Car bump - who is to blame

raddy59

I had just parked up in a parking bay in a supermarket car park. Reversed slightly  - maybe 1 ft -  to position the car when a car whizzed behind  scraping the rear bumper. Their car had a scrape along the drivers side fro m the front wheel arch  to the back wheel. My car has slight damage, basically a slight gouge to the bumper on the passenger side (he hit appraching from the drivers side?). Anyhow he has put a claim in, so its gone to the insurance cos. Its my first accident in all my driving (40+ years).  Do I just accept I am at fault here - I will have to pay a £400 excess?

[Deleted User]

Put in a claim if you want, might end up as a split liability. Don't expect your opinion that he "whizzed" past to have any weight, he will argue he was proceeding very slowly and you didn't take care. Next time reverse into the parking slot

DiseasedBunny

It’ll be 50/50, unless there’s video evidence 

raddy59

Thanks both - is it worth talking to the insurance copany about 50/50, or will they do that.  As I said I've never been in this situation before?

eastmidsaver

hi,  make sure you inform your insurance company as soon as you can. 
i wouldn't accept any fault, unless there is evidence that shows it clearly was.   just tell insurers what happened, and let them argue it out with the other side's insurers.   just expect it to be a long dragged out process.   
have you got legal cover?  if so, solicitors will attempt to recover your excess if it is proven not be your fault.   
you will encounter an increase to your premium too, but insurers will reimburse the difference if proven not to be your fault, as well as reinstate any lost NCD.

daveyjp

You only pay excess if you claim for the damage to your car.

You can probably get it fixed for less than £400.

TELLIT01

From the description of the incident the OP would seem to be at fault as they were reversing 'into traffic' thereby causing the accident.  I would be surprised if the driver of the other car would be happy to accept 50/50 liability.  Final decision will be made by the insurers.

csgohan4

OP good idea to have rear facing dash cam as well in future

raddy59

"You only pay excess if you claim for the damage to your car." I didnt know that. Dont I pay the excess on he OP's bill?  the excess is £400. I think I could probably have it fixed for about £50  - its only a small scape. Should I tell the insurance copany I'd get a quote before their garage takes the car?

williamgriffin

raddy59 said:

"You only pay excess if you claim for the damage to your car." I didnt know that. Dont I pay the excess on he OP's bill?  the excess is £400. I think I could probably have it fixed for about £50  - its only a small scape. Should I tell the insurance copany I'd get a quote before their garage takes the car?

No, your insurance would cover the full cost of a third party claim. 

MalMonroe

csgohan4 said:

OP good idea to have rear facing dash cam as well in future

I have one of those but it's no more effective than using rear view mirrors, to be honest. In fact sometimes it's a damn nuisance!