Who's really at fault here?

PMKeates said:
What I'm saying is that you could consider the OP to have not completed the maneuver, and the C2 driver impatiently attempted to drive past.. assuming the C2 was moving on impact.
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OP was reversing back out of a parking space as a car was driving past. I don't see how you think you can spin those facts to deflect blame here. Even the OP recognises that he didn't perform adequate observation.

PMKeates said:
Pedestrians don't walk at 10 MPH in the middle of the road.
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This is a car park we are talking about, pedestrians very regularly walk in the middle of the lanes, though granted they aren't often doing 10mph. Reverse into a pedestrian and there would be no question of liability.
 
Dogbreath said:
OP was reversing back out of a parking space as a car was driving past. I don't see how you think you can spin those facts to deflect blame here. Even the OP recognises that he didn't perform adequate observation.
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OP was reversing back in the middle of a maneuver.

If you are driving behind someone along a car park looking for a space, the person in front finds a space and begins a parking maneuver, and before completing that maneuver with their reverse lights illuminated you just drive right along the moment there is any gap, colliding with them as they reverse out, you are not blameless.

You could liken it to overtaking someone as they are about to turn right with their indicator on. The fact is, you are entitled to stop and maneuver your car. This would almost certainly go 50/50.
Dogbreath said:
This is a car park we are talking about, pedestrians very regularly walk in the middle of the lanes, though granted they aren't often doing 10mph. Reverse into a pedestrian and there would be no question of liability.
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1. People do not regularly walk in the middle of the lanes. The ones that do are known as 'idiots'.

2. People don't walk at 10 MPH in car parks.. maybe 2 or 3 MPH.

Therefore, the rates at which they move and locations where they appear are completely different to a car. You can be very carefully watching/tracking pedestrians and completely miss a car that's moving much faster and in a place where people do not typically walk.
 
PMKeates said:
Pedestrians don't walk at 10 MPH in the middle of the road.
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They might not be doing 10mph, but at all the car-parks I use pedestrians often walk in the middle of the road, with shopping trolleys, bags in hand, kids, etc. And it's damn sight easier to see a car than a shopper.

OP asked for opinions I gave one. By his own volition, he didn't spot the other car. Other driver aren't obliged to wait for people to maneuver their vehicles. The responsibility is on the one doing the maneuvering to wait for a safe gap.

OP also said he was straightening up because he was at an angle, so there is no guarantee the approacting driver could even see his reversing lights.

I'm not trying to paint OP as some "demon driver" just in that split second he missed something. Unfortunately in a car that normally cost a few quid or worse. I hope he gets his car sorted.
 
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I think you'd be mad to question if it's not your fault when you're reversing out into an area where it is not your right of way?
 
The OP is at fault, but the other driver could have avoided the accident. It's one of those where the other driver would then be moaning next year "I was in a non-fault accident, so how dare the insurance company charge me more. It wasn't my fault!"... but actually he could have avoided the accident from happening so the non-fault insurance price rise is justified.
 
I was always taught that when reversing in any situation, to give way to all other traffic, including bicycles and pedestrians. :confused:

Seems very clear cut.
 
Mr Joshua said:
This, so when you come to put your shopping in the boot you have to struggle between your car and the neighbouring bay and then squeeze between your car and the bloke that's parked almost in your boot.

Makes life soooo much easier...
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Agree, reverse parking isnt always practical at a supermarket, especially if your gunna come out with a trolley full of stuff to but in the boot.

The OP is to blame here for not paying enough attention to the passing vehicle
 
From your description I can't see how you weren't at fault. The repair quote also seems quite reasonable so the innocent party isn't trying to screw you over.

You have nicely summed up why I'll always go through insurance though. "I admitted liability but now I've decided that I'd rather have £200 in my own pocket so I've changed my mind..." is a story that is told way to often.

Pay the old boy what you owe him and then forget all about it.
 
Pay the money, don't go through insurance. It will end up costing you in the longer term for what is a paltry sum.

I really am struggling to visualise your description of events. Why was he trying to pass your car in an area well away from other cars, was he trying to park? Was he on the roadway, or in the parking lines? You should have been aware of other vehicles. How did the vehicles hit when you were reversing, you don't say whether you reversed into him, or side impact etc.

To me, it sounds like you assumed nothing was behind you because you went what you thought was an isolated area, and you just reversed without looking.

What is worse, is that you have made an agreement, had time for him to get quotes etc, and it's come back pretty darn cheap and now you are looking to renege on that?
 
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I agree, I am most likely at fault here, it really is a combination of not looking properly and assuming that as I was in an isolated area there were no cars around me let alone driving behind me. I'm not trying to pull a fast one in regards to ponying up the money, a few people questioned me at work saying that it may not have necessarily been my fault, so I thought I would pose the question here as I'm sure some of you have had similar experience in the past.

So ignoring my driving skill (maybe I lacked slightly by reversing into a moving car that morning!) I'm going to pay up on Tuesday as agreed with the chap and type up a letter stating no further action need to be taken and all parties are happy with the work carried out.

Lesson learnt and I'm sure 90% of the driving population will do the same sometime in their lives, after all were only human and sometimes we **** up!
 
lordrobs said:
From your description I can't see how you weren't at fault. The repair quote also seems quite reasonable so the innocent party isn't trying to screw you over.

You have nicely summed up why I'll always go through insurance though. "I admitted liability but now I've decided that I'd rather have £200 in my own pocket so I've changed my mind..." is a story that is told way to often.

Pay the old boy what you owe him and then forget all about it.
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This.
 
daelo said:
I agree, I am most likely at fault here, it really is a combination of not looking properly and assuming that as I was in an isolated area there were no cars around me let alone driving behind me.

Lesson learnt and I'm sure 90% of the driving population will do the same sometime in their lives, after all were only human and sometimes we **** up!
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Very true, we've all been there at one time or another, something catches your attention and we end up not looking where we should. More often than not we just get away with it, It's very easily done, as you say we live and learn.

Good idea getting the letter typed up, hope you get you own car sorted too.

DD
 
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