minor accident happened, question of responsibility

eefy

yesterday this happened...
My boyfriend's sister in her car rear ended my sister's boyfriend's van! (they don't know each other, just a small world!)

he was reversing at the time.
Who is responsible in this situation?

I know normally its the person behind who runs into the person in front, but if the person in front is reversing, Is it different?

can't seem to find any information anywhere about this.
Thanks

daveg

I'd say the person reversing. Need more info on exactly what happened though.

eefy

I don't know exactly how it happened as its 2nd hand information to me
but I think this is what happened

It was on a smallish country road he missed his left turn, he stopped and
started reversing, she came up behind him skidded a bit and the car cut out, he then reversed into her.

bennyx_o

Something like this happened me when someone reversed into me and the insurance company said the responsibility is with the person reversing.

eefy

bennyx_o wrote:

Something like this happened me when someone reversed into me and the insurance company said the responsibility is with the person reversing.

cool, thanks for that

I was hoping that was the case!

maidhc

eefy wrote:

I know normally its the person behind who runs into the person in front, but if the person in front is reversing, Is it different?

I'd say both were wrong. Each pay for their own damage and go their merry way.

Anan1

maidhc wrote:

I'd say both were wrong. Each pay for their own damage and go their merry way.

I would have thought that, if the car behind was stationary, fault would lie with the car in front.

milltown

eefy wrote:

he then reversed into her.

That bit suggests to me that she had come to a stop. If that's the case the guy reversing needs to get his chequebook out.

SoBe

looks like a her word against his case,possible outcome would be 50/50

seamus

As a rule the person who is reversing is obliged to yield to all other traffic, so on the face of it he's at fault.
Your post also suggests that she was stopped, which pretty much confirms that he is completely at fault. He pretty much didn't bother even looking behind him. There'd be a charge of dangerous driving popping his way if the Gardai had seen him

maidhc

seamus wrote:

As a rule the person who is reversing is obliged to yield to all other traffic, so on the face of it he's at fault.

If both vehicles were moving then it isn't so obvious.

Mc-BigE

was there any witnesses to prove she was stopped before the accident?
if not, the van driver could say in court that he was stopped and she hit him.

Has either part admitted responsibly at the time of crash?

were the gardai called?

if not, its her word against his in a court

copacetic

maidhc wrote:

If both vehicles were moving then it isn't so obvious.

well he said above that she had cut out and he then reversed into her so not sure why you think both cars were moving?

Fey!

eefy wrote:

cool, thanks for that

I was hoping that was the case!

Sounds like you prefer your boyfriends' sister to your sisters' boyfriend!

If a car is hit whilst stationary, then the fault lies with the driver of the moving vehicle.

However, if it's one against the other with no witnesses, then it could go 50/50, or her at fault if he lies his rear end off.

Do they realise that they have a party in common? Might be best to keep your head down and out of the firing line.

eefy

Fey! wrote:

Sounds like you prefer your boyfriends' sister to your sisters' boyfriend!

If a car is hit whilst stationary, then the fault lies with the driver of the moving vehicle.

However, if it's one against the other with no witnesses, then it could go 50/50, or her at fault if he lies his rear end off.

Do they realise that they have a party in common? Might be best to keep your head down and out of the firing line.

Yeah I do prefer her!
They do know they have a party in common, My sister rang to tell me about it.

I'm just keeping out of it, but I think it will be fine anyway,
neither wants to go through their insurance company,
there wasn't much damage to either vehicle.

It just brought up the question of who's right and who's wrong as it seemed to be a bit of a grey area,
cheers for the replies everyone

colm_mcm

I'd say anyone reversing back into a junction would be wrong.