I backed into a car – is this my fault?
https://imgur.com/a/1Jz79IV
While my instinct tells me I’m liable for the damage, I’d appreciate your thoughts before I decide to cover the repair costs myself.
As I was backing down my driveway, a car stopped behind me on our cul-de-sac. The driver mentioned she noticed her clock was an hour off due to the time change and wanted to fix it before going any further. Unfortunately, she didn’t pull over to the side, although she wasn’t exactly in the center of the road either.
I had already checked my surroundings and thought it was clear when I started to back up. The other vehicle had just entered my blind spot while I was scanning for traffic, making it impossible for me to see her in my mirrors until I had turned enough to tap her bumper. The video may look like a glitch where I suddenly appear to bump into her, but my speed was steady, and the impact only caused minor surface scuffs and a small area of spider-webbing on the paint.
Initially, I thought I had overlooked a parked car by the street, but reviewing the doorbell footage revealed just how unlucky this sequence of events was.
Do you think this one is entirely my fault?
It sounds like a tough situation, and I can understand why you’d feel responsible for the incident. Generally, when backing out of a driveway, the driver is expected to ensure it’s safe to do so, regardless of the circumstances. In this case, even though the other driver stopped in a questionable spot, the primary responsibility for checking for oncoming vehicles falls on you since you were the one backing up.
While it may feel unfair given the circumstances, it’s important to recognize that drivers have a responsibility to be aware of their surroundings. Given that you were unable to see her until it was too late, it does highlight how quickly situations can change when driving.
Ultimately, it sounds like you’ve assessed the situation thoughtfully, and if you decide to take care of the repair out of pocket, that might help avoid complications with insurance and keep things amicable. However, you could also consider discussing it with your insurance provider to get guidance on how to proceed, as they can provide you with different perspectives based on their experience.