In a multi-car accident, if "two impacts" are felt by Car 1, did Car 2 hit first before being pushed by Car 3?

Question

How reliable is this "I felt two impacts" statement as an indicator of what happened in a he said-she said accident report? First and foremost, the physics of it. In an in-line rear-ending type of collision, could Car 2 be forced into Car 1 by Car 3 in such a way that Car 1 actually receives two impacts, even though Car 2 did NOT impact Car 1 before being struck by Car 3 and forced into Car 1? A bounce/rebound effect type of thing?

Alternately, is there something in modern car construction, in this case an Acura, that might give the sensation of two impacts to the driver of Car 1, even though there really only was one? The way the body or frame contorts to take the blow, for instance?

And last, but not least, can I beat this rap in traffic court? I happen to be Car 2 in this case, and Car 1 says that, you guessed it, he "felt two impacts."

Answer 1

This is without the crush effects that cars have and without knowing anything about the vehicles and without breaks being on or used

if car 3 has more massive than car 2 then when car 3 hits car 2, car 2 will travel slightly faster than car 3 and both cars will still be moving forward creating a seperation, and since car 3 is larger than car 2, car 3 will still be moving forward as well. so car 2 hits car 1 then car 3 hits car 2 a second time and you get the second impact. but since this is just an ideal situation that wouldn't hold up in real life unless they are older (early 80's 70's vehicals)

though with modern car construction car 2 and 3 are likely to stick together and as a unit hit car 1 with 1 inpact
with the breaks on in car 2 they would probably hit at the same time

and if you want to use any of this in traffic court, well good luck, cause i think the judge would need an expert witness, otherwise you would be better off just getting either video from a traffic camera or an eye witness

a judge is unlikely to take any information you got from an online thing.

And the ONLY way this would happen is if car is significantly lighter than car 3. AND the older solid constrution thing

Answer 2

If there are two impacts, then car 2 hit car 1 first, whereupon car 3 hit car 2, which in turn hit car 1 again. I don't see how physics could be otherwise. I'm sorry. :(

However, in a collision, there are three impacts: the impact of car on car, the impact of the body on the seat belt, the impact of internal organs on the ribcage/front of body.

If you can prove through physical evidence that you didn't hit car 1, then your court case should go well. Maybe the skid marks can tell the story. Car 3 would have seen you impact car 1 if you had actually hit it. It would have been obvious that you had hit the car in front of you. I've been behind someone when they creamed the guy in front of them. The car jerks.

I hope that helps.

Answer 3

Being in Car 2 you should know what happened. If the guy in Car 1 felt 2 hits then you hit first before Car 3 hit you. The person in Car 1 does not need to care about anything, they were the one hit. The only way out of it would be if Car 1 was doing something stupid or did something un-expected.

Answer 4

by all technecalities car 2 would have to hit first, then car 3, if car 3 hit car 2, then c2 hit c1 then c1 would get the combined force of both c2 and c3. c3 would tchenically stop moving once hitting c2 and c2 would continue moving.like the silver balls in the office of most movies that hit and the end ball recives the blow, same situation, or like pool balls, at an even angle only the outer balls would move. and no, in traffic court you are screwed, unless you can find evidence that c1 stopped intensionaly and un sespected (w/o warning) you are to blame for both c1's damage and c3's damage...good luck

Answer 5

A car accident happens very fast and it's almost always unexpected. Most likely he thinks he felt two impacts, he may have, but what he thinks he remembers might not be what actually happened.

Answer 6

well at the speeds at which cars can travel...
'2 impacts ' is ridiculous as u r sayin dat u didn't hit him 1st!!
physics jus lauhs at it!!
either he must b lyin or he might hav had dat feelin due 2 his suspension systems!!

Answer 7

the real answer lies with your Insurance company at this point.....hee hee