Hit by a car...

[bmccasland]

YOU should not feel embarrassed or guilty. The car driver, on the other hand, is clearly at fault. You do NOT, EVER, back up a car without checking carefully what's behind you and what's coming past from either side. That's the law! Any time you hit something while backing, it is your fault. Leastways, that's what I learned in driver's ed all those many years ago. So the driver should be the one feeling guilty and embarrassed. Luckily, you can both also be feeling relieved it didn't turn out worse.

Except perhaps when you're a small car, eeking your way out between two large SUVs, and back into, or get smacked by, a passing vehicle doing 40 in a 20. Nothing quite like backing up blind. I did know who was behind me, but couldn't see the van that was speeding from the side. Since this was in my office parking lot, the police weren't involved. And the owner of the delivery company got very quiet, and I heard nothing further, when I told him his driver passed at least four 20 mph signs before he hit me. So there was NO excuse for his driver's speeding.

[Duck on Wheels]

Except perhaps when you're a small car, eeking your way out between two large SUVs, and back into, or get smacked by, a passing vehicle doing 40 in a 20. Nothing quite like backing up blind. I did know who was behind me, but couldn't see the van that was speeding from the side. Since this was in my office parking lot, the police weren't involved. And the owner of the delivery company got very quiet, and I heard nothing further, when I told him his driver passed at least four 20 mph signs before he hit me. So there was NO excuse for his driver's speeding.

Yeah, I think breaking a posted speed limit does change the legal situation. At the very least, that would entail some share of the responsibility. But then, I'm not a lawyer.