3 Cars Accident - Am I Fully at Fault? (No Insurance)

LXcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 01:24
Last edited 13/10/2023 - 11:01 by 1 other user

Hi guys, hope everyone is well.

I just had a multiple car accident where I was the last person (the most rear) that hit the car.

My car has a minor damage. However, the car in front of me hitting another car which the damage is very unreasonable. I am driving my partner’s car and she does not insured the car. I am worried about what is going to happen next, as there are so many scenario might happen.

According to some trusted people around me, they truly believe I am not 100% entitled for the accident, as my car has very minor damage at the front part. However, the middle car, has significant damage at her part which hit the boot of Car C. According to their point of view, they told me that I failed to brake but I truly believe from the factual evidence, I barely tap the car in front of me.

I am feeling so stress and low, as this is one of the lowest point of my life. Few days ago, my brother fall down from 2nd level to his epilepsy illness and now I have to face this situation.

Automotive

closed Comments

  • gofree on 13/10/2023 - 01:37
    +6

    So you were in a three-way where you read-ended someone and now it's time to pay up. Sounds like you will at minimum have to pay to fix any damage on the back of the car that you hit.

    • Empharand on 13/10/2023 - 01:54
      +19

      So you were in a three-way where you read-ended someone

      Giggity

    • Archi on 13/10/2023 - 09:39
      +2

      that would depend if the middle car prove that the last car that rear ended them, has pushed him into the car in front.

      in which case the 3rd car (OP) would be liable to for the damages of both cars in front.

      if OP can prove that the middle car had already hit the first car and then rear ended the middle car then the OP would only be liable for the middle car

      if I was the middle car I know how I would be putting in my claim to insurance.

      • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:33

        Can I prove it from the factual evidence? I do not have any proof that Hyundai hits the Range Rover first.

        • Protractor on 13/10/2023 - 10:53
          -1

          Nobody hit anybody

  • chrisn26 on 13/10/2023 - 01:54
    +2

    Sorry mate, you gotta pay up, not just for the middle car but also the front car. A while ago I was the middle car in your situation. The insurer of the front car called me and I just directed them to the person in the back.

    • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 11:48

      How long till the insurer call you?

      • Forskin on 13/10/2023 - 11:59

        Are you planning on getting out of the country?

  • Empharand on 13/10/2023 - 01:56
    +12

    Member Since
    51 min ago

    🍿

    According to some trusted people around me, they truly believe I am not 100% entitled for the accident, as my car has very minor damage at the front part.

    But are any of them qualified insurance assessors?

    Also as per Ozbargain etiquette for threads such as this, we as the community will require one (or both) of the following:

    • A) An informative Paint.exe diagram showing everything that happened
    • B) Dashcam footage

    Without the Dashcam footage it's a 'He said, she said' situation and we could be playing on semantics of what actually happened….

    In my opinion, based on what OP has declared, it sounds like OP didn't maintain a safe driving distance from the person in front and ended up in this potentially avoidable situation. I'd be very curious to know the road related events that lead up to this unfortunate circumstance (eg. Not maintaining safe driving distance, wet weather etc).

    There's a few ways this could go but I'd rather not add angst to OP's mind right now with scenarios.. all I can say is having insurance would have definitely eased most possibilities.

    OP, shit happens and take this as a learning experience. Focus on moving forward and leaving this shitty situation in the past.

    • Chandler on 13/10/2023 - 07:44

      Paint.exe

      What happened to MS Paint? Are they OK? I haven't seen this Paint.exe around - their diagrams any good?

      • Muzeeb on 13/10/2023 - 08:15
        +4

        I was just chatting to MS Paint last night and they are all G.

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/10/2023 - 08:45
          +5

          I have never seen Ms paint and muzeeb in the same room though…

    • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:35

      Thank you for your thoughts. I will keep this on mind.

  • pinchies on 13/10/2023 - 01:59
    +3

    I am driving my partner’s car and she does not insured the car.

    You have my sympathy. That is very unfortunate.

    • cashless on 13/10/2023 - 07:41
      +3

      That is very unfortunate.

      It’s also going to be very expensive

    • Muzeeb on 13/10/2023 - 08:44
      +3

      Why? Whenever you drive a car that is not your own you have a duty of care to yourself and the general public to ensure the car is both registered and appropriately insured.

