So I got into my first accident earlier tonight, it happened at a gas station. After i filled up my car i hopped in started it up...the usual, looked around...my main focus was this lady who was about to leave. Her pump was right next to the drive way that led to the main street. Well as im watching her to make sure she wasn't going to move. I put my car in gear barley rolling, this guy in a crossfire comes swooping in front of me. He doesn't realize whats going on, the left side of my bumper made contact with his passenger side door...the door is completely mangled...while my front bumper has little scrapes with some paint transfer. My front bumper was only held on by two zip ties and a few bumper clips, it didn't even come close to coming off. I really don't know who to blame in this situation...

 

So your going straight and the guy is coming in from the left? Those situations are very sticky but if he was turning into your space, he would be at fault. Either way, never admit your wrong. Unless its obvious that your completely at fault. Have your insurance company deal with the accident, however. You should not have been rolling unless you were sure you knew what your next step was. I hope you didn't mention to the guy you hit or officer that you were paying attention to the lady...if so, than your basically saying that your were not paying attention to the path ahead of you.

 

I didn't admit to anything at the scene we just exchanged info he took some pictures then we split. The gas station had three rows of pumps I was in the middle one. Cross Fire guy was on the left of me. So he was making a right while i was going straight ahead. I did check my mirrors..but he was hidden at the very last pump in the first row. He had to be going around 12mph-15mph...while i was going around 3mph.

 

I mean even if you were going 3mph and he was going 12-15mph he should of looked around while he was driving..as long as you don't say the old lady part you should have no problem wining who is at fault or not.

 

Why was he going so fast at a gas station in the first place? Any witness? There must have been at least one.

 

any situation like this that happen in parking lots off public roads are always a headache and usually always end up bad...

 

Ok, if he was coming from the left. It is clearly his fault.

 

ya i talked to my insurance company today...i left that part out.
ya i had 3 friends in my car..."oh ____, oh ____, oh ____" is what the conversation sounded like.
ya the police didn't even want to come and make a report...this sounds like the starting of a one month even, just hope this ish doesn't go to court.
yup he was on my left side making a right

 

Depends. If you guys have the same insurance company, usually the company will settle everything. If you guys don't have the same insurance but this guy wants a new door, he probably will probably take you to small claims court. But then again, you guys never got an officer to file a report...so there was no one to truly confirm the full extent of the damage. Pictures can only go so far, unless you have a date and time on the picture. Again, sticky situation.

My guess is that the guy won't pursue because he is obviously at fault. Up to you to follow up.

 

pics of the damage?

 

then there is always the gas station camera's....

 

i didn't take any pictures of the dammage, since my friend had my DSLR...and i forgot my cellphone at my apartment, but the other guy took some pictures with his cellphone...i bet they didn't come out at all.

true but i have no clue how hard those are to get ahold of.

 

The thing is even if you can prove that it was beyond a doubt the other guys fault because a parking lot or in this case a gas station is not a public road it doesn't exactly have the same traffic laws. Even if you can prove it's the other guys fault 100% you'll still get boned.

I believe a similar situation happened to someone here where some numbskull was driving like a goober drove through a few spaces and a crosswalk and hit the scion who was backing into the space. They where both aiming for the same parking spot if you can kinda picture that in your mind. I don't recall the outcome or whether or not they revealed it to us but the general consensus on that thread was that even though the guy was 100% at fault because the incident happened in a parking lot they both had to pay for each others damages...

Hopefully this is not the case for you....best of luck.

 

ya thats what i was worrying about...ehhh

pictures of the dammage on my car, wish i had my camera on me at the time of the accident.

 

insurance companies wont count people in your cars as witnesses, and generally in parking lot situations insurance companies split the fault 50/50 or something around there.

 

any update on this?

 

Whether it was truely his fault or not, typically in situations like these its considered a no-fault or equal liability - basically you/your insurance will take care of your car, and he/his insurance will take care of the damage to his. Lucky for you - all youll need is either resurfacing and painting the bumper, or a new bumper, and painted, which shouldnt be to expensive. If you have a decent relationship with a body shop, theyll probably be able to do it for less than your deductable so no claim on your insurance