Hey guys, I think i've calmed down enough to post so here goes.

Today I put my winter tires on, got the oil changed and then as I was looking for a spot in a parking lot at the grocery store, I got backed into by a BMW X5.

The woman said she wasn't familiar with her husband's car and that there was no backup sensor or something like that. I'm surprised I kept my cool at this point.

I was stopped (fully standing still) and waiting for a spot to open and she backed into me (I saw her just as she was about to hit me and honked but it was too late)

The damage is to the bumper and to the rear pannel, I couldn't get any estimates today as the shops were closed but who knows how much it could be.

Any advice for whether to go through insurance or whether I can be held liable at all, after all I was standing still in park and she backed into me but it was a parking lot so there are special rules I dont' know about?

She seemed to want to take care of it outside of insurance but I don't know if it'll be worthwhile.

Pics:

EDIT: Pics properly added



You can't see the dent and the scratches on the bumper but I have crazy swirl lines now and it didn't look like anything happened to her car.
Today just isn't a good day for me

 

DO NOT agree to settle it without insurance. That's never a good idea. It's her fault for sure, so call your insurance company/agent. Ask the grocery store if they have any surveillance cameras in the parking lot that may have recorded the accident, that'd be pretty handy. What a craptastic situation, I would have been screaming at her![:@]

Good luck getting it sorted out.

 

It looks like one of those dents thats gonna cost a **** load. Its totally her fault. i would try and take care of it without insurance.

 

With or without insurance as long as she pays to get it fixed be happy. I'm surpised you kept you're cool no matter how I minor I would've been livid.

 

I honestly thought i was going to lose it for a while there. I'm gonna go to the store and ask whether they have surveilence cameras tomorrow.

She seemed to acknowledge it was her fault and i'm getting estimates on Monday and hoping she pays for it, if not then i'm gonna go through insurance. The damage isn't all that huge so I haven't filed a police report yet but i'm thinking of doing it tonight just in case she doesn't come through with the repairs.

 

If she is willing to pay the estimate amount theres no reason to go through insurance

 

So far it looks like she is so I won't be contacting insurance. Seemed like a nice enough person that just made a mistage I guess but its hard for me to be overly understanding when i'm a car nut.

I figure whats done is done, time to repair the damage and move on. I've calmed down since and more than anything I just want to put it all behind me, I hate seeing a dent or a scratch on my car and i'm sure you guys (/gals) are the same way...

 

just in case she backs out I'd have some evidence and some kind of written consent to pay for damages before you don't contact insurance, just to cover your ***.

 

She's dumb enough torun into someone in a parking lot because she wasn't familiar with her vehicle. What makes you think she's trustworthy enough to assume that she'll pay the cost of repairs out of pocket? I guarantee she doesn't have any clue what that's going to cost, and when she finds out, she'll more than likely try to weasel out of paying for it. Don't be an idiot, call your insurance company.

 

Sorry to hear about your parking lot mishap! Glad it wasn't any worse (although I know what you mean about scratches)!
It sounds like everything will work out, and your car will be 100% again. Good luck and keep us posted!