If you hit someone from behind when driving is it always your fault?

Show all answers

Post your answer

Chris D	That's pretty much the general opinion of insurance companies. They see it as the drivers fault because they didn't react in time to the car in front. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

darchangel_3	YUP! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Ladyfromdrum	I am afraid so - yes. It goes on the assumption that you were driving too close to stop at the speed at which you are travelling, even if some idiot has no brake lights or something similar. You still have to leave sufficient distance between you and the car in front so that you can stop suddenly if you have to. The general rule of thumb being one car's length for every 10 mph you are doing i.e., 60 mph = 6 car's length. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Remember the slogan "Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule" I gather that this applies to the 70 mph motorway speed limit. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Jolly1	Yes. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

pablo_asawa	yes, but in the same instance you cannot lock up your brakes on a free way or busy highway for not good reason... Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Bertie D	The law Say's it is Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

ANDREW B	I'm not a policeman but ya its usually your fault, proper distance is a must, can be charged in a accident and following too close. People are idiots go around them and no accident will happen, all I can say. Or convince the police that they were drunk or on drugs, and that might work............ lol ok later Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

djh240874	i think it is as its your responsibility to ensure your far enough behind so you dont go into the back of someone if they have to brake suddenly .sorry Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

? BlueBerry ?	yeah, as you fail to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Nutty Girl	it shouldn't be always your fault the car in front could have faulty brake lights or didn't indicate or pulled in front of you quickly. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

MICHAEL P	In the main, hitting someone from behind does put you in the frame as it is regarded that you are the author of your own misfortune. BUT, of course there are exceptions, albeit difficult to prove. One is where the driver in front brakes deliberately to induce a collison and yes this does happen, be it done 'professionally' to produce an expensive claim for repair and personal injury and sometimes simply out of malice. Someone did that to me last year, braked hard to induce a collision and then accelarate away with a two finger salute. I was able to avoid a collision but very shaken. I could have reported him but to be successful I would have needed his index and a strong independent witness. The other angle on this I suggest is if the car is being used in a non legal context i.e. a driver under the influence of drugs and drink, a stolen vehicle being driven dangerously ,,, so it is probably the best advice never to admit liability even though we should ALWAYS leave sufficient room to stop in an emergency. IF you feel that there are mitigating circumstances with your collision, or anything untoward, always report it the police even though they may show reluctance in taking details, especially if no personal injury occurred. Bear in mind, the driver in front could take days or weeks to report say a whiplash injury, even by design. Best policy for the future? Leave more room that you ever will need and always read the road ahead. You can train yourself to do this. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

WelshLad	Yes - you shouldn't drive so close. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

little weed	yes. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

yousufsons	Yes, and the reason is that you are suppose to keep a distance which can prevent you from banging in to the front car, if you need to put brakes on, in an emergency. that is the reason the rule says that the more the speed you are in while driving, more should be the distance between you and the car in front. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

skip	I take it we are talking about a rear-ender here (or, as they say in New Jersey, A McGreevey) and not someone cutting you off and then hitting the brakes. In that case, the only time I can think you might get off is if the other person has faulty brake lights (or is indulging in an insurance scam. We just had a big ring broken up last year in North Carolina - doctors and all). Every driver on the road has a duty to maintain a safe travelling distance from the vehicle in front. That does make me wonder why the police do not punish this a bit more. Maybe because speeding is more objective. It'd be interesting to hear a police officer's view on this. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

happy trucker	Usually it is you should always leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Bandit600	Unless they pulled out in front of you leaving you no room to brake then it's always the driver at the rear that is at fault. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

creme8888	unless there revesing Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

waterboss	very seldom can you prove it wasnt, why do you think it wasnt Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Serinity4u2find	You could always say that the other car threw themselves in your way but then you would still have to explain how you had to pry them off of your bumper. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

dustcart44	If you hit the car in front, you were either too close, too fast, not looking or have crap brakes. So who else is to blame ! ! ! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

dick19532003	generally speaking yes its your fault ,the reason being that you have not left enough braking distance between you and the car in front . Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

CowboyBill	No. Although in almost every instance a rear ender is the fault of the car in the rear there are circumstances where the lead vehicle is found to be at fault. They are few and very between, however. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

jay	yeah, ususally it is. they reckon you should always be aware of what the vehicle in front is doing/ not easy sometimes huh?. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

booge	usually Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

marie m	Yes, it is generally you that has to keep a safe distance from the driver in front, so if you rear-end him, you are responsible. however, I was a witness to an accident where the driver in front was an ahole, kept dritfing across lanes, and pulled out without warning in front of a guy in the lane beside me; the poor btd had no chance of stopping - he successfully rejected a claim for compensation from the dkhead who was on his moblile phone while driving, and had no though or care for other road users. So it isn't always black and white. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

The Transporter	Yes. They didn't reverse into you did they? You were either driving too close to brake properly, not paying attention of both. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Del Piero 10	Invariably. Only people I've ever seen get away with it (surprise, surprise) was a Police car. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Dave	Yes, generally. This is why you should always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. The only exception to this is if they reverse into you. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

?	SEEN THIS ONE ON JUDGE JUDY. YES IT'S YOUR FAULT, EVEN IF THEY SLAM ON THE BRAKES QUICKLY FOR NO REASON, YOU SUPPOSE TO KEEP ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU FOR EMERGENCY STOPPING. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

chekeir	That's generally the law. Cheers :-) Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No