I was driving my car home from work without insurance in California....I rear-ended a car on the freeway in traffic as I was changing lanes. There were 3 cars that were involved in this accident. It started by one car slamming on his brakes and caused a car too rear-ended him. Then I rear-ended the car after he hit the other car in front of him. So there were 3 cars and I was the last car to make contact with the other cars.” typical fender bender" I got a letter in the mail saying I had to pay for everyone’s damages on their cars....I feel I should only have to pay for the damage I caused....am I right...i just got off the phone with the bill collector that wants almost 7,000 from me for putting a scratch in someone’s bumper. Also...included in the bill is the rental car insurance for 43 DAYS!!! the car I hit was a 2000 bug and they rented a 2005 jeep chereki!!! I have a list of attorneys to call tomorrow but It has always been hard for me to sit around and wait to hear answers.
2006-08-02 16:51:45 · 7 answers · asked by Ty 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
I was at the tail end of this and I did NOT cause the car it hit to hit the car in front of him...Also....isnt the bottom line anytime you rear-end someone its your FAULT!!!!
2006-08-02 17:04:20 · update #1
In rear end accidents, the car that does the rear ending is always at fault. No exceptions.
By the way, driving without insurance is probably not the brightest thing you've ever done.
2006-08-02 16:56:30 · answer #1 · answered by Stuart 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, by driving without insurance you've left yourself wide open. Without a doubt, the insurance companies have seen this as a chance to cut their losses.
Your position is indefensible since you didn't have insurance. There's a strong likelihood that your license will be suspended if you don't pay up quickly. Typical practice is to suspend your license until all damages are paid.
If you had had insurance, your insurance company probably would have balked at paying the damage on the first car in the chain as well as the 43 days of rental charges. But, since you don't have an insurance company's legal staff to defend you, you're pretty much wide open in this one.
Then there's the strong chance that you'll be charged with driving without proof of financial responsibility. That could set you back several hundred more.
Good luck. You're going to need it!
2006-08-03 00:48:38 · answer #2 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were the first person to start the "chain" reaction then I would say you could be liable for the damages to all parties, however, the person that rear ends another from being pushed into them was too close in the first place. So depending on where you were in the chain, I would think, states what you are responsible for. Definately get a lawyer. 43 days of a rental car... get real! and to upgrade like that, what a shame.
2006-08-02 16:58:34 · answer #3 · answered by gymfreak 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be prepared to pay for the damages you caused to the car you hit, plus any additional damages you caused to the other car (if you drove the middle car further into it, or made them hit again), plus their time off from work and rental cars and medical expenses.
However, since you have no insurance, you are going to be tagged for everything they can throw at you.
This one is going to cost you a lot more than the deductible plus the insurance would have cost you.
2006-08-02 16:57:36 · answer #4 · answered by merigold00 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whether you were the cause of the accident, or not, if you were in an accident without having insurance, your license WILL be suspended for one year. After the year you will be able to get your license back, but will have to keep SR-22 or SR-1P insurance on file for 3 years.
After one month of suspension, you would be able to get a restricted license (just for going to work or school or doctor) if you pay a $250 fee plus $55 re-issue fee, and get the SR-22 or SR-1P insurance.
Good Luck ............
2006-08-03 17:15:38 · answer #5 · answered by ca DMV pro 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say you are at fault. Better pay and hope they don't add more money to it. $7000.00 isn't too bad, if thats the total, someone could have gone to the hospital.
It will be worse if you try to fight it, since you broke the law by not having insurance.
You still might get a fine for not having insurance.
I would say get some insurance now to show you care and made a mistake.
2006-08-02 16:58:24 · answer #6 · answered by You may be right 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be prepared to pay, for all damages.
1. You improperly switched lanes
2. You were following too close
3. You were driving without mandatory insurance
Actually consider yourself lucky if you didn't get a ticket at the scene.
2006-08-02 19:39:16 · answer #7 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