I am an insurance broker and therefore you should always reverse in public parking lots
- Insurance insider revealed helpful tip
- Reverse parking reduces liability for fender benders
An insurance broker has revealed that drivers should always reverse park if they can because they are less likely to default if an accident involving another car happens.
Dan Ufer, from Queensland, said in a recent video on TikTok that it is “best practice” to reverse into a parking space, as those reversing will be held responsible for the accident regardless of the circumstances.
“When you reverse, you are always 100 percent to blame,” explains Mr. Ufer.
Few things are as annoying as bending a parking space, but an insurance broker has revealed how drivers can avoid being found guilty
“So in a shopping center parking situation, if one vehicle backs up and another pulls away and they collide in the middle, the reversing driver is always at fault.”
He added that in situations where both cars are reversing, it will usually be an “each bare own claim,” meaning each driver pays their own respective damage because they are both considered responsible.
“So to reduce the risk of a mistake, always park in reverse.”
Viewers thanked Mr. Ufer for the advice, saying it was a simple tip, but not widely known.
“This is great, now I just need to master reverse park,” said one viewer.
“Yes, there’s much better visibility when driving forward out of a space than when reversing,” added another.
Other viewers said they did it for other reasons as well.
“If your car breaks down, you can access the engine and another car can attach jumper cables,” someone said.
“My dad taught me to do this in case you need to get out of somewhere quickly,” said another.
Major Australian insurer Vero echoes Mr Ufer’s tip, saying the rules of the road are clear.
“In all states, traffic laws state that a driver must not reverse unless it is safe to do so.”
“The law also states that drivers may not reverse a vehicle further than is reasonably necessary.”
“In liability insurance, the driver reversing is automatically deemed to be the driver at fault, regardless of other circumstances such as improperly parked cars and the other driver driving at high speed.”
Dan Ufer said insurance companies almost always consider the reversing driver to be at fault regardless of other circumstances
The insurer recommends a number of points to check before reversing into a parking space.
“Make sure windows are clean and mirrors are properly positioned… and check the area for hazards, including moving ones such as children or animals.”
“Consider buying a car with reversing sensors or cameras, but they should not replace the driver’s physical control.”
“Smaller cars are also generally easier to maneuver in tight or crowded locations.”