WE're never allowed to take the truck to DL again!

[iheartdisney]

So, let me start off by saying that when a cm, let alone 2 cms are standing in front of your truck giving you the universal "pull forward" hand signal, they are in no way implying it is safe to do so, nor will they accept liability for the results they have caused!
We took DH's f-350 to Disneyland last weekend, and unlike the last 3 times I have driven the truck and parked with the other oversized vehicles, they parked us upstairs. We held our breath under every single beam, because we were within a breath of scraping the top of the garage. It was tight.
We reached our space, and instead of pointing us to the spot and moving onto the next one, (like CMs usually do) not one but 2 CMs stood in front of the truck pulling us into the spot. And into the bumper of the car next to us. Then he says he'll be right back. 10 minutes later he comes back and says he'll call Security for us, and will tell them what he observed (NOT WHAT HE DID, APPARENTLY)
And Dh is not the kind of guy that thinks that dents add character, his truck is immaculate.
Luckily, it is an F-350, so not even a scratch on his bumper, and only a caved in bumper on her part.
I guess the lesson here is never trust a CM, they don't know what they are doing! And a handful of fastpasses aren't going to make up for the raise in our insurance rates for someone else's incompetence, and a pretty crappy start to my DD's birthday visit!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Oh no! That's terrible. So sorry that happened to you. If a parking attendant is telling me I can still move forward, I would believe him too.

 

[Eeee-va]

That is horrible! I guess the CMs aren't really trained to help people park.

I would definitely be writing Disney, and it will be interesting to see how your insurance company views the situation. I hope you are able to get it resolved!

 

[disney-inspired]

Even though I know it's probably better I still hate having to listen to CMs in the parking structure. I always try to sneak past them so I can get better parking because when I come in the afternoon there IS parking by the escalators!

Sorry that happened to you guys!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Sorry this happened, but what about the other car?

...Luckily, it is an F-350, so not even a scratch on his bumper, and only a caved in bumper on her part.

Ummm.... what about the other person's bumper, who didn't have a F-350? I am sorry to hear this happened, but there seems to be no compassion in your telling for the completely innocent party here, the other car owner. I feel sad for them. They are completely innocent in this an have a damaged car.

No matter where I am - if someone tells me to pull forward and I am hesitant, I don't.

By the way, if you ever feel your vehicle doesn't clear the vertical height restriction posted (no matter you are) inform the attendant that you would like to park elsewhere.

- Dreams

 

[bumbershoot]

Sorry this happened, but what about the other car?



Ummm.... what about the other person's bumper, who didn't have a F-350? I am sorry to hear this happened, but there seems to be no compassion in your telling for the completely innocent party here, the other car owner.

"10 minutes later he comes back and says he'll call Security for us, and will tell them what he observed (NOT WHAT HE DID, APPARENTLY)

Luckily, it is an F-350, so not even a scratch on his bumper, and only a caved in bumper on her part.
I guess the lesson here is never trust a CM, they don't know what they are doing! And a handful of fastpasses aren't going to make up for the raise in our insurance rates for someone else's incompetence"

Obviously the other car's owner is being informed. Insurance rates don't just rise on their own.

OK they do. But obviously security was being called for a report, and insurance rates are anticipated to rise b/c of this incident. Which means the owner was informed in some way.

 

[Disney Dreams]

^ oh, I was not saying the other owner was not being contacted. I was pointing out that the OP seems extremely concerned about the truck that she says doesn't have a scratch on it, but not too concerned about the fact that a completely innocent 3rd party had their car damaged. Could you imagine being THAT person?

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

^ oh, I was not saying the other owner was not being contacted. I was pointing out that the OP seems extremely concerned about the truck that she says doesn't have a scratch on it, but not too concerned about the fact that a completely innocent 3rd party had their car damaged. Could you imagine being THAT person?

I'm actually reading it that she was so concerned about damaging the other car that her day at DLR had a gray cloud over it.

If she wasn't concerned about the other car, she would have shrugged her shoulders and said, "Oh well, at least our car wasn't damaged!" and gone along her merry way.

Instead, she seems to feel like I would have...stressed out that she damaged another vehicle and then it had to hang over her head all day without having it resolved with the other party.

I'm also curious about what her insurance will say when she explains what happens. When you have a parking attendant waving you forward, it does seem unfair that it's your fault. I've seen how they wave you forward. It feels like you're being ridiculous if you don't believe them to keep inching forward.

 

[iheartdisney]

Sorry this happened, but what about the other car?



Ummm.... what about the other person's bumper, who didn't have a F-350? I am sorry to hear this happened, but there seems to be no compassion in your telling for the completely innocent party here, the other car owner. I feel sad for them. They are completely innocent in this an have a damaged car.

No matter where I am - if someone tells me to pull forward and I am hesitant, I don't.

By the way, if you ever feel your vehicle doesn't clear the vertical height restriction posted (no matter you are) inform the attendant that you would like to park elsewhere.

- Dreams

I apoligize if I offended you, that was my attempt at my native Texan humor as to the durability of a truck. I refuse to ever own a Smart Car as long as there are still half ton trucks on th road. Do you see where the bumper of a truck and the window of a Smart Car line up?
Anyway, back on topic, sorry if I offended you. Yes, I felt sympathy for the other driver and her kid, as their day was delayed and had a damper on their day as well. And she told DH she had just picked up her car from the shop 2 days prior, s I felt worse about it. But I guess I don't feel sorry or remorse, because I do not feel at fault, or guilty.
After talking to our insurance company this week, she is going to be taken care of. Even when being spotted, the driver is still liable, according to the law.
DH just happens to be a well-trained seabee, who operates heavy machinery on a regular basis, and so relies on hand signals without question. Like I said, if they had pointed us to a spot and walked away like they normally do, it would be an entirely different matter.

