Ask Me Help Desk - Who's is at fault in multi car crash

A car run a red light and hit me from the passenger side, I hit another car, another car ran into another car, I was asked for my DL's and insurance, I was taken from the scene in a ambulance, I didn't receive any tickets or citations, I went to the police station and was given back my DL's and insurance, my insurance, I contacted the lady's insurance company who hit me their saying she stated she had the green light the police report won't be ready until Thursday and the insurance company is saying the can't prove anything until they receive the report, honestly my insurance was cancled on dec. 15 can I still be held liable for this accident

Hello a:

Liability goes to the one who caused the accident - not the one who doesn't have insurance...

excon

Of course you can be held liable for the accident if the proof of how it happened is against you. You will also be sued for any car you damaged following your car being struck. Basically this will be a chain of claims and it's all going to come down to percentage of fault. You are liable if that is how the evidence points no matter whether you are insured or not - without insurance you are personally liable, not covered.

You are at a disadvantage because you don't have an insurance company representing you and arguing fault with the other companies.

You need an Attorney. Also, the insurance companies take the Police Report into consideration but it does NOT determine fault.

I'm a liability investigator and work on similar accidents on a very regular basis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Of course you can be held liable for the accident if the proof of how it happened is against you. You will also be sued for any car you damaged following your car being struck. Basically this will be a chain of claims and it's all going to come down to percentage of fault. You are liable if that is how the evidence points no matter whether you are insured or not - without insurance you are personally liable, not covered.

You are at a disadvantage because you don't have an insurance company representing you and arguing fault with the other companies.

You need an Attorney. Also, the insurance companies take the Police Report into consideration but it does NOT determine fault.

I'm a liability investigator and work on similar accidents on a very regular basis.

Thanks Judy!!

Your answer was very very very helpful to me. I would like to ask you this question though, seeing that you are a liability investigator. The car that hit me deliberately ran the red light on the day before Christmas (Christmas rush... ) causing my vehicle to be totalled. The impact to severe it FORCED me to hit other cars uncontrollably. So tell me Judy if I would still be liable if completely innocent!!

Thank You Judy!!
P.S. My Attorney is on hand...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ameenahdoss

So tell me Judy if I would still be liable if completely innocent!!!! P.S. My Attorney is on hand.....

What does your attorney say?

Your car hit other cars, so, like Judy said, there may be a percentage of liability for you.

Of course just being innocent is not proof sadly, so if the other witneses claim you did it.

If you did not make any statements at the scene, did you go latter to the police department and have your statements added to the police report

Quote:

Originally Posted by ameenahdoss

Thanks Judy!!!!!

Your answer was very very very helpful to me. I would like to ask you this question though, seeing that you are a liability investigator. The car that hit me deliberately ran the red light on the day before Christmas (Christmas rush....) causing my vehicle to be totalled. The impact to severe it FORCED me to hit other cars uncontrollably. So tell me Judy if I would still be liable if completely innocent!!!!

Thank You Judy!!!!
P.S. My Attorney is on hand.....

Unfortunately for you, yes, you will "probably" be held responsible to some degree. I understand that your car was thrown into other cars; however, the bad news for you is that you are expected to have your car under control (and that is undoubtedly the language the insurance company will use). I know - how can you be in control when you've just been hit. I am just telling you my experience.

The terms "deliberately," "completely innocent" do not come into play in auto accidents. The other driver (apparently) ran the red light (and witnesses will prove or disprove that) and you were not at fault for the accident (if that is also the testimony of witnesses).

I have posted before that insurance law is not always "fair." I investigated a head on accident - car #1 crossed over. Car #2 had a ditch on her right and so she pulled to her left - and car #1 almost straightened out. They hit almost dead head on partially in car #1's lane (due to car #1 pulling back over). Car #2 was found 50% at fault for being over the line. Go figure!

At any rate - I think it's a very good thing you weren't injured (and I trust you were not) with so many impacts and your Attorney will do his/her best to make sense of the circumstances and protect you.

Let us know how this plays out.