      OP would have known the risks after checking this information.

      • Sleeqb7 on 13/10/2023 - 10:50
        +1

        Why?

        Because they're a human being with the ability to feel empathy?

    • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:36

      It is very unfortunate. No one wants an accident.

      • capslock janitor on 13/10/2023 - 12:03

        no one wants to be driving on the road with uninsured drivers either

  • SydStrand on 13/10/2023 - 02:20

    Range Rover

    GG

  • randomusername2017 on 13/10/2023 - 02:28

    Was thisone of the other drivers?

  • 87percent on 13/10/2023 - 05:06
    +4

    How do you “barely tap the car infront” but the other car has “significant damage”??

    • Zeph101 on 13/10/2023 - 07:21
      +3

      My thought is that the middle case hit the first car before the OP hit them.

      If that was the case then might only be responsible for the damage to the middle car.

    • ihfree on 13/10/2023 - 08:23

      It sounds like two idiots with varying degrees of tailgating.

      First one couldn't stop in time and did significant damage. Second one braked hard and only only tapped the back of the second car.

      • 87percent on 13/10/2023 - 09:16

        I always thought if the damage between car 2 into 1 is more than damage 3 to 2, it would be 2 separate claims

        • Archi on 13/10/2023 - 09:45

          i would all depend on how the middle car claims how the accident happened

          • if they take responsibility and admit that they hit car one first then got rear ended middle car would be liable for damages to his own and car infront and car 3 would be liable for car 2 and his own
          • if they said car 3 rear ended them first and pushed them into car one. then car 3 would be liable for damages to car 1 and 2 as well as his own.

          so it is all about the meat in the sandwich ,

        • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:37

          Yes, this is what trully happened. Damage between car 2 into 1 is major especially for the car 2 front part.

          • Seraphin7 on 13/10/2023 - 11:29

            @Xcalibur: The amount of damage to the various cars involved has absolutely nothing to do with who is liable. If you caused it (whatever "it" might be when it comes to the damage), you're liable for the damage.

    • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:36

      Because my car is still driveable, with very minor damage on the front part.

      However, the middle car need a tow and the radiator of the car broken.

      • freefall101 on 13/10/2023 - 11:04

        If the front car had their brakes on and the middle car didn't (or was moving forward) then that would happen. Particularly if they were hitting a much heavier vehicle that had fully stopped and had their brakes on.

        The energy from you hitting them made them move forward and wouldn't cause as much damage. But if the first car had braked and didn't move at all, that instead makes the front of the car crunch.

        The damage (or lack of on your car) isn't evidence by itself, unfortunately. But you'll have to wait and see what the insurance companies say.

  • Stopback on 13/10/2023 - 05:23

    Op make a go fund me.

    • 2jzzzz on 13/10/2023 - 08:59
      +2

      The new insurance for idiots

  • Lunarboogie on 13/10/2023 - 06:30
    +3

    A salient lesson why everyone needs third party insurance at the very least. Good luck OP. This looks like it may sting.

    • Mechz on 13/10/2023 - 11:58
      +1

      Third party property fire and theft.

      Third party is just people damage.

  • apsilon on 13/10/2023 - 06:36
    +1

    they truly believe I am not 100% entitled for the accident, as my car has very minor damage at the front part

    Blame is unrelated to the amount of damage. It's not 100% clear but if I understand correctly you hit the car in front causing them to hit the car in front of them so you're entirely at fault and responsible for both vehicles and your own. Expensive lesson to learn about paying attention on the road and having insurance.

  • Ugly on 13/10/2023 - 07:04
    +10

    If the “middle” car already hit the one in the front before you hit them, then you may have a case.
    But if the middle car had safely stopped without hitting the front car, and then you forced them together, then you’re paying for the lot.

  • holdenmg on 13/10/2023 - 07:05
    +5

    First off, it is Friday the 13th.

    Second, a MSPaint© image tells a thousand words.

    Third, DashCam footage?

  • onetwothreefour on 13/10/2023 - 07:44
    +1

    Just say your partner was driving and make them pay.

    onetwothreefour on 13/10/2023 - 07:44 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
    • Nugs on 13/10/2023 - 08:57

      ex-partner?
      .

