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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

I suspect I probably Am BU but just so bloody cross

21 replies

Spamspamspam · 03/02/2013 19:44

I came out of the house today, got in my car and went to reverse out of my drive. There was nothing on the dropped kerb right outside my driveway.

I looked back, saw it was clear and started reversing very slowly as I always do, in a split second a friend turned up to drop off my daughter and pulled up right behind me, saw I was reversing and stayed put even though there was yards of space in front and behind my actual driveway. She apparently tooted (daughter says it was a tiny toot) which I didn't hear and although I was checking in my mirrors, I didn't see her - think she was right behind me in a blind spot - the inevitable happened and I hit her.

Her car has a small dent but with cars these days it will probably need a whole new wing mirror. Mine is scratched - not too bad but will probably need a new bumper.

I am so effing cross - whatever happens is going to cost and I believe that you are automatically in the wrong if you are in reverse? I don't know whether to go to the insurance as I have a £500 excess and I might be able to get the work done cheaper than the excess. Or should I claim but if I do I will lose my no claims which will put my insurance up loads.

I am probably being unreasonable but who on earth would stand, park, pull up behind a reversing vehicle? It strikes me as a bloody stupid thing to do.

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 03/02/2013 19:47

It's probably hard for you to put into words (guess we had to have been there) but I can't work out how you failed to see her if you were being as careful as you say you were?

Unless she approached at 100mph and braked at the exact second you pulled out.

Or maybe I just don't understand what you're saying.

Either way, I'd try to sort it without insurance if I were you.

Bejeena · 03/02/2013 19:49

Sorry to hear this :-( Don't have the answer but I do know that you should always reverse IN to a drive and drive out they teach that in driving lessons, or did with me.

I'd say you can get the dent fixed for her for a lot cheaper than going through insurance and chalk it down to experience.

BikeRunSki · 03/02/2013 19:49

Ggggrrrr ...

I think you are right about being at fault if you are the one reversing. If it is just a friend's car and no one or anything else was hurt, then suggest using a local bodywork shop and not going through insurance.
How annoying. I agree your friend was a bit silly.

BikeRunSki · 03/02/2013 19:49

Ggggrrrr ...

BikeRunSki · 03/02/2013 19:49

Ggggrrrr ...

OHforDUCKScake · 03/02/2013 19:49

I cant really understand it either.

Did she park across the dropped curb?

BikeRunSki · 03/02/2013 19:49

Ggggrrrr ...

BikeRunSki · 03/02/2013 19:49

Ggggrrrr ...

BikeRunSki · 03/02/2013 19:49

Ggggrrrr ...

OHforDUCKScake · 03/02/2013 19:50

One more time Bike?

Didnt quite catch ya there.

WorraLiberty · 03/02/2013 19:51

Bike I do wish you'd tell us what you're trying to say

Uppermid · 03/02/2013 19:52

What did your friend say?

chocoluvva · 03/02/2013 19:54

How annoying.

Ask her to give you a quote for the repair. Sometimes they can be fixed by specialist panel beaters.

lurkedtoolong · 03/02/2013 19:55

I'm not quite sure how she could have been in a blind spot if she was right behind you...

Original poster

Spamspamspam · 03/02/2013 19:56

Yes she parked right across the dropped kerb and yes she must have zoomed up right in the split second I was looking out of the right hand mirror - she drove up from the left. I also then looked out the left hand window and didn't see her car.....

I am very careful as although it is not a busy road - more of a quiet side lane I know there are pedestrians etc that come past. Most people see me reversing and then wait on the pavement either side or I wave them past and wait for them.

My daughter says they were all sitting in the car saying ooh mummy don't hit us etc which I find totally weird, her car was still running so why on earth did she not carry on for a couple of feet? It just seems so against human nature to put yourself in that position....

I am now going to reverse into my drive and come out forward

OP posts:

MyHeadWasInTheSandNowNot · 03/02/2013 19:57

Bike

Why don't you look out of your rear window? Relying on your mirrors is not smart. It's annoying, but you were in the wrong, not her - though she didn't help!

WorraLiberty · 03/02/2013 20:04

Good job it was a car and not a kid on a scooter really.

They zoom about all over the place here.

Original poster

Spamspamspam · 03/02/2013 20:08

Worra - I totally agree, I have shuddered thinking the same.

It's something I really worry about and subsequently have taught my daughter to be very careful with driveways when she is on her scooter or bike. She knows not to stand/scoot behind a reversing vehicle, its common sense really.

OP posts:

TomDudgeon · 03/02/2013 20:10

If they had time to make complete sentence comments then it wasn't a split second thing

Any one can pull up at the side of the road, people do it when something large is coming the other way for example.

lljkk · 03/02/2013 20:15

I feel for you Spam, it's the sort of numpty thing I would do. She was a numpty too, but legally I think you're more at fault.

Original poster

Spamspamspam · 03/02/2013 20:15

Tom - it doesn't take long to say ooh mummy don't hit us even if it was a split second or 5 seconds surely you would see the reverse lights and just move up a couple of feet?

Anyway I guess I am going to have to bite the bullet and pay or make a claim with the insurance and see what their view is. I am just so annoyed about it. If it was the other way round I would have never parked across someones driveway in the first place, let alone if I saw them reversing out of their drive. There is plenty of space either side of the drive to pull up and park.

OP posts:

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