Auto Insurance Claims: car fault responsibility, parking lot accident, insurance comapny

Question
I was recently in an automobile accident. I was in a private property parking lot and was backing out of a parking spot. I made sure no cars were coming while i was backing out then all of a sudden I felt an impact. I was just a foot shy of being completely out of the parking spot.  I was already in the middle of the road when the impact occurred. There was a car behind me and hit my car (not from the side of my car but more of a scrape of my bumper but the impact was significant) and pulled off my bumper entirely because he caught the middle of my bumper into his driver door.  His car had scratches and a dent by the driver door.

The man, a 73-year old, told other witnesses that he was cutting through the private property. He claimed he was traveling through slowly but in order to pull of my entire bumper he must have been traveling at a faster pace and he was cutting through to save time. During the time when we were exchanging information, he lied several times and could not keep a straight story explaining why he was on the private property. This man failed to avoid an accident when I was clearly in the middle of the road already and he did not use his horn or anything.

I understand it is partially my fault because I was backing out but I want to know if there was any fault on him. I am also afraid that the insurance company will discriminate against me because I am a young woman.

Answer
Hi Jessica,

Parking lot accident are some of the most difficult to determine fault. In your case, you should make the claim to the other drivers insurance company. Explain in detail how everything happened. If you are not happy with the liability decision they come up with then make the claim to your insurance comapny and let them fight it out with the other company.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh