Is it my fault I scratched my car?

[HadToWreckMyCar]

So I’m in a situation where I scratched my car whilst driving, but wasn’t really given another choice (there was one other choice but it would’ve been a nightmare). I’m wondering who you would hold at fault for this?

I have a diagram, I’m uploading from a phone (please excuse the scribbles my toddler grabbed the pen 😂)

The blue car wasn’t even in a marked bay by the way

It forced itself into the gap before the bays start (assuming the gap that’s there to prevent this problem)

I understand (sort of) why you did that while panicking. I'm not sure why you still seem to think that scratching your car was the best/only idea.

If I couldn't reverse, I would have waited. I don't have enough spare cash lying around to deliberately damage my car.

even those saying that they would wait for 15 cars to reverse on a main road before reversing out themselves

to be fair, we would just wait for 1 car to reverse, the one behind you. What happens in front of them is not really my problem

*behind them, not in front of them, sorry

You should have waited, I'm afraid. It's not your fault, it's the blue car driver's fault.

I didn’t crash by the way, I was stationary before committing to scraping my car 😂 feels ridiculous saying it

Was there another way out of the car park? If you would have waited either no one would be able to get out anyway, and the blue car definitely wouldn't be able to move to let you through, so nothing would have been able to move unless everyone had reversed.

Sounds like a confidence issue. Like you were too shy to wait or to take control of the situation so you just decided scratching your car would be an easier way of getting the whole embarrassing situation over and done with?

I can agree about the confidence thing, but it was less that it was embarrassing and more fear about the massive obstruction I was causing

And even though technically the blue car was the obstruction I felt like there were an insane amount of cars just angrily waiting for me. Not just those on the school road (on both sides, going to and from school) but those trying to go down the main road as well

Blue car driver was an ass, parents who leave no space at all between cars, also not great, though very normal in busy, slow moving traffic. But, yes, it's your fault you scratched your car. Agree with others who would have tried reversing and if the other drivers didn't get the message, got out and spoken to them. It was a sucky position to be put in though.

From your diagrams, it does look like you took the turn far too shallowly, though. Accepting the high wall blocks visibility you should have driven a bit further forward before you started turning and gone in slowly so you could see into the space you were going to drive in. With people riding so close behind it may not have made enough difference, but you shouldn't be driving into somewhere if there is no visibility. I know we all take the lazy corner sometimes, especially on routes we take everyday, but it can backfire when something unexpected happens.

It's not the same though. You don't indicate right and expect everyone to get out of your way.

But if someone is indicating to turn right and you're blocking their route, you do something about it. Similarly if the car in front of you signals they're going to reverse, you do what you can to get out of there way.

OP I’m like that too, I’m fairly new driver and I always worry what the drivers behind me think. Am I too slow etc.
I keep the speeds limits but I always get chased by some arshole making me go like 35 in 30 and regretting it immediately.
I always worry and have no confidence..
I would probably would be like you, just to get over with the situation ASAP.

Yes it is your fault. I get that you couldn't actually go anywhere else, but you had the option to stay put and deal with it. No way would I have damaged my car. I'd have explained to the driver behind and called non emergency police to warn them about the chaos that was about to happen. Ultimately it wouldn't be you causing the blockage, but the blue car.

You are far too nice, it wouldn’t have even occurred to me to do that! Let them beep, I could not care less (and would have got out of my car).

If you can’t progress then everyone waits.

But just this remind me my last week situation on a very busy high street where on both sides are card parked.
I went through the street as it was clear and suddenly bin man lorry appeared and did not wait for me to pass.. so binman lorry pushed through, leaving me a tiny space to get through.
He waved on me to go forward and I realised I could not as there was a cone sticking into the road as of previous roadworks.
Another White van arshole driver behind me literally stuck on my back.i did not move forward as I
That would mean driving into the cone. So the bin man had eventually budged up and moved on side..
So yes I’m happy I did not budge for him and damage my car, though normally I’m very non confident..

So if all the cars were going straight in and you were turning into car park but couldn't squeeze past the car then you should of gone straight up instead of turning .
Is it because you couldn't see ?
I honestly can't see that you didn't edge back one car would of maybe had to move back onto the road to let you out, the car behind you must of been able to see that you needed to reverse back even if the 15 cars behind you didn't .
I'd never squeeze my car through any spot at the risk of damage unless my life depended on it .

I feel your pain op. I regularly have to park in a car park where people park outside of the bays and leave no turning room to get around corners. One day I’m sure my car will get scraped but unfortunately once your in the car park there’s no other way out. Just shit that I will be at fault for someone else’s fucking awful parking

Sounds like a nightmare OP and I can completely understand why you felt you had to scratch your car. Not sure why lots of posters seem to think cars could have squeezed past you or there was room for cars to reverse . It sounds as if it was extremely busy with no space anywhere. People saying that others will move have clearly never driven round where I live at school run time! No way would people have waited too. The idea that each car leaves any space for others to reverse is laughable! I think I would ideally have rung 101 and asked for advise but can’t imagine they would be very helpful . I have deliberately scratched my car on a post coming out of a car park before. Had no choice. It is shitty .

There was another choice, just wait, which is what I would have done, get out of the car and explain to others behind you.

I went through the gap and took the paint off the side of my car. Could I have done anything else?

Bus drivers the world over frequently find themselves presented with inconsiderate twattish parking that blocks their way. They lean on their bus's horn until someone moves the parked vehicle. Can take a while but you'd be surprised how quickly you can locate a driver once the chaos sets in. And drivers that park like that are lazy and rarely far from their cars.

The green car, because if you can't move safely you stay where you are or take a different route.
You weren't given another choice than to scratch your car?
And you have a license?

Well honestly! Everything else, the blue car and presumably the walls were stationary. You were the only thing moving. How on earth can you make this anything other than your fault? Why are you baffled?

Haven’t read the whole thread but it’s your fault for proceeding when there wasn’t any room - sorry, I do feel your pain.

They blocked your way, but because you were considerate of others you proceeded.

What happened to the cars behind you out of interest ?

It’s really annoying and it is technically your fault. I panic when i drive and would of done the same