A police officer told me that the car with more paint scrapes and damage is typically the one NOT at fault.?

Question

Is there any truth to this?

Answer 1

the person who is at fault is determined through witness testimony and questioning of those involved...he was just being smart

Answer 2

Maybe, but unless he was quoting from some study, I do not think it is necessarily so. It all depends on the driver of the car at fault.

I had an accident back in 2001 - new car - only had it for 3 months. I was changing lanes in heavy traffice and there was a car sitting in a turn lane to enter the lane I was moving into. She didn't see me until after she started to move forward, but the corner of her front passenger side fender scraped along my drivers side rear quarter panel and rear door. Her car was older, and to this day I do not believe I was at fault. But, because the officer we were dealing with didn't want to waste time, no ticket was issued - even though her car was sticking too far into my lane. Like the cops say sometimes - if I didn't see it, it didn't happen.

So - again - it all depends on who is doing the driving - not the type or condition of the car. I think the cop is wrong.

Answer 3

No. police often assume and fabricate their own truths almost at an instant. Therefore what he told you is of course false. I mean really. If your parked at a stoplight in a brand new car and I run a pickup with a grillgaurd into you, the vehicle with the most paint chips ect and damage is not at fault..Next time a police officer gives you a professional opinion dismiss it immidiately as a lie, Thats the best advice I can give you because they are all liars.They make their descions based on their mood and their hunger status..keep that in mind too.

Answer 4

No, not true at all.

If a car is T-Boned, the car that was hit in the door is more likely to be at fault, and it will have more damage.

If a car was rear-ended, the car that was hit in the back will have less damage the the car that has front-end damage... and the car with the fonr end damage was at fault.

It can go either way, witnesses and the obvious way an accident occured will determine fault.

Answer 5

No!!! If you have an officer who makes his ruling based on this, file a complaint or at least talk to his supervisor. Fault is determined by witnesses, the scene, and statements taken by both drivers. If no ticket are issued, file your own complaint or tell the officer you want to issue the other driver a ticket. You have to be fair about this and must truly believe it was his fault, not yours. If he doesn't want to do this, go to the station and talk to the supervisor or chief. If this is uncomfortable for you, talk to your insurance agent about it and explain why you were not at fault and you want to issue a ticket yourself. Some cops are just lazy.
Remember, not doing all you can will cost you in higher insurance premiums!

Answer 6

That makes no sense.
My dad rear ended someone once and totally effed up the front of our car, but the guy we ran into was an old jeep and had absolutely no damage to it.
That's a load of crap.

Answer 7

Negative! Years ago I hit three cars and mine was the damaged the most. The three cars hardly had a scratch. MIne was totalled.

Answer 8

yes, usually the car that gets hit is from a strange angle, while the car doing the hitting (the car at fault), is usually head on, where the car is designed to crash.

Answer 9

This is not true. That is why they have to do "investigations" to see who was at fault. The insurance companys ask a series of questions you answer them to the best of your knowledge.

Answer 10

Maybe they can tell from experience. The one that travels faster would cause more damage. Its a toss up to me.