Car Accident Question
By Bytemi
@Bytemi (1553)
United States
June 17, 2009 8:15am CST
Hi Everyone my husband was involved in a 4 car pileup yesterday on the highway.
Has anyone ever been in a multicar accident. My husband rear ended a student driver that slammed on her brakes and came to a dead stop on the highway so she could switch lanes. He said that he slammed on the brakes but skidded about 1500 feet right into the back of her. He was then hit from behind by a van.
Needless to say, his SUV is not in good shape. I know that he is responisble for the damages to the car in front of him but my question is, is he responsible for the car behind him?
4 people like this
10 responses
@bobby_12620 (1099)
• India
17 Jun 09
No i have never met with an accident with a car before but i have met with a bike accident twice and by gods grace those were not big accidents
1 person likes this
@bobby_12620 (1099)
• India
17 Jun 09
I actually live in a city and there is lot of traffic in my city and one time i had been hit by a car from backwards and my bike was damaged little bit and second time it was by my self when i was going on the sandy road i slip and fallen on two the ground
1 person likes this
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
17 Jun 09
Actually if the girl in front of him slammed on the brakes she would be responsible for the accident. And her insurance should pay for his fixes but except there was another car involved its a little trickier. Most likely situations with more then two cars everyone has to be responsible for themselves. Basically your husband insurance would have to cover his vehicle and both of the other people will have to cover their own.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
17 Jun 09
No she wouldn't. He wasn't suppose to be that close behind her regardless of her slamming on the brakes. He's at fault.
@smileonstar (4007)
• United States
17 Jun 09
well, it is decided on the insurance company. well, as my experience. not his fault... it is the last person, who involved in this car accident will pay. if u dont believe me, then ask police
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
17 Jun 09
is he okay now? i hope he is..well i guess depending on the officer taking the sketches for the accident..i cant really comment on this since there are some things to consider ..like for example the distance and everything..but generally when you are hit in the back by a car..you are not responsible for it..and the car whi hit yours is responsible for the damages..
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
17 Jun 09
The basic rule of the road is that you must leave sufficient braking distance between your car and the car ahead of you. The distance that you need to safely stop obviously increases with speed. At 3 miles an hour in bumper to bumper traffic, you need very little distance to stop. At 55 mph on the highway, you need more room, many more car lengths.
Therefore, the vehicle that rearended your SUV is responsible for the damage to the rear of your SUV. The front end damage is a result of the first accident (he hit the car in front of him) the rear damage is the result of the second (the van hit him). These are separate accidents and the damage must be appraised separately.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
17 Jun 09
Actually, there are more questions needed to clarify the whole situation. First, you said it was a 4 car accident, but didn't mention the 4th car. Secondly, when your vehicle was hit from behind, were you pushed into the car ahead a second time?
If the fourth vehicle hit the van's rear, was the van pushed into your vehicle a second time?
I don't know what the insurance laws are in your state, and much depends on how they determine liability. The easiest thing for your insurance company to do is to total the vehicle based on both the first and the second accident, pay you and then collect the portion of damages due to the second accident from the van's insurance company.
You should spend some quality time talking to the claims adjuster at your insurance company to sort out what your policy covers and the options available to them and to you.
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
17 Jun 09
Sorry about your mis fortune! You don't say where you are? (that's a common problem at Mylot) Here in the USA it's a decision of the police as to who's at fault, did your husband get a ticket? Usually he will, I got in to an accident for the same reason and didn't get one, no one could believe it! However you are supposed to have control of your vehicle at all times, this is why they issue the ticket. They call it tailgating or think, if your driving behind someone and an animal runs out in front of the car in front of you, and you hit them, it's your fault for hitting them because you didn't have control of your vehicle, in short the vehicle that hit your vehicle in the rear is at fault for the above reason! Good luck and always expect the unexpected when driving! 
tdemex1 person likes this
@khayshenz (1384)
• United States
17 Jun 09
I hope he's OK! And so is everyone involved.
Here's what I've learned - I've almost been in one (a 3-car pile up) I just hit the brakes in time so I barely tapped the car in front of me. I tapped it but no damages. I hit the plate! Anyways, back to you.
You are responsible for the car in front of you - the car behind you is responsible for hitting you ( the damages, physical and material) and so on and so forth. Rear ending is automatically the rear car's fault. It's automatic because the insurance (and police report) can say - oh maybe you're following too closely? Or you're driving too fast that's why you're break didn't bite early enough? Blah blah blah blah blah...
I hope he's ok!
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
17 Jun 09
i'm so sorry to hear about the accident... hopefully your hubby is alright now... i don't know about the law in your country about the road... but here, the car behind and hit the front car is always at fault regardless whether the front car is doing a sudden break... we are required to always drive at a safe distant with the car at the front to prevent an accident... i hope everything will went well with your hubby... good luck... take care and have a nice day...
@smileonstar (4007)
• United States
17 Jun 09
Hello, My cousin had been this kid of accident before and his car was totally lost... He told me that it was on the Freeway, at 9pm. This lady had a flat tire and she got out of the car and changed tired on the free way without a single. Read this and u will not believe it.
He was the third person involved in this accident. there were 6 cars total. He pay nothing and plus he got his car in total cost in a check of full amount of $29,000. Is that cool.
well, if your husband is not the last person involved then dont worry... none of his fault and non of behind him, the one that the last one will pay for everything. I dont know about the student driver but mostly if you hid them from behind then it is ur fault but dont worry... your husband is cool for now and wait to get the claim from your insurance.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
17 Jun 09
Hi there,
I used to work in auto claims. Unfortunately he is responsible for the car in front of him and any front end damage to his own car as a result. The car that slammed into him is responsible for any damage caused to your husbands vehicle as a result. An auto adjuster is usually assigned and can sort out which damage was caused by what vehicles.
@nanas99 (42)
• United States
17 Jun 09
I have had a cousin who has been in multiple pile ups so we are pretty aware of what it entails. Normally in a pile up you are only responsible for the car you hit. Anyone that gets into a rear collision is automatically assumed to have either been following to close or traveling to fast. Even if you were going the speed limit if the conditions were bad they would consider it too fast.
So no worries, the other car is responible for the rear accident. Sorry to hear about the accident though. Hope everyone is okay and good luck.
