Accident Advice

Dwarf

Member
Sep 14, 2004
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Here is what happened today at the local BART parking lot...

I was coming home from the train, and I pull out and I run into a silver volkswagon and bust up my rear left bumper. The reason I hit it is because it is outside of my field of vision and the car is parked (illegally) in the drive area, blocking traffic. The volkswagon has scratches since my bumper is plastic and the volkswagon is metal I guess.

I then notice that the volkswagon actually hit a Toyota Camry that was parked there and the driver for both cars are no where to be seen.

Like 2 minutes later, the Camry driver comes from the train to see her car has a huge dent in her rear right bumper.

We write down each other's license plate info and then like 10 minutes later, the owner of the silver volkswagon shows up. She claims that her car was parked in the normal parking area, and that someone must have tried to steal her car and run it into the Toyota Camry and then leave.

We call the BART police and he writes down everyone's drivers license info, insurance, etc.

He is going to file a report and gave us contact information and a case #.

I am wondering, is it considered the silver volkswagon driver's fault that she was parked in the drive area illegally and was outside of my field of vision or will I be faulted.

I am attaching a picture to help illustrate the scenario.



 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
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Dumb ass, you should've drove away. Now you're at fault 'cause your car's moving and the other 2 cars were not.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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you ran into a parked car

how did you miss it when you walked up to your car

failure to look around does not excuse you
 

RKS

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,824
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You hit a parked car. You are more at fault than the illegally parked car.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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Originally posted by: everman
"I didn't see it" doesn't mean you're not liable.

what it means is that he's negligent, or worse, reckless.
 

RapidSnail

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2006
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I don't think they can tell if the cars were outside your filed of vision. You might be SOL.
 

Dwarf

Member
Sep 14, 2004
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
you ran into a parked car

how did you miss it when you walked up to your car

failure to look around does not excuse you

Well, I was coming from the other side... the picture shows the path I took to get to my car... and the car parked next to mine was a large station wagon so I can't see the volkswagon behind it.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Sounds like the Jetta owner didn't set the parking brake properly and her car rolled.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
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Originally posted by: Dwarf
Originally posted by: ElFenix
you ran into a parked car

how did you miss it when you walked up to your car

failure to look around does not excuse you

Well, I was coming from the other side... the picture shows the path I took to get to my car... and the car parked next to mine was a large station wagon so I can't see the volkswagon behind it.

again, you failed to look where you were going when driving your car. that is negligent at best, and could be reckless.

i mean, don't you have side mirrors and can't you turn your head around and look out the back and the side?
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: Dwarf
Originally posted by: ElFenix
you ran into a parked car

how did you miss it when you walked up to your car

failure to look around does not excuse you

Well, I was coming from the other side... the picture shows the path I took to get to my car... and the car parked next to mine was a large station wagon so I can't see the volkswagon behind it.

You were moving, the other car was not. It's your fault unfortunately.
 

Dwarf

Member
Sep 14, 2004
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Originally posted by: mugs
Sounds like the Jetta owner didn't set the parking brake properly and her car rolled.

I don't think so, the area the volkwagon owner said she parked is shown in the picture, at the bottom left. How can it pull out backward and then roll forward?

Also, the police officer said that the volkwagon was in my blind spot since I didn't move my car until he arrived.
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
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Originally posted by: mugs
Sounds like the Jetta owner didn't set the parking brake properly and her car rolled.

Doubt it. Why would the Jetta roll at the exact moment the OP drove up to it? Not 5 minutes ago, not 5 minutes later, but at the exact moment the OP drove up to it? Evidence points to OP's lack of driving skills.
 

Dwarf

Member
Sep 14, 2004
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Dwarf
Originally posted by: ElFenix
you ran into a parked car

how did you miss it when you walked up to your car

failure to look around does not excuse you

Well, I was coming from the other side... the picture shows the path I took to get to my car... and the car parked next to mine was a large station wagon so I can't see the volkswagon behind it.

again, you failed to look where you were going when driving your car. that is negligent at best, and could be reckless.

i mean, don't you have side mirrors and can't you turn your head around and look out the back and the side?

I did this as I was pulling out to make sure I didn't hit the station wagon that was parked next to me, but once I was clear of it, I look at my center mirror and straight back and didn't see it in my FOV.

 

NeoPTLD

Platinum Member
Nov 23, 2001
2,544
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Originally posted by: RKS
You hit a parked car. You are more at fault than the illegally parked car.


Maybe you're right, maybe not. The reason behind the space being illegal to park could be because it lies in an area known to be a blind area and creates a hazard.

 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
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Originally posted by: Dwarf
I did this as I was pulling out to make sure I didn't hit the station wagon that was parked next to me, but once I was clear of it, I look at my center mirror and straight back and didn't see it in my FOV.
well i'm glad it was only a car you ran into and not some person.
Originally posted by: Dwarf


Also, the police officer said that the volkwagon was in my blind spot since I didn't move my car until he arrived.
again, you have mirrors do you not? you can turn your head can't you? why the hell wouldn't you turn your head?
 

bradruth

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
13,479
2
81
Originally posted by: Dwarf
Also, the police officer said that the volkwagon was in my blind spot since I didn't move my car until he arrived.

There's a way to see what's in your blind spot. You wanna know what it is?





Do ya?







Wait for it...












Wait for it....












Here it comes....