      • onetwothreefour on 13/10/2023 - 09:59

        Would you be with a partner who doesn't insure their car?

  • Brian McGee on 13/10/2023 - 07:53

    If you are the first to hit then you are responsible 100% for the damage.
    The Range Rover will come after the middle car for damages/compensation for repairs, and the middle car will come after you for the repairs of the Range Rover and the MC repair costs.
    Your friend not insuring their car doesn't negate your responsibilities to remain vigilant and alert when driving and not drive into the back of others.
    You are wholely responsible for damage repair to all 3 cars.

  • pegaxs on 13/10/2023 - 08:03
    +2

    Doesn’t matter what we think, it matters what the insurance companies think… tell your story to the insurance company and see if they buy it.

    You do have insurance, right?

    Right?

    • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:39
      -1

      I do have insurance for my own car, not for my partner car.

      • pegaxs on 13/10/2023 - 11:07
        -1

        Do you have insurance on the car that was crashed?

        • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 11:12

          My gf’s car does not have any insurance. However, I believe the other 2 parties does.

          • pegaxs on 13/10/2023 - 11:31

            @Xcalibur: In that case, you are possibly going to need to speak to a lawyer at some point, because the other cars involved are going to blame you for the whole incident.

            The guy in the front car doesn't care, as they will take it up with the car that hit them, the car in the middle will then turn around and place all of this on your car.

            You need to start compiling any witness's and information if you think you have a case for the middle car hitting the front car before you got there. You are still going to be liable for the damage to the car your car hit, but you are going to need some overwhelming evidence or witness statements to convince anyone that the car in front of you had already hit the car in front of them.

  • holdenmg on 13/10/2023 - 08:06
    +1

    When I learned to drive I was taught to apply the Hand Brake so that if I was stopped or at an Intersection and someone hit from behind, my Vehicle wouldn't roll forward or into the Intersection.

    Anyone else?

    • geekcohen on 13/10/2023 - 08:14
      +12

      Personally, never heard of this being a thing.

    • EFC94 on 13/10/2023 - 08:18
      +5

      Think I had 3 or 4 different instructors plus parents and no one taught me this

      • holdenmg on 13/10/2023 - 08:23

        I feel old. lol

        • hayne on 13/10/2023 - 11:34

          Out of curiosity, how many years ago did you learn to drive? (i.e. when were you taught this)?

          • holdenmg on 13/10/2023 - 11:42

            @hayne: Early 1980's.

            I googled it (today) because back in the 80's Google meant looking at someone.

            Anyway if you google "Apply Hand Brake, Intersection" it is a thing.

            If I had my choice I'd rather walk away from an Accident where I had my Hand Brake applied and I was only slightly nudged rather than being pushed into someone or something.

            Apparently Electric Hand Brakes are a thing now.

    • hothed on 13/10/2023 - 09:34
      +1

      And what is wrong with the foot brake exactly? It does the same thing, except uses the brakes on all 4 wheels instead of just the back two.

      • holdenmg on 13/10/2023 - 10:00

        Nothing wrong.
        Providing you use it and your foot doesn't get jolted away from the Pedal when someone slams into your rear.

        Otherwise, in a split second of reaction time you wouldn't have time to drop your foot on the brake hard.

        • capslock janitor on 13/10/2023 - 12:07

          this exactly happened when i was rear-ended as a Learners. was a hefty hit too.
          possible got into state of shock that i was in an accident and foot released.

          and my supervisor was left wondering how it rolled through a red light haaa

  • EightImmortals on 13/10/2023 - 08:14
    +1

    "I am driving my partner’s car and she does not insured the car.."

    Did you know the car was uninsured?
    What was your partners plan for when she runs into someone's merc?
    3rd party property insurance is pretty cheap, why didn't the "trusted people around you" tell you about it?

    So you are liable for at least hitting the car in front of you, pretty sure you can organise a payment plan with the other drivers insurance company if you can't afford the full repair cost up front.

  • Ocker on 13/10/2023 - 08:22
    +1

    Time to start looking for a new girlfriend

  • ihfree on 13/10/2023 - 08:28
    +4

    You are liable for at least the middle car. It is likely that their insurance will have an interest in pushing it onto you to avoid liability.

