Is it my fault if my wheels lock up in the rain?

Question

I got into a car accident a while ago, in which I rear-ended the person in front because my front wheels locked while I was braking.

Tomorrow, I have to go to court. Although the officer at the scene advised me to plead not guilty, I am confused. It was raining quite heavily (but not enough to reduce visibility) and it was pretty much bumper to bumper traffic, but moving steadily.

So my real question is: If I plead not guilty, can I blame it on the wheels/brakes? Or perhaps even tell the judge that the cop told me to plead not guilty?

I'm 20 and this is my first accident (and first time in court). Currently reside in New Jersey.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Just tell them what happened. If you were in slow moving steady traffic, your brakes locked up by no fault of your own, you couldn't control anything.

If the judge doesn't buy it, tell him the cop said to plead not-guilty... nothing will happen to the cop and if anything does who cares? He did tell you that. Not like your ever going to see him again or anything.

Answer 2

Yes. You are required to keep your car under control at all times. Rain or Sun

Answer 3

Yes, it is called failure to keep control of your vehicle and not understand the current road conditions.....

Answer 4

Is it the fault of the person you rear-ended that your car belongs in the junkyard rather than on the road?

Answer 5

You can plead not guilty, but the bottom line, is that you are at fault.  You were following too close, and at too fast a rate of speed.  When the brakes locked, you would have needed to pump the brakes.  This would have the same affect as the ABS brake system, except that the computer could do it better and faster.

I wouldn't mention that the policeman told you to plead not guilty or not, since all that will do is get the cop in trouble for not being impartial.

Answer 6

Just tell the truth and do what ever is necessary. Some states have a law that in a rear end collision the driver who hits the car in front is automatically at fault. If this is the case in N.J. you'll have a fine and your insurance will pay it's part to repair the offended vechicle. Just as easy as that. But Always tell the truth.

Answer 7

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It was your fault!

It was your choice to drive too close, so it was NOT an accident - unless your car had a mechanical problem, brake failure, etc.

Think about it.....If you were following with a mile between you and the car in front the incident would not have happened.

At least 4 seconds gap in the rain.

Learn your lesson. Hard to accept but true....

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