Car insurance

annadee

I'm so sorry if I have posted this in the wrong category.

I was wondering if anybody knows whether I am right in admitting liability for an accident I had yesterday in my car.

I live in a very narrow lane, only just wide enough to get one car down. I live in the second house in, the first house whos drive is shared with mine was having workmen at their house. On their side of the drive was an enormous transit van. On the side of this van was one of those racks that carry double glazed windows, right at the bottom of this van is a long step of metal along the whole length of the van, this also carried on along the back and stuck out either side of the back end of the van.

I came around the corner slowly and struggled to get straight enough to park on my own drive. I went backwards and forwards a couple of times, until I heard a crunch. The metal step sticking out of the back end of their van had been in line with the bottom of my passenger door frame and completely ripped through the metal.

Straight away I called my insurance and admitted this was obviously down to my bad parking, But now after speaking with people, I have been advised that vans using this kind of equipment are supposed to have some kind of warning sticker on them due to the hazard being so low down. With it being such a narrow road I was never at a far enough distance to see that far down.

Does anyone know whether there is any truth in what I am being told ?

Apologies if my description isn't so clear, it's quite hard to describe.

Older_but_not_wiser_2

I'm assuming that the van was parked when you hit it.
I would suggest that it was your fault as you are in charge of your car and where it goes. If you are not sure if you have enough room for a manouver, then you shouldn't attempt it without checking first.
In my opinion, anyone that hits a stationary vehicle is at fault.
Better to have asked them to move the van until you got your car parked.

annadee

Thanks for your reply. You have said exactly what was on my mind, but you know how it is when you have an accident and friends all start saying things and put doubt in your mind. I think I will have to be more careful in future.

Thanks again