Car door hit in car park - who's fault?

hairbrain05

Hi

Was at a local shop, parked in car park, no cars beside me, took quick glance & opened door... Another car hit my door with the front of theirs. No outward damage but it needs looking at as it seems off the hinges & wont close properly.

I actually got a fright at the impact & didn't converse much but the other lady gave me her details & said was her fault but later mentioned it was bad timing on both parts.

Who's at fault would you say?

Thanks

stator

If the other car was travelling at normal car park speeds and manouvering into the space using normal methods and you suddenly opened the door without seeing the other car, personally I think it's your fault.
Insurance companies would probably 50/50.
Best repair your own cars and forget about it. (Technically you should still tell the insurance companies)

chanz4

it will likely be 50/50 as no clear liability will be agreed

hairbrain05

We've since spoken on the phone & agreed to notify insurance at both ends.

I think it was crap timing all round which she also said again, but it was dark, the car park was empty & I checked for cars/lights approaching before hand.

We'll see what insurance make of it I guess.

Gah.

OnanTheBarbarian

I think you'd be lucky to get a 50/50 result to be honest.

SuperHan

I don't think so, the driver should have been going slow enough to stop. What if it had been a small child they hit, would that have been the child's fault (I guess to some extent, but surely not 100%...)

I think 50:50 is the most likely outcome.

hairbrain05

it was quite an impact, if there's such a thing as whiplash from a side injury I have a mild case - pains up my arm.. but I will definitely not be running off to claim for anything related before anyone thinks that for a second.. i despise claimers who try to take insurance to the cleaners..

pitanorf

hairbrain05 wrote: »

We've since spoken on the phone & agreed to notify insurance at both ends.

I think it was crap timing all round which she also said again, but it was dark, the car park was empty & I checked for cars/lights approaching before hand.

We'll see what insurance make of it I guess.

Gah.

Whats the excess on your policy and have you had a quote on how much the repair will cost? Unless the cost of the repair far exceeds the excess I wouldn't even consider notifying your insurance company as its sure to bump up you future premiums.

hairbrain05

pitanorf wrote: »

Whats the excess on your policy and have you had a quote on how much the repair will cost? Unless the cost of the repair far exceeds the excess I wouldn't even consider notifying your insurance company as its sure to bump up you future premiums.

That was my initial thought, but too late!! I felt I had to tell them in case the other driver tries to pursue against me & I hadn't informed them.

FiremanDave

SuperHan wrote: »

I don't think so, the driver should have been going slow enough to stop. What if it had been a small child they hit, would that have been the child's fault (I guess to some extent, but surely not 100%...)

I think 50:50 is the most likely outcome.

Depends on where they were when the door was opened.

M0ney

Personally I think the other person is at fault, when I was learning to drive I was told to allow a meter when driving passed any stationary vehicles for the exact reason that someone may open their door. If a small child (difficult to spot in the dark) had been stood at the side of the car nobody would even consider that the fault would be with anyone other than the driver, why is a car door any different?