Who's at fault in this wreck

Question

My sister was in a wrech yesterday and is worried about her insurance and who's insurance would have to pay for who. She was driving on a main hwy when the woman in front of her came to a sudden stop. (she was going at least 45 and slammed her breaks so hard that her back end lifted) well my sis slammed on her breaks and did not hit the women, but the man behind my sis slammed into the back of her and caused her to hit the women in front twice (he had a cattle trailer on his truck, which caused him to hit my sis twice as well) now the women is saying my sis hit her before the man hit my sis. ( i think b/c my sis hit her twice the women is thinking she hit her before, but the women did not know the man hit my sis twice) sorry i know this is long but we really need some peace of mind. my sis is pregnant and streesed out! who's insurance wil be responsible for paying for the accident?

Answer 1

Who got the ticket> The last 1 did the hitting> But if no fault> every 1 could pay>Or they will make the truck pay>Up to the police???& Insurance comp> If there any damage??

Answer 2

If the man hit your sister before she hit the woman than its his fault. I'm not sure how she got hit twice even with the trailer. how quick was it between collisions? you need to contact the mans insurance and determine and prove to the other womens insurance that it was the man travelling behind your sister who did it.  if the man couldnt stop, then its his fault.

Answer 3

The person behind your sister is at fault. Your sister came to a stop. If she or the police took pictures of the wheel traces ("skid marks"), analysts should come to the same conclusion.

Make sure your sister doesn't admit any guilt -- she needs to stick with her story and not give in to pressure from the person behind her or anyone else.

Answer 4

It doesn't matter who we say or who you say is at fault.  The police and/or Insurances companies (and rarely, judges and juries) determine fault.   If everyone had insurance then everyone should sit back and let the insurance companies battle it out.  Isn't that exactly what we pay them premiums for?  

Answer 5

your sister is.  sorry

Answer 6

oklatom has the correct answer.  

Answer 7

She needs to tell her adjuster she's adamant about not hitting the front vehicle first.

A lot of times, especially with trailers, a vehicle can get rearended...then the trailer moves forward causing the hauling vehicle back into the front vehicle.  This is probably the case here.

I can see no fault with your sister.  

Answer 8

Generally speaking the person who hits someone else who is stopped is responsible for the damage caused.  But being multiple car with various stories, this is one for the insurance companies to discuss among themselves with the statements from all involved and the police report, and come up with a decision based on the facts.

Answer 9

easy the person behind is at fault, it is stated that people need to stay far enough apart to come to a sudden stop

Answer 10

Odds are, your sister's insurance company will pay for the damage to the front of her vehicle and the rear of 1st car. The rear car will pay for his damage and the damage to the rear of your sisters car.

With your sister getting a ticket and the front driver saying your sister hit her first -- chances are good that your sister will be found partly at fault.

Where is the damage to your sister's car?

If it's bumper,grille, hood, front lamps -- that only increases the chances that she will be found partly at fault.

About the only thing that would change it is if the car in the rear says your sister came to a complete stop and he hit her twice. Since the two back cars got tickets......odds are, that is not his story. Most likely he is saying that your sister hit the front car and then he hit her.

Answer 11

What did the police report say?

It's hard to determine without it. If they didn't get a police report than it's going to be one persons word against another, who contacted their insurance first, and whose insurance company is more aggressive.

Answer 12

It sounds to me like your sis probably did initially hit the woman in front of her and then made contact again when the truck rear-ended your sister's car.

This will be up to insurance adjusters to determine who's at fault,but it sounds like both your sis and the truck driver are. But then again I'm no expert on these matters.