car scrape, not my fault - insurance claim

Strider590

Jeff18 wrote: »

Yesterday someone scraped my car while they were reversing out of a space

I missed this bit.........

This ^^ is why I never park next to a car that has been driven nose first into a space.
This laziness (or incompetence more like) is the primary cause of scrapes and bumps in carparks. None of it would happen if they just reverse parked, in fact I think standard reverse parking should be a compulsory part of the driving test!!!
It does my nut in because my car was damaged in the same way as the OP.

Same goes really for people who (like happened in front of me this morning) reverse blind out of their walled driveway onto a main A road in the middle of rush hour, in the hope that someone will stop, they truly are idiots of the highest order........

Seriously, reversing isn't difficult, I reversed across the length of the works carpark this morning (about 45 meters and narrow), at speed, straight into my intended space, using nothing but the mirrors. Other folk, they come in, aim for a space, don't have the angle, reverse/forward/reverse/forward/reverse/forward (each time risking a collision) all for the sake of parking nose first AND then later they have to do it all again to get out of the damn space.

facade

Sometimes you have to be nose in because you need to get the trolley to the boot, or because there are signs asking you to park nose in, e.g. at a hospital where they want stinky exhausts as far away from the open windows as they can get them.

Agree with the rest of the sentiments though.

---lee---

Strider590 wrote: »

I reversed across the length of the works carpark this morning (about 45 meters and narrow), at speed, straight into my intended space, using nothing but the mirrors.

Why? You should reverse with great care. At slow speed observing all all around you as you do so. I do not accelerate when I'm reversing, I just travel as slowly as possible without riding the clutch (i.e. car at idle).

Regardless of your own (questionable) competency, what of others who may not anticipate a car reversing at high speed.

InsideInsurance

Strider590 wrote: »

None of it would happen if they just reverse parked, in fact I think standard reverse parking should be a compulsory part of the driving test!!!

It was compulsory at a former employers to park your car nose out. With a solid barrier between the rows of spaces that meant in all but a few spaces you had to reverse in or it was gross misconduct. There was always a bit of a fight for the few spaces you could drive through to end up nose out.

Whilst I understand the theory that its safer reversing in and driving out, and can obviously do it without issue, its also true you are more maneuverable when reversing and with a large car in small spaces I'd rather be most maneuverable when getting out of a space than in.

Strider590

InsideInsurance wrote: »

I'd rather be most maneuverable when getting out of a space than in.

Why does an open space require you to be more manoeuvrable?

The reason these scrapes happen is because when reversing out of a space you have limited movement due to the front end being trapped between two cars (so actually not very manoeuvrable). You're having to concentrate on too many things at once, with lots of head turning to make sure there's nothing behind (either side) and to make sure the front isn't going to swing into anything.

The only consideration when reserve parked and driving out of a space is to get the rear wheels in line with the front of the neighbouring car BEFORE making your exit turn.

Reverse into the space and you only ever need concentrate on the direction your driving in. There's also no chance of a collision with a passing vehicle being your fault, as the driver will have seen you, as opposed to you reversing into their path.

I think for most people it's a confidence issue, but in all fairness lack of confidence is a failing point on the UK driving test.
Those who condemn reverse parking, I think it's embarrassment.

londonTiger

Financially it's best for you to keep quiet for these small bumps and scraps and not inform the insurer. These can be fixed for £200 at a body shop (or cheaper if it's an old car and you can just buy a replacement panel from breakers that matches your colour code).

It is far less than what the insurer will increase your premiums for next year.

Having said that it requires high level of trust on the third party to not pull a fast one on you. So it's too much of a risk to take. Therefore I would just tell the insurer and take the hit with increase in premium.

Prothet_of_Doom

londonTiger wrote: »

Financially it's best for you to keep quiet for these small bumps and scraps and not inform the insurer. These can be fixed for £200 at a body shop (or cheaper if it's an old car and you can just buy a replacement panel from breakers that matches your colour code).

It is far less than what the insurer will increase your premiums for next year.

Having said that it requires high level of trust on the third party to not pull a fast one on you. So it's too much of a risk to take. Therefore I would just tell the insurer and take the hit with increase in premium.

That's pretty much my thoughts. I had a bump which initially the third party agreed was thier fault, and yes they'd happily pay for a repair. I got a quote using second hand parts (including a couple of parts I had in my garage) and it came to £600.
Then she changed her mind, claimed whiplash, went through insurance, my insurance completely bent over as whiplash plus no witnesses to prove her actions caused it. (Impact would make it look like my fault without a witness)

They wrote off my car, saying they stopped counting at £2K, offered me £600, but eventually accepted £1500, and paid her bills (no idea, but I reckon no change from 10K)

I nearly bought my car back, but in the end decided "CBA"

On the bright side my premium went down. :rotfl:

Jeff18

Crikey, Prothet, a nasty tale... And thanks, all, for the advice. I think I'm just going to have to annoy the party at fault, apologise for my naive offer of settling with cash (it's my first ever prang with another vehicle), and continue with the insurance claim...