Neighbour reversed into my car, as I was reversing

[Jess92xo]

Thoughts please.

I got into my car on my drive earlier and saw another car coming down the road (slowly as if they were going to park up on that side of the road).

They go past the house opposite and stop, break lights on for what felt like about 20 seconds or so. I then reverse off of my drive until I reach the other side of the road and as I am about to put my car into "drive" and turn my wheel to move forwards, the stationary car starts to reverse with the back of my car right behind him. I beep my horn continuously and he doesn't even look round to my direction. He then hits my car, and even then still doesn't look round! He eventually looks round and looks totally confused.

Turns out he is my neighbour who lives opposite (I haven't met him properly yet) picking up a new car for his daughter.

He doesn't say much but gets out to look at the back of his car. He seemed quite reserved and doesn't admit any fault, neither do I. I told him that he looked parked up as he wasn't moving (I thought he was waiting to pick someone up) so I then thought it was safe to go into that side of the road when reversing.

I am not angry as these things happen but he should have checked all of his mirrors before reversing back, our road is pretty quiet and no one was there 30 seconds or so before he decided to move again. I just can't believe he didn't hear the horn to stop

He seemed quite timid and did said that all is ok and he doesn't want to go via insurance etc (neither damage was bad - just little scratches) so I'm not sure why he said this. But I'm just feeling so stressed out that this happened with a neighbour! Even though it's not my fault, I hate anything like this that makes things feel a bit awkward

I just want to see what others thought who is at fault? I'm very self critical and am now replaying it over and over as to whether I shouldn't of reversed out, but he genuinely looked parked up for what felt like long enough to believe he wasn't about to reverse.

I am the biggest worrier and stress head and came home and burst into tears! My partner couldn't work out why I was so upset and neither can I

Been driving for nearly 40 years. Highway code 201 -

201
Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.

dh has been in an accident when someone drove into his side when he was reversing. Other driver was at fault.

Put some facts behind your statement and show me the "law" where it says you should "never" reverse out of your drive?

I had to do so to avoid my next door neighbours car parked on the road. It's quiet roads but lots of parked cars to avoid when getting in and off

Do you have a dashcam?

Even if there is no footage at the back it should have sensed that something went into your car.

Anyone reversing without looking is at fault... claiming you 'didn't see' a car is on no planet an excuse.

If someone failed to see a CAR theres no possible way they can claim they checked there wasn't a pedestrian/dog/child/cyclist etc... behind them.

Its a lack of basic awareness and unsafe driving.

The issue you have is proving you where actively aware of him parked there and he was not actively aware of you reversing before he moved. It comes down to he said she said unless you have proof.

The way I read the OP, the poster had stopped reversing, i.e. was stationery, and was about to drive forward. At this point the other driver reversed into her.

I would get my car checked to be sure there's no damage you can't see. Presumably it was low impact as the reversing speed of the other driver was slow?

If possible, reverse onto your drive so you can drive forward off it. It's much safer.

It's not always possible to reverse into a driveway. I live on a 50mph. If I'm approaching my driveway from the opposite side of the road I would have to stop in my lane and wait until the opposing traffic stopped for me to reverse across their lane. It would be a very very stupid thing to do.

If it just paint it will be cheaper to drop both cars off at a body shop than pay one lot of excess. DH has just had 4 panels resprayed for £600 excellent job on a rare paint colour. People only think insurance is cheaper as they go through a stealer

No cars were damaged so why the drama? Learn from it and move on.

Until very recently (2017) reversing around corners was literally part of the driving test. Its not illegal to reverse on to roads and still taught by many instructors.

Bollocks. The Highway Code says reverse in and drive out when you can

Not never ever

@ElatedLemonExpert
It's slightly cringe that you are criticising someone's ignorance of the law whilst actually being the one who is ignorant of the law.

Can you turn in your drive or do you have to reverse out? I'm not trying to catch you out, I was on a 40, and I found reversing in I would get honked at, but reversing out people never honked and always let me out.

I was in a minor bump and other party said they didn't want to go through insurance then went through it anyway and I got a major bollocking from insurance company (but thankfully nothing more serious) so I suggest you report it anyway.

I would say he was at fault as he didn't check before reversing, you were already mid manoeuvre before he started reversing so it's his responsibility to check the road is clear.

@downwindofyou please mind your language. Plus you are wrong.

A) bollocks isn't hardly bad when the words fuck and cunt are accepted on MN

B) I'm not wrong. Perhaps you should go study the highway code before you drive again Petal

@Secradonugh

Can you turn in your drive or do you have to reverse out? I'm not trying to catch you out, I was on a 40, and I found reversing in I would get honked at, but reversing out people never honked and always let me out.
Actually it's not a problem for me as I have a really long driveway with a turning circle at the house end but most houses on the road have a short driveway directly in front of their houses so would have to reverse out.

My neighbour (A) was reversing out of her drive and their other neighbour (B) was reversing along the road and the two collided - I saw it happen and assumed that it was an easy A was at fault thing, but the other neighbour was deemed at fault. Though knowing the two parties that could just as easily have been the personalities involved and who was adamant vs a bit of a pushover.

(so that was a pointless tale to tell but here we are).

I don't think OP was at fault. She was aware of the other car, saw the brake lights, waited only to find that they weren't going anywhere, reversed out carefully, was stationery while changing from reverse to forward gear, and then before she could get out of the way the other driver reversed without looking, and didn't stop when she alerted them to the impending incident with her horn.

OP, get the car checked over before agreeing with him that nothing needs doing. I've been stung by that before, and sometimes there is structural damage that isn't obvious to the casual observer and without a qualified person looking at it on a ramp.

Reversing out onto a 50 sounds like a terrifying prospect!

I am fortune enough to almost always be in a situation where I can reverse park. In particular I absolutely hate reversing out of a parking bay in a car park. Members of the public are effing stupid, even if they've just got out of their own car having clearly been the driver they will often walk behind moving vehicles, merrily dragging their kids into the line of fire too. With even the most cautious of intentions visibility is not as good when you reverse out rather than in.

If he was moving slowly and you were sat there beeping - why didn't you drive 'forward' and out the way?

Going through insurance can cost more - as your insurance (and his) would go up next year

This is a 50/50, you reversed into each other. This is why you should never reverse off your drive, and why it's illegal to reverse onto a main road. I'm pleased no-one was injured.

I've worked in motor claims for 25 years. Your insurers would settle on a 50/50 basis. Both of you were reversing and no evidence as to who was stationary or not.

It’s not illegal to reverse off your driveway? Don’t know why everyone’s agreeing that it is without googling it.

go to insurance and let them sort it.
sounds like they weren’t insured.
these situations are what insurance is for

i parke up behind a car he started his car an put it in reverse i beeped but he just went into me

when he got out claime i wasnt there a minute ago! i mean ffs could have been a child there

Mine was a 40. A reverse camera does help especially if it's fish eye and large screen, but I completely agree should never have to be in that situation.