Both cars backing out accident?

Question

I had a minor accident today in my school parking lot with another kid I knew. I drive a 98 Ford Ranger (truck) and he drives a 65 Mustang (classic, not restored though). We both stopped for a black car backing out, and then both went after the black car passed. He was obviously on the other side of the parking lot street, space above mine, because the spaces dont exactly line up (http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/parking-lot.jpg it was one of these kind of diagonal parking lots)

He started to back up first, and then I did, because his car was in a space across the street in front of mine, i wasn't looking in that direction, i was looking the way traffic was flowing. He was able to get further out of the spot than me, and my bumper hit his passenger fender making a dent. My bumper got almost no damage, i can see where it hit though, it was the edge of the drivers side. 

When we both hit, we were both in shock, he began to pull forward and so did I. We both got out of the cars to inspect the damage. When i got down to look at his he only pointed out one spot, on the right side of the fender. I offered him my insurance, and he said no its fine, so i asked him again, he said it is find, nothing a hammer cant tap out.

Me being completely stupid, I told him i would feel more comfortable if he would just take my insurance card just in case his parents want to pursue, because I had just dealt with a friend of mine taking my car and crashing it.

I went home and began to do some research just in case his parents did want to do something about it. We were both backing out and both were obviously not looking, so isn't it both equally our fault? I ended up texting him later and asking him if everything was okay, since i knew him I was willing to give him a few hundred to just fix his car because there was no damage to my truck. 

He then sent me pictures of the damage and his insurance card, but said he didn't want to go through insurance and is find dealing with it ourselves. I showed the pictures to my brother, he knows lots about cars, and he believes its at least $2,000 in damage because its a classic car. In the pictures the kid sent me he pointed out another spot on the other side of the fender, more towards the back of his car. I ended up arguing with him about that because it was nothing initially pointed out, and there is no way my truck did it because I was backing out at a angle, and I didn't hit him strait on. I only have one spot on my bumper, on the edge. I believe this new spot came from him moving his car forward while my truck was still touching his car, so it kinda scraped. 

Him and his father ended up coming over to my house, and we inspected the damages, me and his father ended up arguing, but they are going to go and get some estimates. If the estimates are over $1,000 I will do it through my insurance. 

Now to my question, how will the insurance look at this? The other kid is over 18, so didn't he make a verbal contract saying its alright and its fine initially? Me and the kid both have conflicting stories about what happened. I told the kid, why dont we just drop it, because i'm not willing to pay a huge amount of money for something that was both our faults. This would be me and the kids first accidents, but we are both still in High School, so I think our insurance rates will rise.

Mushu · Accepted Answer

Contact your insurance. Just let them handle it. Since you were both backing up, it will probably be 50/50 liability. Do not give them any money. 
Just because he said it was fine at the scene that doesn't nullify anything.

lucy · Answer

Parking lot accidents are accidents waiting to happen. 

Both fathers need to file with their OWN insurance company and let them "duke" it out.  That is the job of a claim adjuster,,,,,,,,,period.   That is what both fathers are paying insurance for. 

In most parking lot accidents, it is NEVER just 1 person at fault, but usually BOTH.  

The adjuster will take both statements of each driver, then will have an appraiser inspect the cars, or have each of you go to a body shop for an estimate.  After the investigation is completed, then the adjuster will make a determination of fault

They may find that both of you are equally at fault 50/50, or that it could be 80/20, 60/40 etc.  But, either way, each company will pay what is owed, NO MORE/NO LESS.

nellieh · Answer

Bummer.  For future reference- when you have an accident, either stay and deal with it totally on the up and up- (call police, get a report, exchange information), or don't.  If you don't, it's over.  No texts, no deals, no agreements.  As you can see, they go sour right away, and now you have texts, etc. proving you were involved. (No one could have proven you had anything to do with it, but you have tried to deal with it correctly)  It seldom works out, as you see here.
Yes, your rates will go up, and it's unfortunate for such a minor, stupid accident.  Verbal contracts are useless.  Of course you and the kid have conflicting stories. He and his Dad want money to fix the car. It might still be better to come up with the money and NOT report it to your insurance.  BUT, if you pay them, they must sign off on it legally somehow, so that you are done with the story. DON'T pay them cash, and/or agree verbally to anything else.  They could take your cash, fix the car, and the kid could crash another part of his car tomorrow, and come back to you for more monies. In fact, while this is pending, anything else that happens to his car could be put on you.  You probably should try and close the issue ASAP, and if these people continue to wiggle around changing their tune, I'd get an authority involves now. Does your school have cameras?  They might have the accident on camera, and that could solve the whole thing.  Good luck!!!!!

Anonymous · Answer

You are worrying about something that you have no control over.  It is VERY simple.  Simply report this to your insurance company, he will report it to his insurance company and the insurance companies will determine who is at fault or the percentage of each persons fault.  Nobody here, nobody anywhere can determine fault.  That is what insurance companies do.

If you were both backing and both moving at the time of contact, it is likely that you both will be found equally at fault.  '
There is absolutely no sense in arguing with anyone over this.  Let the insurance companies argue with each other.   That is why you have insurance......  USE IT !  Do not pay anything to the other guy.  That is a rookie mistake.  At risk of repeating myself,  Let your insurance handle it.

Accident?  Always call the police to the scene (even if you don't think they will come, there will be a record of the call)  and then immediately notify your insurance company.... Always !

just another guy · Answer

50/50 both reversing case closed. in this case  both deductibles will apply if a claim is filed and it may not even be approved and both drivers are surcharged if it is

Anonymous · Answer

hi it is just a knock for knock as simple as that and in a private parking lot too.

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Both cars backing out accident?

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