Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Texas
Car Damage by Neighbor's Child
A neighbor's child scratched the right side of my car with his bicycle while the car was parked in my driveway. Fixing the damage costs around $800. I do not want to file a claim with my auto insurance. The child lives with his mother, who does not speak English. She is separated from the child's father. I have talked to the mother and father. They want to me take my car to a paint shop that they know. I would rather go to a paint shop that I have chosen. What should I do? Can I sue the mother to get them to pay for the damages?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Car Damage by Neighbor's Child
There is a provision in the law for the responsiblity of a parent for the civil conduct of the child. You can find it by searching the texas statutes linked on the links page of my website. However, if you sue and if you win, you would still have to collect which is not always an easy thing. Then you would still have to live with the people you sued in your neighborhood. That might be interesting. Whether the ill will created by a lawsuit against your neighbor, which might last for years and might affect your happy attitude every day you see them would be worth the difference in what you want and what they feel they can do is a question only you can answer. You might consider some alternate form of dispute resolution. Some counties have dispute resolution centers. I know Houston has one, but don't know about Mesqite. Look in the phone book or search the web...
Good Luck
http://www.reasonable-doubt.com
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