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Why are moving cars always at fault in parking lots?

My sister was backing out of a parking spot and another car sped past her. She clipped the side of their bumper. She's being assigned a percentage of fault because she was moving. Why?

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“Most
car insurance companies
assign fault to both cars in a parking lot accident because it’s difficult to determine. When two cars are moving, it’s impossible to say who caused the accident, even after investigating it.
Applying fault to both vehicles keeps the decision fair. It also gives both drivers the ability to have any damages or injuries covered.
If your sister has any injuries from the accident or her vehicle is damaged, she can claim a portion of those damages to the other party’s insurance. If she has
collision insurance
or
medical payments coverage
, she could also use her insurance to cover the rest. The same would apply to the other driver.
While it may not seem fair that she has to submit a claim to her own insurance, it’s better than her having to pay for all damages herself if she was 100% at fault.
If your sister notices any increase in her car insurance rates as a result of the parking lot accident, you may want to point her toward
Jerry
. With insurance broker Jerry, you can compare dozens of quotes from some of the top insurance providers in the industry.”
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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