Pulling out of parking space, someone ran into me *pics*.

[Atty]

I was pulling out of a parking space this morning at the gym. Looked both ways (as best as I could, being surrounded by SUV's in my Camry), behind me, etc, started slowly pulling out. A guy driving down the lane hit me in the back. The bump was so slight I didn't even know he had hit me, I pulled forward and he took off. When I checked my bumper I noticed a dent in it.

I went in and talked to the gym staff because we had recently installed security cameras around places in the gym and wanted to know if there were any in the parking lot, there weren't.

I didn't call and report it to the police because its not a serious bit of damage (tho its annoying because I just got my car repainted and all the dents fixed) and I was told that it would be my fault, insurance agencies, etc.

Did I do the right thing? Should I legally pursue this guy? All I know is that it was a red toyota carolla driven buy a guy. No license, defining features, etc.

Advice?

 

[punjabiplaya]

if it's just a little dent it's going to be more hassle fixing it than just leaving it and putting a band-aid sticker over it

 

[Vette73]

Its your fault so if they took off that was probable the best thing to happen.

If you find them they can then get you to pay for any damage to their car.

Got pics.

 

[LTC8K6]

He probably didn't want to deal with any cops due to lack of insurance or license problems, etc.

 

[caspur]

You all got trolled. OP posted an at fault accident to see how you would react. Only Marlin1975 got it.

 

[LTC8K6]

IMO, as described, it's questionable whose fault it was. Seems like he was out far enough that the accident may not be his fault. Once you are backed out, people can't just drive into you and claim it's your fault.

 

[coxmaster]

You all got trolled. OP posted an at fault accident to see how you would react. Only Marlin1975 got it.

Uhh.. What? Im pretty sure most of the people here noticed it was the OPs fault (since even he pointed it out..)


As others have said, if its not a major dent just let it go. Probably not worth the time or money to fix it and I definitely wouldnt get insurance involved.

 

[7window]

you are lucky he left. it is your fault.

 

[punjabiplaya]

You all got trolled. OP posted an at fault accident to see how you would react. Only Marlin1975 got it.

so you wanted me to tell him to go find that guy and then pay for causing the accident and the other guy's damage because he is at fault? looks like you're the one that's trolling

 

[Atty]

How am I at fault? He ran into me, drove into my back bumper. Its not like I backed up into him.

He hit the rear back side of my bumper as I pulled out, so I'm at fault?

I understand that I was moving as well as him but I was pulling out of a parking space, I could not have seen the guy coming down the aisle no matter what, unless I had an extreme wide angle rear assist camera.

 

[etrigan420]

I wouldn't pursue it.

The headache vs. benefit is almost assuredly not going to end in your favor, regardless of where fault lies.

OTOH...just thinking aloud here...I wonder what the rules pertaining to "Leaving the scene of an accident" are in your area.(?)

 

[exdeath]

Its your fault so if they took off that was probable the best thing to happen.

Hardly. You can be perfectly clear to begin backing out and have some douche bag barreling through the parking lot trying to "beat" you.

It takes TWO to have a collision.

 

[Imp]

How am I at fault? He ran into me, drove into my back bumper. Its not like I backed up into him.

He hit the rear back side of my bumper as I pulled out, so I'm at fault?

I understand that I was moving as well as him but I was pulling out of a parking space, I could not have seen the guy coming down the aisle no matter what, unless I had an extreme wide angle rear assist camera.

You backed into his "through lane" path, and you were re-entering "traffic".

The other guy probably was going fast for conditions probably. It usually takes two.

 

[Vette73]

Hardly. You can be perfectly clear to begin backing out and have some douche bag barreling through the parking lot trying to "beat" you.

It takes TWO to have a collision.

The person with control of the lane, driving straight, has the right of way. If you pull out in front of someone else, 99% of the time you will be at fault.
Same as you re-ending someone that slams on their brakes. Yea they were an idiot, but 99% of the time you will get the ticket.
When someone pulls out of a space its their job to make sure the lane is clear and open.

<-- Told by police as they told that to a friend of mine who pulled out and someone driving fast hit him. This was in NC so MAY be different in each state.

