Help just had a scrape in mums car

[jenie]

Didn't know where to put this but I'm hoping that there are some very clever MNers out there who can help me with this problem.

I was reversing out of a space (slowly as another car was parked v.close) when as I was just about to pull away and a man reversed into me! He said that it was my fault and ofcourse I said no it wasn't you reversed into me, he had a very new car and it has a rather big ding in the back, my mums got off with only a scrape.

I don't plan on claiming and neither does my mum but this guy reckons that he is going to claim against my insurance!

My question is that as this happened on a car park (at B&Q) do I have to give him my insurance details when he phones later or can I tell him to get lost as the accident happend on private land?

Please help

Thank you in advance.

Were you actually stationary when the scrape occurred? Was your mum in the car too, to witness it?

If he definately reversed into you, then I would let him claim, report it straight to your insurers, and let him get on with it.

If it was 'knock for knock' you might be best claiming anyway. Would help if you had a witness.

I think just telling him to 'go away' might cause trouble, esp. if he has your address and phone number

I would have been rolling back but very slowly as I was just about to put the car into 1st gear to pull away.

No but dd was I guess that a 4yr old wouldn't be a very good witness

If there are witnesses he will have to prove you are at fault. Whilst you can remember write down everything that happened, speeds and directions and draw a diagram of any car positions, including parked ones. What is your honest thought on it - who do you think was at fault and why?

If you can't agree then suggest you sort your own out instead. New cars are notourious for damaging very easily in a big way - crumple zones and all that and can be expensive to put right, especially if metallic or pearlacent (sp?) paint. If yours isn't too bad you may then get away with not claiming on your own insurance (save higher premiums next time and keep no claims).

Sorry, first line should read "If there ane NO witnesses"

message withdrawn

Hula - I honestly think that he was at fault because I'd finished my manouver and was about to pull off and he was part the way through doing his manouver iyswim.

I will draw a diagram now whilst it's still fresh in my mind, I have no real problem with giving him my details, just would rather not as I know that he is going to say that it was all my fault, I guess that's why you have insurance though isn't it?

Ho hum will phone B&Q and ask if they have a camera in their car park though thanks Twiglett hadn't thought of that.

See you're all very clever MN'ers I hadn't thought about drawing pictures so that I could keep it all fresh in my mind and certainly not about cameras in the car park!

Thank you all

Anyway must go and pack as I'm off to Birmingham in about 2hrs for a week so no MN for me

message withdrawn

Make all your pics/notes now while fresh - the insurance companies will want them anyway on any claim forms regardless of who is right and wrong. The forms also ask you to say who you think is at fault - stick to your guns. The more info you can provide the better chance you have of proving it wasn't your fault.

Then go and enjoy your visit and leave it up to him to make the next move.

Not sure if this helps, but dh was recently reversing into a parking space, when a woman (again in a brand new car!)came round a corner too fast and drove into the back of our car. Our car (Land Rover) was undamaged, her car (MG something-or-other) had a large scratch on its lovely bumper, of course painted to match the rest of the car. We are absolutely sure she was in the wrong, but our insurance company say that they will settle her claim, as the person who is reversing is deemed to be responsible ( a bit like the situation where one car goes into the back of another, and the first car (i.e. the one behind) is always responsible.

If this rule is applied, the man who reversed into you is responsible!

Another tip for the future, keep a disposable camera in the glove box- if you have any more prangs, whip out the camera and photograph everything there and then: damage done, positions of the cars etc. This can help a lot when it comes to a disagreement over who was where and what damage was done. I was once driven into by a lorry, and the driver claimed that I had driven into him! I was able to show with the help of the photos, that the scratches and dents on my car could only have been caused by someone driving into me from my right. Not only did I keep my no claims discount, but the driver was prosecuted!