours damage, regardless of it being specifically added. If you weren't negligent, they won't cover it, and you don't have to pay it either. Your neighbour's comp car insurance will cover it.

So what’s the test for ‘negligent’? Sounds like the op may have set up the trampoline without fixing it to anything to prevent it from blowing away in the wind.

So probably the first question is was it fixed down in accordance with the manufacturers instructions?
If not, hard to see how not liable.
If no instructions, comes down to what precautions were reasonable in the circumstances.

I would have thought that anyone who has contemplated buying a trampoline must have seen images of them flying away.

Absolutely!

The issue isn't that the trampoline flew away but rather that it didn't flay far enough and the victim knows who the owner is.

[Wacky Racer]

How would you feel if his trampoline wrecked your windscreen,?

Looking on the bright side, his insurance might only require him to pay a £50 excess with no affect to his No claims bonus.

That was what happened to me three years ago when a small stone shattered my screen.

Then you only have the bodywork damage to worry about.

[119]

Surely a phone call to your insurer may have been quicker?