Myself and another car bumped who’s at fault?

[6Claire]

I was parked parallel to a large van, I had set of pulling out checked left was clear then was pulling out on an angle going right, all of a sudden small bang, my front passenger side bumper hit with a drivers side bumper she had come I think from other side of van and was heading my way! I believe she should have seen me as I was fully out and she should have had time to stop, it was gravel school car park so no lines etc. we both said there that neither of us felt we were at fault so I’m unsure what to do insurance wise as could be cheaper for us to fix our own car! What would you think? On pic if you see patch on gravel that was in front of my driver side when I was parked so it shows how much I’d already got out giving it was in line with my driver side back wheel and my back bumper lines up nearly with back bumper of van.

God forbid you have a bit of anticipation. No one is saying the cars directly in front of you. If that's your answer don't get in a drivers seat again.

No one is saying she was right in front of you when you set off. She was moving from the left to the right and you were moving forwards and slightly to the right with your view obscured by the van. She must have been to your left when you moved off unless she teleported in at the last second. The problem is her view of you and your view of her was obscured.

I was parked at the side of the van ‘parallel’ side by side so if I pulled had pulled straight out as she drove across I’d of side swiped her, I was already more or less out of where I’d been sat stationary (my full cars length) out but yes on an angle as I’d gone towards the right as that’s the direction I was heading to leave the car park! When she somehow was then at the side of my passenger bumper and we collided I backed off then a bit to get out to assess the damage as she did.

Which is why I’m wondering how on earth she’s driving towards my car that she didn’t see it out in that angle and stop before impact she surely should have been driving slow? Obvs I don’t see this part so wouldn’t know if she was even looking in my direction or was distracted or anything! She should have been looking straight at me in my direction as that’s the direction she was driving so I’d of thought she should have had in a car park enough time to see me and stop! Even if due to rules give way etc and I was at fault how didn’t she stop when driving towards me?

@6Claire are you still arguing with everyone who says it was your fault? Why did you bother asking if you don't like the answers?

Same way you didn't stop when driving towards her.

You're at fault.

Which is why I’m wondering how on earth she’s driving towards my car that she didn’t see it out in that angle and stop before impact she surely should have been driving slow? Obvs I don’t see this part so wouldn’t know if she was even looking in my direction or was distracted or anything! She should have been looking straight at me in my direction as that’s the direction she was driving so I’d of thought she should have had in a car park enough time to see me and stop! Even if due to rules give way etc and I was at fault how didn’t she stop when driving towards me?

You didn't see her. Don't be so shocked she didn't see you.

You’ve pulled out, the van has obscured your view to the left and you’ve missed her coming. From her point of view, you’ve suddenly emerged from behind a van.
I think you are at fault, as do most people on this thread. Whether you choose to believe us is a different matter by the looks of it…

She was not there it was clear as I had already began pulling out I know that for sure I am not blind, which is why I said if she was there when I initially started pulling out I’d of gone into the side of her that’s the point I’m trying to make! How was I careless checking left then checking right as my left was clear and right was so I’d began manoeuvring out to the point I’d got my full car out from the space I was stationary? You know as she ‘would have been there already’ in front of my car as I pulled out! Whereas I’ve show in the image I was more or less already fully out driving very slow anticipating children walking around getting into cars at home time

She wasn’t there as I’d come
out she’s approached towards me id say from my blind spot on opposite side of car so of course I wouldn’t have seen her then at that point. But at the start when I began and edged forwards and had more or less got out she was not there! I’ll leave it here as I definitely feel she came up from passenger side and caught my front end maybe we’re both at fault! Or if they decide I am what will be will be!

Maybe you didn’t see her and you pulled out on her not leaving her enough time to break

It wasn't clear. If it was, you wouldn't be on Mumsnet asking for advice on why you've had a smash.

You weren't already out. You're at a precarious angle which means only a teeny part is in view from behind the van. You're a bit out. You've pulled into her established path.

You were careless because if you weren't, again, you wouldn't be on here asking for advice.

Just give it up. At best it's 50/50.

Ok OP you are correct and eveyone else is wrong. Does that make you feel better?

It doesn't matter what you or anyone else thinks anyway the insurance companies will decide.

You have said more than once that she must have been going at speed. If that was the case, the damage to the cars wouldn't be insignificant and the impact would have been felt by both of you, too. It looks like you pulled out in front of her and your view was obscured by the massive van or you took longer than you think to move off after last looking left.

If she had gone into the back of your car she would be at fault.

But you hit her car towards the back of her car. You pulled forwards into her car as your were moving out of a car parking space.

You are at fault. Even though you don't seem to realise.

I understand her appearing out of nowhere was unexpected but, she had right of way, you didn't. The onus is on you to triple check especially if there is a van blocking your vision.

Let the insurance sort this out.

It's pretty obvious what's happened, you've pulled out, checked left (clear) then proceeded to pull out at the exact moment she's come along, you obviously haven't purposely driven into her and she hasn't driven into you.

Neither of you could see each other till the last minute because the van was in the way, so you've both basically gone to occupy the same space at the same time, and neither of you could see the other because the van was obscuring both your views, she had right of way though as she was fully turned out and past the front of the van at the time you hit her.

I suspect you were going quicker then you think as you pulled out, OR instead of pulling out straight to check what was there around the van, you had a quick look then drove off at an angle instead, putting her in your blind spot.. either way means you didn't look properly.

At the time of pulling out she was there approaching though, she probably assumed you would stop seeing as you didn't have right of way.

You've both made assumptions, her that you would stop and you that you were okay to pull out when you obviously couldn't see properly. But the onus is on you to check your way is clear before pulling out, if you can't see well enough then you don't just pull out and hope nothing is coming.

You drove into the side of her car. I think that makes it your fault.

You say you checked left and it was clear - obviously it wasn't clear.

You just keep repeating that she wasn’t there but that’s just factually incorrect. For her to have pulled out of her parking space fully, driven past the van and half way past your space all in the time you only got part way out of your space is impossible.
She was there, you clearly didn’t see her.

I agree with this. It'll probably be 50:50.

I'd say 50/50 given where you were driving was a 'free for all'. From insurance point of view it would appear you basically just drove into one another.

I'd aim for 50/50.
Could you see round to the left of the van as you were pulling out? It looks quite big.