park at your own risk

Who’s liable if my car scratches yours in the law school parking lot? We all know the lanes are too narrow and there’s not enough room between the spaces. As a result it’s usually impossible to open your door to its full length when you get in and out if there is a car next to you. So is it my fault if my car door scratches yours even though I used due car (eg. I didn’t open it really fast and I only scratched your car because there was no way for my car door to open fully without it touching yours)?

I’m wondering because the other day I was walking to my car and as I was putting in my bag on the passenger side, this asshole who was parked next to me actually stood in front of both our cars with his arms crossed staring at my car door to make sure it didn’t touch his precious BMW. I think it may have barely touched it—but I was careful not to make a scratch. As I walked past him to get around to my car’s driver’s side, I said something like ‘excuse me’ or ‘sorry’ because I’d been blocking his door. He just glared at me.

I’m not interested in causing problems or intentionally scratching someone else’s car but I was dying for him to say something to me about how my car door was too close to his. I’m careful. I do my best not to let my car door touch anyone else’s and I think most people here do the same. Still, my car door has lots of small scratches that weren’t there before I started law school. My car is nine years old. It’s a way for me to get from point A to point B. I’m not a car person so I don’t care if it’s a little scratched.

But other people, especially this asshole with the Beemer, care quite a bit more about how their cars look. I don’t think it should be my fault if I’m forced to park too close to someone because the school decided to squeeze in a couple dozen more spaces.