My Apartment Is Trying To Charge Me $4200 For Breaking Our Parking Garage Door….i’m The One Who Reported It.

Location: Virginia, USA

Ok this was not on my bingo card today but looking for advice before I spiral. My apartment parking garage door broke a few weeks ago and I noticed it when I came back from being out, so I reported it.

Imagine my surprise when I got an email from my building today saying that the door was being fixed tomorrow and after reviewing video footage they determined that my car (a brand new 2024 white car I bought in December) hit the garage door, causing it to break and that I owed $4200 for the repairs.

I immediately went to the leasing office to request the footage and what they showed me was me, in my car, exiting the garage as normal. One car goes through after me and then the door only goes halfway down. They are claiming it looks like my car “tapped the door and caused it to break because it doesn’t go down after.” I’m an honest person, if I tapped the door, I would admit it. I also have a brand new car I’m quite particular about, so trust me when I say I would have noticed if I hit the door.

The manager claims he’s “working on it for me” but also emailed me asking whether I want to pay it out of pocket or submit a claim to my insurance, so I’m sure he’s working hard on that.

The repairs are being done tomorrow and he said he’ll update me with what the contractors say (whether it looks like I tapped the door and caused it to break or not??). I’m honestly baffled. If they follow through with charging me, what are my options?

Thank you in advance for your advice!