Expert: Richard Hixenbaugh - 3/31/2009

Question
Recently a friend of mine has hit my car, and she is saying its my fault aswel as hers. my story is that we were parked next to eachother with the exit of the car park behind us, she was on my left and reversed, turned to the right but didnt have enough space to get all the way round completely to reach the exit. By this time i had reversed out, seen she didnt have room to turn. stopped and she reversed straight back into my car, in the drivers door. her story is that she looked in her mirror before reversing and i wasnt right behind her but was moving, and then she didnt check again and went back into my car while i was still reversing back. there is no scratches on my door to show i was moving, i beeped so saw her, and if she had of looked in her mirror she would have seen i was almost behind her? we are going to go through insurance and give both stories what do you think they will say? x

Answer
Hi Libby,

These type of accidents are very difficult to determine who is at fault. Each of you will have a slightly differing story and expect the claims person to see things your way.

The likely result is that liability will be determined to be 50/50. From the sounds of things the damage is minimal. You will each pay half of each others damage and continue to be friends. Of course I an in the states where things may be done a bit differently.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh