Whose Is Really At Fault
Posted in Headlight Bulbs | Asked on Oct 9, 2011
I was in a 3 car accident over the weekend and there is some confusion over who is at fault. There are really 6 cars involved in the incident.
A mail truck which is 4 cars ahead of me stopped suddenly and pulled over. The 2 cars behind it were able to stop with no problem. The 3rd car (we will call it Jeep) slammed on its brakes and swerved slightly to the right in order not to hit the car in front of it. Then there is me. A honda Civic
I didn’t slam on my brakes quickly enough and bumped into the back of Jeep. After i hit Jeep there is slight pause, long enough for Jeep to start to drive away (gets about 4 or 5 feet from my car) and then the final car in this incident (we will call it Ranger) slams into the back of my car while i am still completely stopped. Significantly harder than i hit Jeep. It was enough to cave in my truck.
The proper authorities were called and we assessed the damage. There was no damage to the Jeep but my hood was slightly dented but clearly my fault. Also, as i said earlier, my trunk was caved in and Ranger’s hood was a little dented and his headlights were broken.
Ranger is saying it is mostly my fault in the incident. The way I see it, the damage to back of my car is completely his fault and me hitting Jeep has really nothing to do with him hitting me. This is because there was a clear pause between me hitting Jeep and Ranger hitting me. I was not sandwiched between the 2 cars nor did the Ranger push me into hitting Jeep again. And to me, if i had managed to stop and not actually hit Jeep, Ranger would have still hit me regardless.
I just want to know who is right? Is it really mostly my fault or is it completely the Ranger’s fault? Sorry for the long explanation. Please take the time to right a legitimate responds!
I was not sandwiched between the 2 cars. Ranger did not cause me to hit Jeep again
There are 4 Answers for "Whose Is Really At Fault"
Think of it as two separate incidents. Each driver has an obligation to maintain a safe following distance. You are responsible for any damage done to the Jeep and the front end of your car. The Ranger is responsible for any damage to the rear end of your car as well as damage to his own vehicle.
You are 100% correct. I was is a near identical accident once – due to slippery conditions I bumped someone from behind – my fault for the damage to the front of my car and the back of his. Someone else did the same to me, that damage was his fault. Your scenario is the same, and you are correct that “Ranger” is 100% to blame for the accident to the front of his car and the back of yours. Quite honestly I don’t know how he thinks it’s not his fault for hitting you, your hitting the Jeep is irrelevant, you stopped quickly and he hit you – his fault.
Your insurance companies will figure it all out, but this is an easy one, really. Rangers opinion on who is to blame won’t change the fact that he is for his collision.
Accident 1: I didn’t slam on my brakes quickly enough and bumped into the back of Jeep.
That makes you responsible for any damage to the jeep, clearly your fault.
Accident 2: …and then the final car in this incident (we will call it Ranger) slams into the back of my car while i am still completely stopped
Any damage to the back of your car is clearly the fault of the Ranger. Claim with his insurance for that damage.
You are responsible for the damage to the Jeep. The car that hit you is responsible for the damage to yoru vehicle. No damage to the Jeep, so you are all good. The Ranger guy is NOT responsible for the damage to the front of your car, but he IS for the back, no matter how much he thinks it’s yoru fault. The collision betwene yoru self and Ranger is 100% his fault.