Am i at fault?

Xez · 28 Oct 2007 at 18:56

Today i had a knock in a car park. I'm a young driver and have been driving fo just over a year claim free and i dont know what to do in such a situation. Obviously details were taken but i forgot to take pictures.

Heres a picture of it. Im the red car and the black block is a Black peugeot 307. The car park was very full and all the spaces were taken around him on both sides.

He accusing me of 'bombing' around the corner. Why would i do that in a busy place and in a car that can't corner (old fiesta 1.1) I was in first and on the clutch as i went around the corner so i was going very very slow. He also kept saying 'why didnt you see me?!' he also said that he was crawling out of the space which would surely mean he'd of had time to react as the front of my car was visible?

The drivers side front bumper hit my passenger door in the middle of the door and has bent it in and then dented my B pillar causing the car to jump/slide over slightly. The only damage caused on his car was a scuffed bumper which is a little plastic plate that clips onto the corner of the bumper. He sounded very confident about going through the insurers.

I inspected his damage but he didnt even bother looking at mine. His car has stupid lexus lights on too

So am i at fault? Just wondering if i should go through insurers.

[TW]Fox · 28 Oct 2007 at 18:58

Looks like his fault, not yours. You had right of way from that diagram.

Thought you had a Clio?

Xez · 28 Oct 2007 at 18:59

I do fox, thankfully i wasnt in it. It's in the garage as im restoring it.

BigglesPiP · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:01

Let him go through the insurers, because it's his fault.

zetec452 · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:02

Have you reported it to the police? If not do that ASAP.

I would have said that you were not at fault as it is your right of way.

Scuzi · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:02

He drove into the side of you. IF the information you have provided is accurate, it's blatently his fault. Do not admit liability and do not apologise. Contact your insurer, tell them exactly what happened and at no point admit liability. Insist that it was the other drivers fault.

Good luck. You shouldn't have anything to worry about

bmh.01 · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:03

It'll probably go 50/50 though. It should go your way as he's pulled out on you but you never know what story he'll tell his insurers. The damage to your car does side with you though.

BigglesPiP · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:04

He'll probably try to tell his insurers that you've admitted fault, tell your insurer it was his fault, but he won't admit it.

helpimcrap · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:05

agreed on the 50/50... but if you get lucky your insurance might push for him to be at fault.

PMKeates · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:06

bmh.01 said:
It'll probably go 50/50 though. It should go your way as he's pulled out on you but you never know what story he'll tell his insurers. The damage to your car does side with you though.

Regardless of what the other guy says, you should never let your insurers accept 50/50 if you are not at fault.

Matt82 · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:06

ill say that it was the other driver's fault. he says you were bombing round the corner yeah? well if thats the car, the tart saw you coming so shouldnt have driven out.

in any case, you have damage to your door etc showing you were infront of his car when he came out, he drove into you.

hope you dont get shafted for being young.

Xez · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:16

Thanks everyone i've written it all down in a document as to what things he said and waht happened so i can remember if i need to do anything. He seemed very confident that it was my fault. I obviously said it was his. There wernt any witnesses but as i was picking up a friend he saw the damage done to both cars.

Phil W · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:18

Any CCTV on the car park?

Xez · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:20

More than likely as it's Asda's car park. ill go have a look tomorrow.

Jokester · 28 Oct 2007 at 19:26

Looks like it's his fault, after all he drove into the side of your car, not the other way round.

As has been said before, do not admit liability and do not accept 50/50.

Jokester

goreblast · 28 Oct 2007 at 21:47

One thing to note is that it is a private car park therefore no road markings and rights or way are enforceable, therefore despite it definately being his fault I would suggest that it will probably get settled 50/50.

Matt82 · 28 Oct 2007 at 21:49

but the OP was ahead/in front of the other car. simple negligence will apply, the other guy negligently drove forward without making sure it was clear to go forward

goreblast · 28 Oct 2007 at 21:51

All I am saying is that stop lines, give way lines, one-way signs etc are there for guidance in a private car park. They are not enforcable by the police.

Beerbaron · 28 Oct 2007 at 21:53

goreblast said:
One thing to note is that it is a private car park therefore no road markings and rights or way are enforceable, therefore despite it definately being his fault I would suggest that it will probably get settled 50/50.

car parks can be a grey area when claiming. im sure someone on here posted a few months back about having an accident in a car park.

Matt82 · 28 Oct 2007 at 21:56

goreblast said:
All I am saying is that stop lines, give way lines, one-way signs etc are there for guidance in a private car park. They are not enforcable by the police.

yup, all true, but driving into a car that is plainly in front of you is simply negligent