Driving & Driving Test Tips: Parking Lot Collision, comprehensive insurance coverage, small claims court


Question
I was driving extremely slowly on a straight-a-way in a school parking lot, while searching for an empty space. I stopped my car, as I noticed a car pulling out of a spot down the aisle that I was driving by. While negotiating the turn that I was going to have to make in order to get to the parking spot, I discovered that I was going to have to reverse a little bit, in order to make the turn without hitting the row of parked cars in front of me. I put my car in reverse, and without accelerating I took my foot off of the break (but didn't hit the gas) and at that exact moment, I was in a collision with a car that was directly behind me. There was no visible damage, but we exchanged phone numbers just in case. Over a week later, she called me saying that her entire front bumper needed to be replaced due to a crack under the license plate, and is now asking me to pay $800 to get it fixed. I'm just wondering what I should do. We didn't exchange insurance at the scene, she never called the police, and neither of us took a picture of any "damage" at the scene either. How do I know that she didn't hit something else with her car in the week that she was driving it after our collision? Its basically my word against hers, she will obviously say that it was all my fault, however how do I know that she wasn't paying attention and just kept on driving even though my car was stopped. I barely reversed at all, my car barely moved and she was right there behind me, so close. Am I really responsible for paying for all of the damage?

Answer
If you have comprehensive insurance coverage turn it into yur insurance company and let them handle it.

If no and you don't think you did anything wrong, tell the other party that you do not intend to pay anything.  She can take you to small claims court if she wishes but then the judge can make a decision as to fault and if anyone should pay for any damages.