MOVE AROUND IN YOUR SEAT AND LOOK!
 

Vinfinite

Golden Member
Aug 25, 2005
1,639
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dude you're screwed, you were the only one there when it happened, worse yet you ran into a PARKED CAR, be more careful in a parking lot...
 
Oct 20, 2005
10,978
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Originally posted by: Dwarf
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Dwarf
Originally posted by: ElFenix
you ran into a parked car

how did you miss it when you walked up to your car

failure to look around does not excuse you

Well, I was coming from the other side... the picture shows the path I took to get to my car... and the car parked next to mine was a large station wagon so I can't see the volkswagon behind it.

again, you failed to look where you were going when driving your car. that is negligent at best, and could be reckless.

i mean, don't you have side mirrors and can't you turn your head around and look out the back and the side?

I did this as I was pulling out to make sure I didn't hit the station wagon that was parked next to me, but once I was clear of it, I look at my center mirror and straight back and didn't see it in my FOV.

So what..you want us to all just go "OH ok, I see, yes you are absolutely faultess" ?

:roll:
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: Dwarf
Also, the police officer said that the volkwagon was in my blind spot since I didn't move my car until he arrived.

There's a way to see what's in your blind spot. You wanna know what it is?





Do ya?







Wait for it...












Wait for it....












Here it comes....













MOVE AROUND IN YOUR SEAT AND LOOK!

LIES! If we had to turn our heads when we're driving in our cars, the car manufacturer wouldn't put in all the mirrors.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: Dwarf
I did this as I was pulling out to make sure I didn't hit the station wagon that was parked next to me, but once I was clear of it, I look at my center mirror and straight back and didn't see it in my FOV.
You need your license revoked if you're stupid enough to back up using your mirrors in a normal car. The only time you back up using only mirrors is when you're either in a panel van, towing, or using a much larger vehicle.

You always turn yourself around in the seat when backing up.

Regardless, you are at fault. You will probably be found at fault for the damage to both cars, even though the Jetta owner is obviously lying (if someone got the car to move that far while stealing it, they wouldn't stop and abandon it.

ZV
 

Dwarf

Member
Sep 14, 2004
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66
Originally posted by: Baked
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: Dwarf
Also, the police officer said that the volkwagon was in my blind spot since I didn't move my car until he arrived.

There's a way to see what's in your blind spot. You wanna know what it is?
Do ya?
Wait for it...
Wait for it....
Here it comes....

MOVE AROUND IN YOUR SEAT AND LOOK!

LIES! If we had to turn our heads when we're driving in our cars, the car manufacturer wouldn't put in all the mirrors.

I check my blind spot when changing lanes, its just that the parking lot driving area is a single lane, so I was checking straight back behind me (after I pull out past the stationwagon, which I checked for with the side mirror and turning my head when pulling out).

I will still try to talk to my insurance agent and see what he thinks. Most likely I will have to pay the deductible.
 

Dwarf

Member
Sep 14, 2004
45
0
66
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Dwarf
I did this as I was pulling out to make sure I didn't hit the station wagon that was parked next to me, but once I was clear of it, I look at my center mirror and straight back and didn't see it in my FOV.
You need your license revoked if you're stupid enough to back up using your mirrors in a normal car. The only time you back up using only mirrors is when you're either in a panel van, towing, or using a much larger vehicle.

You always turn yourself around in the seat when backing up.

Regardless, you are at fault. You will probably be found at fault for the damage to both cars, even though the Jetta owner is obviously lying (if someone got the car to move that far while stealing it, they wouldn't stop and abandon it.

ZV

I did turn my body + head to look out the rear window when I pulled out, but the vision of the volkswagon was not in the area I could see. Just thought I would clarify this.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: Dwarf
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Dwarf
I did this as I was pulling out to make sure I didn't hit the station wagon that was parked next to me, but once I was clear of it, I look at my center mirror and straight back and didn't see it in my FOV.
You need your license revoked if you're stupid enough to back up using your mirrors in a normal car. The only time you back up using only mirrors is when you're either in a panel van, towing, or using a much larger vehicle.

You always turn yourself around in the seat when backing up.

Regardless, you are at fault. You will probably be found at fault for the damage to both cars, even though the Jetta owner is obviously lying (if someone got the car to move that far while stealing it, they wouldn't stop and abandon it.

ZV
I did turn my body + head to look out the rear window when I pulled out, but the vision of the volkswagon was not in the area I could see. Just thought I would clarify this.
Regardless, the fault remains yours.

ZV
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: Baked
Originally posted by: mugs
Sounds like the Jetta owner didn't set the parking brake properly and her car rolled.

Doubt it. Why would the Jetta roll at the exact moment the OP drove up to it? Not 5 minutes ago, not 5 minutes later, but at the exact moment the OP drove up to it? Evidence points to OP's lack of driving skills.

I didn't say it rolled right when he hit it, I assumed it had been there for the better part of the day. ;)

Originally posted by: Dwarf
Originally posted by: mugs
Sounds like the Jetta owner didn't set the parking brake properly and her car rolled.

I don't think so, the area the volkwagon owner said she parked is shown in the picture, at the bottom left. How can it pull out backward and then roll forward?

Also, the police officer said that the volkwagon was in my blind spot since I didn't move my car until he arrived.

Jetta owner's story doesn't add up. Seriously, who would go to the trouble of stealing a car and then abandon it because they hit a parked car? :confused: