Location: California
My partner rents a separate unit on a property where the main house is rented by other tenants. They share the same landlord but live in different spaces. While she was out of town with me, her neighbors hired a landscaping company, and during the work the company broke her car window.
The neighbors called her that night and left a voicemail explaining what happened and said the landscaping company is refusing to pay. They gave her a business card, but when she tried to look up the company online it does not seem to exist.
The neighbors also have security cameras but have not shared any footage so far.
We are concerned the landscaping company may not be licensed or insured, which might explain why they are avoiding responsibility.
What are the best next steps here? Should she go through insurance, take them to small claims court, or what is the most effective way to hold the responsible party accountable?