Person opened their door as I reserved into a space - fault?
Discussion
I was slowly reversing into a space this morning when all of a sudden the driver of the car next to me opened her door and hit my rear quarter, as I was moving back. It's caused a scuff (in one of the few unprotected places on a Cactus). She just started to wander off but when I called after her to suggest she'd hit our car her response was that I'd reversed into her door.
Obviously I did reverse in to the door but only because she suddenly put the door where it wasn't previously.
She clearly didn't care either way and just left to do her shopping before I could even get out of the car.
I can probably polish most of the damage out but there are a couple of deep scratches that I won't be able to.
Rear dashcam footage doesn't capture the door opening but it does show it was closed as I reversed past it.
Her attitude has enraged me more than the actual damage but is it just something I should get over or should I go to our insurance company and discuss this with them? Seems somewhat crap to have to just accept that she's flung the door at the car without looking and then left the scene without so much as an apology.
Her car, a Mini, was generally shabby and seemed to already have its share of dings, ours wasn't until now.
Note scratches perfectly placed between hideous protective plastic
Edit: Video showing nothing: https://youtu.be/a8M226BG9E8
Obviously I did reverse in to the door but only because she suddenly put the door where it wasn't previously.
She clearly didn't care either way and just left to do her shopping before I could even get out of the car.
I can probably polish most of the damage out but there are a couple of deep scratches that I won't be able to.
Rear dashcam footage doesn't capture the door opening but it does show it was closed as I reversed past it.
Her attitude has enraged me more than the actual damage but is it just something I should get over or should I go to our insurance company and discuss this with them? Seems somewhat crap to have to just accept that she's flung the door at the car without looking and then left the scene without so much as an apology.
Her car, a Mini, was generally shabby and seemed to already have its share of dings, ours wasn't until now.
Note scratches perfectly placed between hideous protective plastic
Edit: Video showing nothing: https://youtu.be/a8M226BG9E8
Edited by thetapeworm on Monday 24th June 10:00
TwigtheWonderkid said:
When you are reversing, unless you hit another reversing vehicle, anything that happens is down to you. As the person reversing, the onus is always on you to ensure the path is clear, and remains clear throughout the manoeuvre.
That would be my take on it.
That's kind of where I am with it too but it's pretty much impossible to avoid someone flinging their door into your car no matter how much care you take That would be my take on it.
stuartmmcfc said:
Tbh, as annoying as it is, I’d try and move on. Any other Avenue is just not worth it IMO.
You're absolutely right of course, it's just sickening to come across one of the many humans out there with such a crap attitude. Any suggestions on how to get my wife to agree with you? I was driving her car
TwigtheWonderkid said:
When you are reversing, unless you hit another reversing vehicle, anything that happens is down to you. As the person reversing, the onus is always on you to ensure the path is clear, and remains clear throughout the manoeuvre.
That would be my take on it.
How could the OP have stopped if the door was opened suddenly? This is no different to the door being banged into his car when he was stopped - the other driver is clearly at fault.That would be my take on it.
ElectricPics said:
How could the OP have stopped if the door was opened suddenly? This is no different to the door being banged into his car when he was stopped - the other driver is clearly at fault.
Yes, you'd think so but that's not the way it works. A possible defence for the door opener might be "the reverser knew that someone was just about to get out of the car so why didn't they wait?". See a few elderley folks reversing/driving into supermarkets spaces nowadays with little awareness.popeyewhite said:
Yes, you'd think so but that's not the way it works. A possible defence for the door opener might be "the reverser knew that someone was just about to get out of the car so why didn't they wait?". See a few elderley folks reversing/driving into supermarkets spaces nowadays with little awareness.
Is the crystal ball an option or standard? hutchst said:
Another good reason to buy a car with a reversing camera.
I don't know - cars I've driven with them, you tend to stare at the screen, which can't be a good thing.The one thing that never ceases to bemuse me is reverse parking. It's been done to death on here and I know all the pros and cons but on balance it makes more sense to me to forward park.
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