Accident: reversed into neighbor's car parked opposite my driveway. What to do?

[atcji]

Had a very unfortunate accident last night. Was reversing my E-series R8 from my garage/driveway and touched neightbor's car parked right opposite my driveway with one side on the curb/nature strip. I've heard the beeping of reverse sensors but they always beep in this position because they react to the curb anyway. It is really a minor scratch on my car back, but the other side claims I did a major damage to her bumper. I made some photos of her car (other side looks similar to the "damaged" side anyway, plus bonnet is damaged obviously from a previous collision). I am with suncorp 850$ excess, got a call from AAMI that it was my fault and I have to pay the excesss, sent my claim to sunscorp providing the details. It is really minor damage to my bumper but if suncorp make me pay 850$ i should probably get it replaced to a brand new state. It is Evoke color, I am wondering if there is a repair who can do the job properly or should I just leave the old bumper because the new would not match or would not fit properly and it would be too noticable. Any advice? Also i checked the Victorian Road rules they do say that parking while blocking someone's driveway is illegal. I contacted the council 2 years ago complaining about the same neighbor but they just gave me parking inspectors number to call. Anything i can do to make the neighbor liable for her negligence, parking on the curb, exaggerating the damages to her car? Please help :(

[chops]

As crap a position as it was in - the car was parked.
100% your fault, cop it and move on IMO.

[theVman]

My street is similar and it does make it very hard to get out.

Maybe you can talk to the police or council to get their view but I would say that its probably one of those things you are just going to have to take.

Your own vehicle is up to you (repairs wise) but if I was forking our $850 I would certainly want to get my own car fixed to help justify the money. Make sure you use a quality repairer in this instance.

[ssgirl2]

Just before going any further...you said
It is really a minor scratch on my car back, but the other side claims I did a major damage to her bumper. I made some photos of her car (other side looks similar to the "damaged" side anyway, plus bonnet is damaged obviously from a previous collision). ...If you have one very minor scratch and they are stating you caused more damage than is physically possible, could you ask her to park her car where it was and you reverse as close as possible to her car (just as the accident happened) and take a few pictures from different angles. These will just be "for your records" at this point in time and if your pictures can proove their story is rubbish, it may give you some more leverage into manouvering them into doing what you want to do ;)

Is the damage that you are certain you caused (not their story) only on one panel? If it is, you should be able to get out of it much cheaper than it would be if you paid the excess and messed with your no-claim bonus, future premiums, etc. Ask the owners to get a quote and then take that quote to your panel shop with the pictures and see what they think.

If your vehicle only has a tiny scratch, you may be able to hide it (panel shop/touch up guys, etc) for less than $150 - as you are concerned about the paint matching scenario.

SS :)

[tyson]

dont rely on beeps, look in your mirror
your fault

[atcji]

It is a dark street, no street lighting, the only to see her car was to get out of the car and look behind. In this situation side mirrors and rearview mirror are useless

[macca33]

Mate, unfortunately you are in the sheizer here. YOU reversed into another - stationary - vehicle.

There is NO rule prohibiting a person parking on the opposite side of the road, in-line with your driveway - as long as that vehicle does not cause undue obstruction. (Road Rules 197 - 199) are relevant to parking and your scenario). Yes, parking on a nature strip is an offence (technically), but had that car been on the roadway proper, then I would assume you would have hit their car earlier than you did.

Road Rule 296 covers your scenario and indeed, you appear to have committed an offence, which the insurance companies will most likely point out to you. The basic tenets of the reversing rule is: a) do so safely, and; b) do not reverse further than reasonably necessary.

Whether the blame is apportioned 50/50 or in any other manner - you are BOTH at fault, technically.

