Who is at fault?

Question

Here's the scenario: I'm exiting a freeway and as I get off the car in front hits their brakes. I slam on my brakes but still rear end them. I know I'm at fault for that, but the car I hit hits the car in front of them, and that car hits the car in front of them. So I'm car A, I rear end car B, who rear ends car C, who rear ends car D. My question is am I at fault for all three other cars? Shouldn't the person I hit left space in front of them so that they wouldn't hit the car in front of them? Do cars B and C share some fault for rear ending the cars in front of them?

I'm in California.

Answer 1

If you hit a car from behind, then it is your fault. You only hit one car, so you can only be blamed for the car that you hit. That's if all traffic was moving. If you hit a car that was stopped and he, in turn, hit another car that was stopped, then you would be at fault for all of the collisions. A driver is only obligated to keep a safe distance between himself and another vehicle while in motion. "Parked cars," for example, can be as close as they want to be. If you have ever stopped at a traffic light, you have noticed that the cars do not generally have multiple car lengths between them.

Answer 2

Depends on the officer that shows up to the accident and the order that cars were hit. If you were going fast enough to push the car in front of you and the car in front of them into a third car, you must have been going awfully fast. If this is the case, then you would be at fault for all 3 collisions.

Answer 3

No. Your at fault for them all.... Had you not hit the vehicle in front of you, the chain reaction would not have started....It is also your responsibility to leave enough space in front of you so that when you do hit the brakes, you still don't hit the vehicle in front of you.....The following scenario would qualify for it NOT being your fault - so read carefully.......

Find out if car C was hit 2X......If so, that means car B hit him first, then the chain reaction caused you to hit car B, which hit car C again........ In that case, it's NOT your fault.....

Answer 4

no should be close enough to hot the car in front of them. Two car length sis appropriate enough for reaction and breaking time. So its kinda tailgating. Not many people follow this and this is why rear ending people is common and insurance companies are still in business.

Cars B and C do have fault because they were following too close. Nobody should be close enough to rear end. They should have a safe distance between.

Answer 5

Boy, it sure sounds like you have a big problem. After all of that - Let the Insurance company take care of the problems. Yes, you are at fault for following to closely to the car in front of you. But it's a big mess... sorry to hear.

Answer 6

legally speaking, you are still at fault for hitting all 3 cars. It would depend on the officer that arrives at the scene, however, because he/she in the end determines the fault. You do have the option to fight it, though, should your insurance company be charged for all 3 cars.

Answer 7

YOU are at fault for all damages. Safe distances, control of vehicle at all times, always at fault if rear ended, blah, blah, blah ---. The fact is if you didn't crash into the car ahead of you then none of this would have happened. Game over.
I only hope you have a big liability policy....

Answer 8

In CA, regardless of the situation, those who hit from behind are always at fault. So in your case, cars A-C equally share blame unfortunately. The insurance companies will work out who pays how much of who's damages and you can't do much to change that. And you are right, cars B & C will have to share fault and ante up into the pot. Good luck.

Answer 9

this reminds me of the time when about 8 cars were invovled in accident here. All i gotta say to the person all the way in the back that wasn't rear ended is "Doh!"

Answer 10

You would have to look at your states auto policy laws or go to your local courthouse law library or even your local library and see what the rules say.But if its anything like it is the law Say's you are responsible to be in control of your car at all times meaning that you are responsible for car B no matter what and car B is responsible for car C and so on.But like I said go to the library to double check.Well hope this helps