Liability for laptop damage – Legal aid centre

Questioner

Friday evening I was sitting with colleagues on an Amsterdam terrace. At one point another terrace visitor accidentally spilled beer over my laptop, which was open and turned on. After the incident the laptop shut down almost immediately. So there was damage to my laptop. I have the business card of the person who dropped the beer. At home I tried to save what could be saved by taking the laptop apart and letting it dry. There is undoubtedly damage, it is also possible that this will only occur later. What is wise? Can I have a report/statement drawn up about the condition of my laptop and what it would cost to repair it and then hold this person liable, for example via this letter http://www.rechtswinkel.nl/documenten/17/aansprakelijk-stellen-onrechtmatige-daad.html? I would be happy to read your advice.

Lawyer

If the laptop no longer works, you can hold the person who spilled the beer liable. You should also take into account that, especially for laptops, depreciation is applied to the new value because it is assumed that the value of laptops decreases relatively quickly. A depreciation period of 3 to 4 years is not unusual.

Lawyer

It is best to hold the other party liable now by registered letter for all possible damages, so 'for all damages suffered and/or yet to be suffered'*. In doing so, you indicate that you will come back to this as soon as more is known. You will then know immediately whether you have the right person, or whether you have been given someone else's business card .... As a rule, one is insured for legal liability. Please feel free to contact me without any obligation to discuss. * I hereby hold you liable for all damage and consequential damage suffered and/or yet to be suffered by me.