Good luck with it all,

Macca

[BlueSS]

Had a very unfortunate accident last night. Was reversing my E-series R8 from my garage/driveway and touched neightbor's car parked right opposite my driveway with one side on the curb/nature strip. I've heard the beeping of reverse sensors but they always beep in this position because they react to the curb anyway. It is really a minor scratch on my car back, but the other side claims I did a major damage to her bumper. I made some photos of her car (other side looks similar to the "damaged" side anyway, plus bonnet is damaged obviously from a previous collision). I am with suncorp 850$ excess, got a call from AAMI that it was my fault and I have to pay the excesss, sent my claim to sunscorp providing the details. It is really minor damage to my bumper but if suncorp make me pay 850$ i should probably get it replaced to a brand new state. It is Evoke color, I am wondering if there is a repair who can do the job properly or should I just leave the old bumper because the new would not match or would not fit properly and it would be too noticable. Any advice? Also i checked the Victorian Road rules they do say that parking while blocking someone's driveway is illegal. I contacted the council 2 years ago complaining about the same neighbor but they just gave me parking inspectors number to call. Anything i can do to make the neighbor liable for her negligence, parking on the curb, exaggerating the damages to her car? Please help :(

I've just dropped my daily run about into the panel shop to be repaired today as it was victim of a similar incident. Mine was parked on the side of the road, out the front of a mates place and the neighbors backed into the side of it. I did exactly as your neighbors did, contacted AAMI and let them deal with it.. we pay good money every year for insurance so when it's needed you use it.. it's not your neighbors fault you didn't watch where you were going..

Exaggerating the damages to her car? AAMI will require her to get 2 quotes for repairs, just because it doesn't look like much damage don't be surprised when you see the value.... my small claim was quoted at $3k

Pay your excess and move on..

[LS1Grange]

I just think its poxy that its costing so much for this minor touch.

A few years back in the Magna I had :hide: took off at the lights and the chick in front of me stopped. I didnt stop in time. fine it was my fault. but it bent my licence plate and put a tiny dint in the bumper of her toyota harlot.

I thought that's OK wont go through insurance cos it will be cheap as.

Then a few months later I get the report saying they replaced the bumper, the tail lights, the badging and decal and re-sprayed the whole rear end. $3000+.

It sounds like it could be a cheap repair but now theres the whole $850 excess no to mention what it's going to do to your premium when it could have been a $150 fix.

If I ever had another accident I'd be taking pictures at the scene for sure then when the other party say this and that was damaged with their car I'll give them the dont argue with the proof to go with it.

[ssgirl2]

I just re-read your first post and realised that you drive an E-series R8...

Cop it sweet and get it all fixed through insurance - an $850 excess and a little extra on your insurance premium for a few years pfft. :stick:

SS ;)

[KingClifton]

I'd be checking whether the car was illegally parked. I'd heard years ago that you could be deemed at least partially at fault if your car wasn't parked in line with the road traffic code (which used to mean the outside of your tyres no more than 30cm or so from the kerb).

Worth looking into. Even if it means you only have to pay a certain percentage.


a little extra on your insurance premium for a few years pfft. :stick:

Shouldn't affect your premium if you have NCB protection - but I'd get this confirmed so they can't come back at you at renewal time.

[Drewie]

Not sure how wide your road is, but if it is narrow I would check how much room there is from the edge of a parked car to the other kerb.
The Vic Road rules state you must not park in an area if you do not leave at least 3 metres of clear road.

[WhiteLion]

Not sure how wide your road is, but if it is narrow I would check how much room there is from the edge of a parked car to the other kerb.
The Vic Road rules state you must not park in an area if you do not leave at least 3 metres of clear road.

Yes, but he has admitted he reversed across the middle line of the road, An offence in NSW I believe, not sure about you Mexicans!!

[BRISVX]

If it is being handled by your insurance company, just let them work out who is at fault. Probably best to draw a mudmap for them, and explain the details. I am sure that if they can apportion any blame to the other party, they will. I recall a guy at work having his car very badly damaged while it was parked, and he ended up having to pay a good % of the costs.....reason being that the other driver's insurance company argued that his car didn't have appropriate registration to be parked in a loading zone at the time.

[5.7heaven]

what to do???:flip2: :driving: