Why is the driver fully at fault when hit while reversing?

[RonanRose]

Reversing, similar to driving against traffic, disrupts the normal flow of other vehicles, thus making the driver fully at fault. When driving against traffic, it's harder for others to notice the vehicle's status, and driving isn't as convenient as when following the traffic direction. Reversing increases blind spots, making accidents more likely to occur. Below is information regarding whether reversing always results in full responsibility: Specific situations where reversing is not at fault: If the traffic accident is caused by the fault of the other party, no responsibility is taken. If neither party is at fault for causing the traffic accident, it is considered a traffic accident with no responsibility on either side. If one party intentionally causes a road traffic accident, the other party is not at fault. Relevant legal provisions: According to Article 60 of the 'Road Traffic Accident Handling Procedures': The traffic management department of the public security organ shall determine the responsibility of the parties based on the role of their actions in causing the road traffic accident and the severity of their faults.

[DelNora]

As a traffic mediator who has handled hundreds of accidents, the key to being held fully liable in a rear-end collision while reversing lies in the right-of-way principle. The Road Traffic Safety Law stipulates that reversing must be done safely, and your car's rear swinging out actively creates a risk point. Just last week, I handled an identical case: Old Wang scraped a passing electric scooter with his car's rear while reversing in an alley. Even though the scooter hit his rear bumper, the surveillance footage showed Old Wang didn't check behind him at all. Even if the passing vehicle was speeding or distracted, your act of reversing is like suddenly opening an umbrella in traffic—if a collision occurs, the liability scale tips in your direction. Remember three points: Always turn your head to check when reversing; use hazard lights to alert vehicles behind; and in narrow areas, it's best to have someone guide you.

[DylanLee]

As a truck driver with twenty years of experience, I'll give you some practical advice. If you get into an accident while reversing, you're almost always at fault—plain and simple: roads are designed for forward movement! Reversing is essentially going against the flow. Once, I backed into a speeding forklift that suddenly darted out in a logistics park. The surveillance footage even showed the forklift was speeding and honking, but the traffic police still held me fully responsible. Why? Because I didn't ensure it was safe before moving. Here's the key takeaway: backup cameras are just aids—many accidents happen because drivers focus solely on the screen and ignore blind spots. Let me share a down-to-earth trick: always walk around your vehicle before reversing, roll down the windows to listen for external sounds, and once the vehicle starts moving, constantly check all three mirrors plus look over your shoulder. Don't begrudge those extra minutes—it beats paying for damages.

[EmilioLynn]

From the perspective of traffic regulations on liability determination logic, the core principle is the 'dynamic avoidance obligation.' Vehicles proceeding straight have the right of way, while reversing vehicles bear a higher duty of care. In typical cases, even if a rear vehicle collides with a stationary reversing vehicle, the reversing party may still be held liable. The key factors are: Was the reversing light activated as a warning? Was there continuous observation of environmental changes? Article 17 of the Court's 2023 Traffic Accident Case Guidelines clearly states that if the reversing action occupies another vehicle's reasonable lane or leaves insufficient reaction time for the rear vehicle, the reversing party typically bears primary or greater liability. It is recommended to install wide-angle rearview mirrors to reduce blind spot risks.