Hit and run in our apartment complex

I’ve often seen signs (and there’s probably one there somewhere in that car park) which states “the management accept no liability for property damaged…..blah blah blah…”

I’ve often wondered to what degree this has any legal basis in that say a wall collapsed on your car in the car park, Shirley the property owner would be liable.

But in your case, you didn’t park in a space, you blocked another car - it was a crime driving off certainly but legally I don’t see how the management company could be held liable for this. Why are you thinking they might?

I feel for your situation - not sure I would have blocked someone in but can understand the frustration - maybe check are there any cameras directly on the road- do you remember the type of car? Report to Gardai but don’t hold breath anything will come of it- obviously keep an eye out for the car again but likely it was a visitor

No CCTV?

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I know this doesn’t answer your question, but to stop people parking in your space get a parking post with a lock that you can place and un place as you wish.

YOU parked in a manner blocking another car and you want someone else to pay because the car YOU blocked damaged your car slightly as it was trying to move out of the space.

Frankly, they were entitled to smash your window and move your car as you were intentionally impeding their movement.

Just because they were in a parking space that was allocated to you gives you no right whatsoever to block them.

It's unlikely to be their property. Just assigned to them.

You don't have a right to block another vehicle unless you clearly state that in signage that is clear and easily visible.

Out of interest - what logic would you use to suggest that the management company held liability in this instance?

The management company did not drive the other car, a human being did and they are likely liable for the damage to your car. Did you photograph or take note of the other car’s registration plate? Even if you had, it might not be sufficient proof. Without it, I cannot see how you have any recourse. It’s tough but I don’t see any other solution.

I'm sure the T&Cs of their lease says that all cars have to be parked in designated parking bays, both cars where parked wrong. The MC already told them that if their space it taken they have to use another space.

The OP fecked up by not taking a picture of the car in their space and their undamaged car blocking it. Even if they get the reg of the other car the owner can deny it was them that caused the damage.

From my reading of the OP;

There are two blocks of apartments, one is privately owned, the other it seems is local authority housing. The OP I am presuming is residing in the privately owned block and has an assigned parking space(s) which is set out in the apartment lease.

The OP is likely also to be a member of the Owners Managment Company, and a meeting needs to be arranged to agree actions to regularise this unauthorised parking of cars which infringes on the terms of OP’s lease.

As regards the vehicle damage, it’s going to be difficult to find anyone responsible except the driver of the car that caused it.

It’s a private car park - the use of disabled spaces and any rules as to how they might operate is entirely at the discretion of the owners Managment company.

Have you a link to the legislation that sets that out?

Say I own a small factory, and decided to put up some signs designating certain car parking spaces as being for disabled use. I used the same signage as features in the national traffic signs manual.

I drive in some morning and park my own car in one of them. I would have committed a criminal offence? Doesn’t seem logical.

That's incorrect. You may be mixing up a "public road" and a "public space".

On a public road traffic legislation is in force.

On a public space road traffic legislation is not in force, however there is plenty of legislation to protect people from bad driving in a public space, but this does not extend to parking. A garda or a traffic warden cannot issue a ticket in a privately owned car park even if that carpark is open to the public.

I also believe (open to correction) that a garda cannot issue a ticket in a council owned carpark, however a traffic warden may do so.

Apparently the one he tried to block in

"My husband immediately noticed that the passenger side door had been reversed into by this car as there is a huge dent and the person had took off not leaving a note."

If it sounds like a horse, looks like a horse…

The person that should pay is the driver of the car.

Using yours, it's like seeing hoofprints and horse sh*t and saying "what horse?"