 

[DanT]

as in all incidents the driver is in control of the situation (ultimately repsonsible)...if you feel they are directing you too close, then get out and look yourself...
I have a big truck too and would not hesitate to get out and take a peek to make sure I was OK, and I have been driving large vehicles for over 40 years...
Driver/owner of second car is the one who is going to have an unhappy day...
After a fun filled day at DL only to come out and see your rear bumper in less than the condition you left it in.
I got from the OPs posting that she was concerned about the other car and also the situation as a whole.
Not the way to start your day at DL.

 

[DisneyMax74]

I am sorry this incident happened and I don't mean to seem harsh but something like this is in no way the fault of the CM. They may have been directing you into a certain spot but they are not in control of how you enter that spot. As a driver I am ultimately responsible for every action that vehicle makes. And any resulting damage from anything I hit.

 

[toby78]

Well the way I see it, you are the one who was driving the truck, so you are the one who should be in control, not someone outside. If you didn't feel comfortable to park there you shouldn't have, it was a judgement call.

 

[pixiewings71]

It may be a drivers judgement call but the people directing you should be paying attention as well. OP I'm sorry you hit someone in the garage, they should have just redirected you to begin with, I know I worry when we drive thru that parking structure in the minivan! LOL

 

[Stacerita]

I only pull forward if I feel comfortable doing so. If I think there is even a chance I may hit something, I stop. I wouldn't let a CM guide me into a problem.

 

[kyra's mommy]

I think the OP is just frustrated by the entire situation. When you are in the garage at DL the CM's do take a position of authority. I could see doing the same thing. I can't imagine two people directing you right into another car. I would be sick over it. I think this is just a good opportunity to offer a little compassion to the OP.

 

[kylieh]

I'm sitting on the fence here with liability as I'm not sure of the legal juristiction in California in terms of who is/isn't at fault.

Having said that....

I think I'd let the insurance company fight this one out. If there is a sign at the garage stating that you must observe and follow directions of CM/parking attendants/etc, and you were following them. And given that your DH follows hand signals when he's working it would be reasonable to assume that he was correctly following instructions. Though as the driver you are still in charge of your vehicle.

I've read OH&S cases though in NSW (Australia) where it is reasonabile to assume when following the parking attendant instructions including using hand signals that the parking attendant has control of the situation and would provide judgement on whether or not it is safe to move forward/backward etc.

 

[bumbershoot]

^ oh, I was not saying the other owner was not being contacted. I was pointing out that the OP seems extremely concerned about the truck that she says doesn't have a scratch on it, but not too concerned about the fact that a completely innocent 3rd party had their car damaged. Could you imagine being THAT person?

I see that the OP and the other person were innocents in this. Just one knew about it as it happened, and the other found out later.

I've also been someone smashed into by someone pulling out of a parking space. she was a very good person who came inside the restaurant and asked who owned the Beetle...it was me...she had a Suburban and wasn't using her mirrors, was distracted by her mom and daughter (she said all of this to me, I'm sure the insurance gods were very frustrated), and smackorama. Brand new car, a month old, got to have a panel or two replaced. Thankfully she and I both had GEICO, but I sure do hope she called her husband to talk to him before he got the call from them, b/c I called them from my cellphone at the restaurant. (she was concerned about what her husband would say)

No injury to the Suburban, everything taken care of by insurance...I found out after, she knew at the time...only thing different is face to face contact and amount of hours between finding out.

And I felt worse for her than for me. She was the one whose insurance was going to rise and whose husband was going to be mad at her. Hopefully she learned to use her mirrors, and she had plenty of 'em, after that.

After talking to our insurance company this week, she is going to be taken care of. Even when being spotted, the driver is still liable, according to the law.

I would still follow up with Disney. They NEED to know that this happened. They need to retrain, they need to stop having their CMs guiding people in. The whole point of being guided is that you *follow what that person says*. If I'm guiding hubby into a spot (I'm a better parallel parker than he is, eh needs guidance), he has to do what I say, not think for himself. So they need to either do it better, take responsibility for what happens, or get out of the guiding business altogether. I'd make SURE they know about it.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I agree she should let disney know but also, as many many people stated, as an adult we should know that we can trust our own instincts when it comes to parking our cars. If we feel we are close enough...we stop. I dont care if five hundred CM's stand infront of my car and tell me to move up an inch...no way. I am sorry that the other car got hit, I'd be super pissed and upset if my car was hurt while safely parked at Disney. Bottomline...trust your gut. You know how easily you can move up another inch and if you feel close, stop. If I hit a car, it's my fault.

 

[Queen Elisabeth]

I think that there should be shared liability in this situation. Yes, the driver is responsible for how they are driving but if a parking lot employee is going to be guiding large vehicles into spaces one would usually assume that the person has authority in that situation and I think that they should be responsible for their actions as well. If you were walking and a CM guided you into a slippery area and you fell and got hurt they would be liable. This shouldn't be any different, IMO.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Just out of curiosity, why would you take a F350 to DLR knowing you will have to park in one of the garages. I have Super Duty and that would be the last vehicle I would think of.
Best of luck with the insurance.

Jack