I recently hit a car from behind while they were stopped, they ended up hitting the car in front of them, who hit the car in front of them and then they hit the car in front of them. So in total there were 4 cars involved including mine. I was going no more than 30 mph, I know I am responsible for the car directly in front of me, but if the other cars had kept the proper distance between them they wouldnt have hit anyone else. Am I still responsible for the other 2 vehicles damages or does it fall on the car the was directly behind them since I didnt actually hit the other 2 cars??
2006-10-02 16:14:59 · 17 answers · asked by blazablaze04 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Your negligence in failing to keep your vehicle under control was the cause of the accident. If you had not hit the car in front of you, none of the other vehicles would have been damaged.
Do not try to blame the others, they were stopped!!!
You are at fault ans liable for any and all damage and injuries!!!
Sorry!
2006-10-02 16:19:38 · answer #1 · answered by fire4511 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You ask a whole lot of questions -- I think maybe you are a bit upset about all this and maybe everyone is pointing the finger at you . . . ouch! Got insurance?
Hopefully there were pictures taken? Seriously, the investigators will take into consideration the speed you were going, road conditions, the location of the other vehicles and the speed (if any) that they were going . . . and whatever else that they use to determine who is at fault. Generally, a percentage if assigned -- they may tell you that you are XX% at fault. Your insurance adjuster will work with the other adjusters to determine the percentage based on all the different variables as well as any witness statements and the police/highway patrol report.
This is why I always leave at least one car space between me and the car ahead of me when I am stopped . . . I've been there and was almost shoved into a vehicle in front of me by a woman who hit me while I was stopped at a light. She was doing at least 50 mph and totaled my car. If the light had not changed when it did and I had not left some space ahead of me and put my foot on the break -- my car would have looked like an accordion and injuries would have been worse. Good luck.
2006-10-02 16:25:01 · answer #2 · answered by joyann 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes or maybe no, it depends. As a matter of fact this happened to my son. He was stopped on a red light, a car came from behind and hit my car (that my son was driving) my son hit the next car, and the lady hit the other next car. The person that hit my son had to pay for all three cars he hit, my car was totaled, the other lady had back and from damage, and the first lady just got hit a bit. The last car that hit all that were stop on the red light, had to get all the people rental cars, and pay for ther injuries suffered. My son sued and he and his girlfriend (AT THAT TIME ) both got quite a bit of money. The reason for that was because everyone was stopped.
In your case if you were going with traffic you will probably just have to pay for the one car. And the other car for the next car and so on.
2006-10-02 16:29:15 · answer #3 · answered by Boricua Born 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I actually saw that once. It was only three cars total though. Hopefully you didn't hurt somebody, and hopefully this wasn't a result of being on a cell phone!
That being said, let's ask ourselves this: did those other drivers drive into the car in front of them? No, they were pushed...they did nothing wrong.
In fact, go to your driver handbook, see if you can find anywhere a proper stopped distance. I don't think it exists. As long as you stop without causing carnage on the road, you are ok. I suppose I could be wrong though.
Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Hopefully the insurance won't ding you too much!
2006-10-02 16:19:00 · answer #4 · answered by powhound 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand, each person is responsible for the control of their car. Therefore, the responsibility of the other two damaged cars in front of you falls on the one who hit that car. You should only be responsible for the car you hit.
2006-10-02 16:23:43 · answer #5 · answered by Kelli ^..^ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with Fire4511, except if the proper distance wasn't maintained then it is possible that the other cars collisions were not your fault. Your insurance should look into that.
I was in a similar situation and my insurance investigated and took care of everything. I was only at fault for the car in front of me.
2006-10-02 16:26:57 · answer #6 · answered by M C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Were these cars stopped at a traffic light?
If so, I'd probably still say it was your "fault"... although, that sucks. I would hate it if that happened to me.
But if I was stopped behind someone at a traffic light, and if someone hit me from behind at 30mph, I don't know if I would be able to stop before hitting the car in front of me.
Probably not the answer you want to hear. :(
But if you have insurance, hopefully it doesn't matter too much.
2006-10-02 16:17:22 · answer #7 · answered by PJ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I f you caused the other vehicles to make contact, you are the one at fault Your car was the the driving force.IF THEY WERE STOPPED AND THEY HAD NOT TOUCHED,THEN THEY HAD KEPT A PROPER DISTANCE BY NOT HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER. YOUR INERTIA WAS THE CAUSE!
2006-10-02 16:43:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree, you are probably responsible for all. If you hadn' hit the car in front of you, the others would not have hit the ones in front of them.
2006-10-02 16:17:55 · answer #9 · answered by mopargrapeape 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should only be responsible for the car you hit. The other cars didnt give enough room between them and the person in front of them making it their fault they hit someone. At least that's how it is here in Michigan......
2006-10-02 16:19:05 · answer #10 · answered by kay S 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