    There are a few life lessons here:

    • get insurance
    • if you can't afford insurance, you can't afford to drive
    • check the insurance status of cars you're borrowing
    • don't tail gate
    • pay attention
    • if you can't see around a vehicle maintain a bigger distance
    • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:40

      Thank you.

  • freefall101 on 13/10/2023 - 08:36
    +1

    Unfortunately afterwards is the hardest time to do much. Write down everything that happened, everything you remember then talk through it with the insurance companies. Keep any photos you took.

    That your trusted friends are backing you with a story that sounds good might just be false hope. Nice of them, but you should have heard a loud crunch before your soft one if it happened that way

    • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:41

      The insurance company still hasnt contact me yet. Do you know how long does normally it takes for Insurance contact me? Please be easy on me. I just have too much things on my plate and I am not even a permanent resident here as im still studying.

      I do not have any family member either here.

  • Wiadro on 13/10/2023 - 08:48

    YES

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/10/2023 - 08:49
    +5

    U better come back and report what happens op.
    I am far too invested in this saga now.

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/10/2023 - 09:55
        +2

        i guess op was hoping to hop on, get a whole bunch of people agreeing with the poor advice OP has been given then take that to the insurance companies as a standard court ruling.

        • holdenmg on 13/10/2023 - 10:01
          +2

          This was a AAMI script without a film crew.

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/10/2023 - 09:56
        +1

        also…are you seriously not using dark mode ozbargain :(

        • Muzeeb on 13/10/2023 - 09:57
          +1

          I dedicate Firefox on my phone exclusively for ozbargain and it's the only app I don't have in dark mode. Ozbargain in dark mode looks odd to me.

      • cashless on 13/10/2023 - 10:20

        Seems like Xcalibur must have disappeared into the lake

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/10/2023 - 10:45

          as of this moment xcalibur no longer exists, say hello to miguel sanchez!

      • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:42

        It was late night.

        I was sleeping. Too much things on my head.

    • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:42

      Report to police? Is it too late?

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/10/2023 - 10:46

        report to police..and what?

        • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:53

          You told me to come back and report. Apologise if I get you wrongly, as Im not english speaker.

          • Protractor on 13/10/2023 - 10:59
            -2

            @Xcalibur: Perfect spelling and grammar but poor english.Teefknhee.
            Can you speak flying pig?

            • OZKap on 13/10/2023 - 11:26

              @Protractor: You must be completely illiterate if you can't tell from OP's flawed grammar and odd sentence structure that they are not a native English speaker .

              It's decent English, but far from perfect

          • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/10/2023 - 11:14

            @Xcalibur: right - i meant report as in come back and tell us what happens in the end.

  • bohn on 13/10/2023 - 08:56

    You might want to check out the BANKRUPTCY ACT 1966.

  • GordonD on 13/10/2023 - 09:03

    Did car 2 hit car 1 BEFORE car 3 hit car 2? If that's the case the OP in car 3 car may not be responsible for all the damage to the back of car 1 and the front of car 2.

    Without dashcam footage to show that, the OP can only rely on the crash investigators deciding the small amount of damage from when he hit car 2 wasn't enough to have caused a much larger amount of damage when car 2 hit car 1, and/or the occupants of car 1 saying there was a serious collision first when car 2 hit them, then a much more minor 2nd collision when car 3 pushed car 2 into them.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 13/10/2023 - 09:09

    LOL

    This is what happens when you TAILGATE PEOPLE.

    Sounds like the idiot infront of you was tailgating someone, and you were tailgating them.

    Your insurance company will have to work out what happens

    she does not insured the car

    Third party insurance is mandatory in Australia, so I'm guessing you mean you don't have comprehensive, so the damage to your car is not covered by anyone and you'll have to pay that.

    Enjoy dealing with Range Rovers insurance company, those things are a PITA to repair and even minor damage can be very expensive.

    • ihfree on 13/10/2023 - 09:14
      +3

      CTP is mandatory in NSW.

      Third-party property damage isn't required in NSW. This would be the minimum required for property damage to other cars to be covered.

