Car Park Collision - worried

basscadette

Hi all,

My OH just had a collision in a car park.

He was reversing out of a space and the road was clear so he ket going. Another car appeared behind him out of nowehere and he went into the side of it with the rear end of his car. It was a shock as the speed limit is 10mph so there is no way there should have been anything there.

I imagine that for insurance purposes he will be to blame but I just want to check this. This is a nightmare as it's a new car and a brand new insurance company with the price based on 2 years NCD.

We are very worried. What is likely to happen as we've never had a collision before (either of us)? The other car was a courtesy car as the guy had just recently been in another crash and his car was in for repairs. The damage to his car is to both nearside doors and the nearside panel.

Thanks for any help, advise etc.
B

hewhoisnotintheknow

you tell the insurance company and they work out whos to blame

i wouldnt worry

Inactive

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

you tell the insurance company and they work out whos to blame

i wouldnt worry

Agreed, it sounds like the OP's OH was mainly to blame, but let the insurance companies sort things.

DaveF327

The above posters have already given good advice regarding insurance etc. Here's some advice on the situation in question:

basscadette wrote: »

He was reversing out of a space

Not the wisest thing to do. It's much safer to reverse into a space with an already clear view, then drive forwards out of it.

the road was clear so he ket going.

If it was clear, there wouldn't have been a collision. It was obviously not clear enough or he didn't look properly. Look at this video to see how observation can differ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsJs4AYa8sU

Another car appeared behind him out of nowehere

Cars don't appear out of nowhere. It approached like any other, possibly quickly, but your OH just didn't see him. A bit like the motorbike example in the video above. Watching people reversing in car parks, many just stare at the rear mirror and assume it's all clear; they rarely look to the sides or creep slowly and look again. I have had to run for my life sometimes when some elderly drivers are reversing like this.

You can't turn the clock back, but hopefully this will help for future car park situations.

Rolandtheroadie

DaveF327 wrote: »

Not the wisest thing to do. It's much safer to reverse into a space with an already clear view, then drive forwards out of it.

If we were all to drive forward into parking spaces, we could all get our groceries/shopping into our boot without scraping trolleys down the sides of the cars parked around us.

DaveF327

scotsman4th wrote: »

If we were all to drive forward into parking spaces, we could all get our groceries/shopping into our boot without scraping trolleys down the sides of the cars parked around us.

I never have a problem. If one side is too narrow, the other side will be fine. You don't have to bring the trolley to the boot either, just drag the bags in if need be. Besides, would you prefer to 'breathe in a little' with your groceries or reverse blindly into the situation the OP's OH found himself in?

king100

Personally if i see someone in a carpark with reverse lights on i stop and wait to see what happens, maybe even let them out.

As other peeps have said let insurance sort it out.

Rolandtheroadie

DaveF327 wrote: »

I never have a problem. If one side is too narrow, the other side will be fine. You don't have to bring the trolley to the boot either, just drag the bags in if need be. Besides, would you prefer to 'breathe in a little' with your groceries or reverse blindly into the situation the OP's OH found himself in?

Dragging bags smacks of scratching peoples cars too. I would rather pay attention and come out of a parking space at low speed all be it backwards.
What happens when both sides are too narrow (because the drivers either side of you cant reverse into the middle of a space).

DaveF327

scotsman4th wrote: »

Dragging bags smacks of scratching peoples cars too.

Be more careful, then

What happens when both sides are too narrow (because the drivers either side of you cant reverse into the middle of a space).

If you can fit your body in there and open a door, surely you can carry a bag in each hand. Try it and see. I do it all the time and never break a sweat. (nor do I damage anyone's property)

fatpiggy

I always reverse park in carparks unless I'm doing a really big supermarket shop. BUT, as it is a carpark and not Brands Hatch, anyone driving around it should be completely aware that there will be people either stopping and maneouvring into a space, or maneouviring out of one, whether forwards or in reverse, Where I work there is supposed to be a 5mph speed limit - yeah, right! I've lost count of the number of people who have nearly slammed into my back bumper when I spotted a space, signalled or put my hazards on and then started to maneouvre. Did they think I was just doing circuits of the place for fun or something??? Admittedly, it is a part of the country where reverse gear is a mythical subject about which most people seem to know precisely nothing...!!!

Poppy9

DaveF327 wrote: »

I never have a problem. If one side is too narrow, the other side will be fine. You don't have to bring the trolley to the boot either, just drag the bags in if need be. Besides, would you prefer to 'breathe in a little' with your groceries or reverse blindly into the situation the OP's OH found himself in?

I always park forward in the Supermarket because you can guarantee some idiot will park too close for you to get by the side and I can't carry heavy bags and can't bend to drag them. Also some people seem to think it's a good idea to park as close to your rear bumper as possible so you can't stand behind your car to load. Have to say it's usually men too.

Any other car park I reverese in, especially multi storys.

You can reverse safely out of a space unless a transit van parks next to you which can make things very tricky.

OP your OH suffered a momentary lapse of concentration and forgot to keep looking. Can happen to anyone going forward or backward. As others have said your insurance company will sort it out.

Am curious though was it a small car your OH hit in a big car as you said he damaged both of the doors and and a panel which seems a large area to damage.