Auto Accident in a Parking lot

[coachjeffc]

I was involved in an accident in a parking lot and am trying to determine who might be at fault. I was in the parking space to the right of another vehicle. We had both originally backed into the spots and were now trying to leave. We both started rolling at the same time to enter the lane. I saw him and stopped (I never left the parking spot). He didn't see me and drove his door into my front bumper as he was turning right. He says he never saw my vehicle.

He says I hit him. His passenger says he saw me rolling but didn't see the collision. I say I stopped and he was the one that caused the accident because he turned into me.

Other points - He has a full size pick up, I have a jeep so I was pulled farther into the spot than he was.

Thoughts on who is at fault? I would rather not take this to my insurance company but if I have to....

Thanks,
Jeff
Everett, WA

[Happy Trails]

I was involved in an accident in a parking lot and am trying to determine who might be at fault. I was in the parking space to the right of another vehicle. We had both originally backed into the spots and were now trying to leave. We both started rolling at the same time to enter the lane. I saw him and stopped (I never left the parking spot). He didn't see me and drove his door into my front bumper as he was turning right. He says he never saw my vehicle.

He says I hit him. His passenger says he saw me rolling but didn't see the collision. I say I stopped and he was the one that caused the accident because he turned into me.

Other points - He has a full size pick up, I have a jeep so I was pulled farther into the spot than he was.

Thoughts on who is at fault? I would rather not take this to my insurance company but if I have to....

Thanks,
Jeff
Everett, WA

From your description, I would say you are both at fault (50/50).

These type of accidents happen quickly and it seems the passenger in the other vehicle is being truthful, stating he/she saw you rolling but didn't see the actual impact. (Therefore, also not seeing that you had stopped.)

I would recommend you try to work this out with the other at fault person. Hopefully pictures were taken, so if this does end up in a court room, it can be determined who was more at fault.