      • Seraphin7 on 13/10/2023 - 11:35

        This is 100% correct. Although, I think there's a argument that third party property should be a mandatory insurance with rego just like CTP.

    • kerfuffle on 13/10/2023 - 09:14
      +1

      I'm guessing you mean you don't have comprehensive

      Also safe to guess they don't have third-party property.

  • mbck on 13/10/2023 - 10:01
    +3

    Their insurance will chase you for the costs. Unless you have something to back yourself up.

    The only good outcome would be for that something (a video) to show that the middle car hit the front car first. You then hit the middle car.

    This would means you are only liable for the middle car's damages.

    However if you hit the middle car and the middle car is pushed to the first car, then go into a payment plan.

    Don't blame too much on your wife please. You're the driver, responsibility lies on you.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 13/10/2023 - 11:38

      This would means you are only liable for the middle car's damages.

      Not really.

      If they hit the middle car and that caused the damage to the car infront to be more severe, then there's an argument to be made that OP is liable for damage to all vehicles as a result, or at least partially to the first car.

  • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:32

    For everyone who commenting, I totally understand about your opinion.

    What I trully believe is I tapped the car infront of me as from the evidence, its minor damage at the boot & front part.

    I do not know how does the (2) car has major damage on the front part.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/10/2023 - 10:49

      look mate you are probably going to need to look at a lawyer tbh

      • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:51

        Does it worth it?
        A lot of people in the facebook group this damage might cost up to 30k.

        Im trully (profanity). My brother still unconscious as well. I have no idea what is happening in my life.

        • Baysew on 13/10/2023 - 11:05
          +2

          The reason people take out insurance is to protect them against the very type of a situation you have found yourself in. It just has to be solved with money (yours unfortunately).

          Your brother's condition is a much more serious concern.

    • gromit on 13/10/2023 - 11:03

      your "tap" if they were moving could have caused them to lurch forward or accelerate. If you made the initial contact you are pretty much up the proverbial here. The amount of direct damage you did to the rear won't be relevant.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 13/10/2023 - 11:28
      +1

      What I trully believe is I tapped the car infront of me as from the evidence, its minor damage at the boot & front part.

      I do not know how does the (2) car has major damage on the front part.

      The insurance company of the Range Rover you rear ended will likely claim that your "nudge" caused the car to move forward into the other car, increasing the damage caused.

      Also do not forget that modern cars, especially high end ones like Range Rovers, have a lot of electronics and sensors everywhere. What used to be a simple replacement for a rear view mirror now can cost a lot of money.

      A lot of people in the facebook group this damage might cost up to 30k

      Depending on the car and the damage caused, this could be accurate.

  • bobbified on 13/10/2023 - 10:42
    +1

    ….where I was the last person (the most rear) that hit the car.

    Yes - to put it bluntly, you're screwed. Car at the back is responsible. Even if video footage exists of the car in front hitting the car in front first (before you rammed their ass), that won't get you off the hook. It'll merely be part of the 'argument' as to how much to reduce your liability.

    You're also the driver who is liable for any injuries too, but you're covered by TAC as part of the registration costs.

    • Xcalibur on 13/10/2023 - 10:45

      I know I will not get off the hook. I just would like to know if the damage evidence can show that I did not 100% reponsibilites for all the damages.

      • bobbified on 13/10/2023 - 11:05

        If you can get any dashcam/video footage that shows the middle car hit the car in front first (before you hit the car in front of you), that can be used to argue a reduced liability.

        Try and get as much video footage as you can - the size of the impacts will also be a factor. It's going to be a difficult situation because you're going to get a repair bill for the first car and a bill for the second car. There's a good chance you'll have to be stuffing around with two different insurance companies (who will be trying to get you to pay up!).

        If you do get some good video footage, it might be worth getting a lawyer to deal wiith the insurers around liability..

  • Protractor on 13/10/2023 - 10:52
    -2

    The other two cars in front of you were driven hitmen for underground criminal orgs. You may have blown their cover.
    Personal insurance?

  • Protractor on 13/10/2023 - 11:04

    Jail can be a cold and lonely place.

    • RobotWizard on 13/10/2023 - 11:33

      Looks like you're talking from experience.

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