 

[SearchMaster]

In reality, the other guy is probably "at fault" because he probably wasn't paying enough attention and could have avoided the accident.

Legally, the OP is at fault. My roommate in college hit a girl pulling out of a parking space and she was WAY out of her spot when he hit her (to the point that everyone in the car had been telling my roommate to 'watch out' for at least 5-10 seconds before impact). The girl he hit was cited for the accident even though he hit the side of her car, not the back.

 

[bruceb]

I agree as to who is at fault as to what Marlin posted above. Pulling out of a lot or street, you never have the right of way. Same as pulling out of a parking spot. But you would think these drivers coming down your parking lane would see you and give a beep if they think you may not see them. But they never do. Personally, when I can, I back into the spot, so I can drive out forward to be sure it is clear.

 

[Atty]

That is a ridiculously stupid legal situation. Well, I guess I'm thankful he left and all I have is a dented bumper. Will post pics in a few minutes, going to go take one before I go get estimates.

Ignore how dirty it is, haven't had a chance to wash it since it got all muddy visiting family out in the middle of nowhere. Dirt road + rain = mess.

E: Yes, I realize it really isn't that bad, but it shouldn't be there. Regardless of whose fault it was "legally".

 

[SandEagle]

Every single camry I see has that stupid dent

 

[Vette73]

Take a hair blow dryer and heat that spot up. Then try and push the dent out from under the car. May pop out some and look better

 

[bruceb]

I agree, that dent should pop right out with not much work. After it is out use some denatured alcohol to clean the black marks off of the bumper cover, then some polishing compound to shine it up. You can also use an aerosol product called Honda Shine .. works wonders.

or in a liquid as well .. any Honda dealer (especially motorcycle shops)
will have it.

 

[dpodblood]

Sorry OP, but in all likelihood you would have been at fault. It's your job to check the lane you are backing into to make sure it's clear, even though that can be tough in some spots. Unless the other vehicle was moving much faster than he/she should have been you would be liable. You're probably lucky they took off.

 

[jaha2000]

That bumper cover is plastic right?
Hair dryer and pop it out, clean off paint. Done...

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's your fault. Just try to pop it out and clean it up as best you can.

 

[exdeath]

The person with control of the lane, driving straight, has the right of way. If you pull out in front of someone else, 99&#37; of the time you will be at fault.
Same as you re-ending someone that slams on their brakes. Yea they were an idiot, but 99% of the time you will get the ticket.
When someone pulls out of a space its their job to make sure the lane is clear and open.

<-- Told by police as they told that to a friend of mine who pulled out and someone driving fast hit him. This was in NC so MAY be different in each state.

If the person is driving faster than your reasonable range of view in a parking lot (which isn't a public street or lane btw) and you look and see that its perfectly clear and begin to pull out slowly and continue looking and backing, and someone covers 200 feet in 1 second from beyond view out of nowhere, and can't stop or slow down in time, its their fault, regardless of what the law says.

And in a parking lot, someone backing out when its clear, long before you arrive, is the one in control of the lane, as evidenced by the fact that op was hit from the side: read, he was there first. A parking lot isn't a public intersection or highway with traffic control devices. If you come across a vehicle pulling out of a spot in your way well ahead of you, you yield, not ram them.

Dude probably tried to beat someone who was already backing out before he got there, tried to beat him anyway, and hit him. He knows its his fault, why do you think he ran?

 

[Numenorean]

If the person is driving faster than your reasonable range of view in a parking lot (which isn't a public street or lane btw) and you look and see that its perfectly clear and begin to pull out slowly and continue looking and backing, and someone covers 200 feet in 1 second from beyond view out of nowhere, and can't stop or slow down in time, its their fault, regardless of what the law says.

And in a parking lot, someone backing out when its clear, long before you arrive, is the one in control of the lane, as evidenced by the fact that op was hit from the side: read, he was there first. A parking lot isn't a public intersection or highway with traffic control devices. If you come across a vehicle pulling out of a spot in your way well ahead of you, you yield, not ram them.

Dude probably tried to beat someone who was already backing out before he got there, tried to beat him anyway, and hit him. He knows its his fault, why do you think he ran?

Might technically be his fault, but the law still will say it's the person backing out. So the OP would be liable for damages.