Who is at fault in this car accident?

[Anonymous]

This morning while I was driving to work, the car in front of me rear ended someone, and then I hit them. I didn’t push the car in front into the first car. The driver (middle car who caused the first accident) said he looked down for a second and hit the car in front, before I hit him. I’m worried to call his insurance and wondering if I should just fix my own damage (his car was fine), in case somehow I’m found at fault? I’m in California. Thank you in advance!!

[Anonymous]

You were following too close. Hitting his car is your fault.

- btdt

[Anonymous]

Op again - the car in front of me suddenly slammed on his breaks after hitting the car in front, and that’s why I hit him. I wasn’t following super close, probably less than a car length away though. I’m a DCUM poor and don’t want to call his insurance in case some how I’m found at fault. He’s not asking me for my insurance and said it’s his fault, but is it?

[Anonymous]

The car behind is always at fault even if the car ahead stopped short. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

I believe rear-ending another car is generally the fault the person who does the rear-ending, regardless of circumstances. The rules are that you should always be far enough behind someone in case of a sudden stop so that you don't hit them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You were following too close. Hitting his car is your fault.

- btdt

Even if I hit him because he hit someone else first?

[Anonymous]

This happened to me on Connecticut in CCDC - first car suddenly decided it needed to turn left and stopped short, middle car hit it, I hit middle car. Middle car had very little damage from me and I had next to none, so she got an estimate and I cut her a check instead of going through insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You were following too close. Hitting his car is your fault.

- btdt

Even if I hit him because he hit someone else first?

What if he slammed on the brakes to avoid a pedestrian? Would you think it’s he’s fault then too?

You were too close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You were following too close. Hitting his car is your fault.

- btdt

Even if I hit him because he hit someone else first?

What if he had to stop suddenly to avoid hitting someone suddenly crossing the street? Or to avoid driving over a kitten? You have to be far enough away and moving at a speed that allows you to stop if the driver in front of you stops.

[Anonymous]

Did the police come?

Usually you are responsible for hitting the car you hit (you were too close). You MAY be responsible for that car hitting the first car, unless you can prove the middle car hit the first car first.

[Anonymous]

You rear ended the car in front of you. It’s your fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You were following too close. Hitting his car is your fault.

- btdt

Even if I hit him because he hit someone else first?

Doesn’t matter why the car in front of you stopped. That’s why you need to keep distance to be able to stop in time, in case the car in front of you stops suddenly.

The only time it would be the fault of the car in front is if they reverse into you, which could also be hard to prove unless you have dashcam.

[Anonymous]

It is your fauylt, yes, but you wouldn’t call *his* insurance. You call your insurance and they resolve it. That is what insurance is for; it will be ok, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again - the car in front of me suddenly slammed on his breaks after hitting the car in front, and that’s why I hit him. I wasn’t following super close, probably less than a car length away though. I’m a DCUM poor and don’t want to call his insurance in case some how I’m found at fault. He’s not asking me for my insurance and said it’s his fault, but is it?

It is your fault in the eyes of the law. The theory being that sudden stops ca happen and you need to leave enough distance between you and the car in front of you that you can manage a sudden stop without hitting the sudden stopper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is your fauylt, yes, but you wouldn’t call *his* insurance. You call your insurance and they resolve it. That is what insurance is for; it will be ok, really.

I reread your post and I think you should call your insurance company, rather than just fix your car. The reason is that even if his car looks fine, he may say there’s a hidden problem that wasn’t noticed until later. Or, he could claim he was injured but didn’t feel it until later. If you don’t report the accident it could cause more problems for you down the line.