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Original poster

4 car nose to tail what to do?

38 replies

Bunnybigears · 05/10/2019 20:17

So I was in a 4 car nose to tail accident this morning. I was the third car. The first car admitted they braked by accident. The last car (the one behind me) was trying to convince every one to sort it between ourselves and not involve insurance. DH thinks I should go through insurance, I dont know as the damage I caused to the 2nd car was very minimal but the damage 4th car caused to me was quite significant. WWYD?

OP posts:

RandomMess · 05/10/2019 20:18

Insurance all the way, unfortunately you are all at fault bar car 1!

Etino · 05/10/2019 20:18

Through insurance, without a doubt.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 05/10/2019 20:19

Insurance! Definitely. Sounds like 4th car is uninsured tbh.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 05/10/2019 20:19

Insurance. Slightly concerning that someone wants to avoid the correct procedure, imo

Hotsummerplease · 05/10/2019 20:20

I would go through insurance. Though the last cars reluctance to do this might suggest they don't have insurance! Have you checked out the details they gave you?

nancy75 · 05/10/2019 20:20

You have to pay for car in front, car behind has to pay for you - how sure are you that car behind is going to pay? Remember that damage is not always visible until someone looks under the car, so it could be the damage you did is worse than you think

TokyoSushi · 05/10/2019 20:21

100% without a shadow of a doubt go through the insurance.

Non insurance claims rarely turn out well.

millimollimandi · 05/10/2019 20:22

Go through your insurance - however sounds like the one behind you might not have any, or be on dodgy ground (driving a borrowed car or without a licence etc)

Original poster

Bunnybigears · 05/10/2019 20:24

The car at the back is insured the police attended as they came across us and we were blocking one lane of a busy dual carriageway so they checked. The police did however say it was up to us if we went through insurance or not. They also didnt breathalyse anyone which I thought was a bit odd.

OP posts:

Sowingbees · 05/10/2019 20:25

If the first car broke for no reason they are liable for all cars. There is a case where someone broke for a pheasant and they were proven to be liable.

DoingWhatWorks · 05/10/2019 20:27

I looked up an insurance website:
In a rear-end collision, where only two vehicles are involved, it is generally the car from behind that is considered to be at fault, no matter how abruptly the car in front stopped.

In circumstances where there is a pile-up of three or more vehicles, a car will still be at fault for rear-ending another vehicle unless it was pushed by the car behind. Vehicles that are pushed into the vehicle in front by the car behind and who have no control over the collision will not be at fault. Generally, the first vehicle behind them that failed to stop and caused the chain of collisions will be at fault for the entire accident.

It is up to your insurance company to decide.

AmyFl · 05/10/2019 20:27

The first car will be "no fault", because all the cars following should have been having a big enough gap to not hit if they did stop unexpectedly. Cars follow each other much too closely these days.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 05/10/2019 20:49

If the first car broke for no reason they are liable for all cars.

It doesn’t matter why the first car braked. All cars behind should be anticipating cars in front braking and so keeping a safe distance behind them. If you run into the back of a car it’s because you didn’t leave enough space to stop safely. Regardless of why car in front braked. They could as easily have been braking for. Legitimate reason. It makes no difference.

DoingWhatWorks · 05/10/2019 20:52

Are you sure it isn't a crash for cash scam?

Original poster

Bunnybigears · 05/10/2019 20:57

DoingWhatWorks I am absolutely sure it isnt.

OP posts:

Wobblywibblywoo · 05/10/2019 21:18

Exactly what Joxer said, everyone should have maintained enough distance to be able to break, with ample stopping distance.

Sowingbees · 05/10/2019 22:45

@49JoxerGoesToStuttgart that is just not true. The most famous is below but there are loads of examples where the person at the front of the crash is held responsible

In Gussman v Gratton-Storey the Defendant applied her breaks violently in order to avoid hitting a pheasant running across the road. The driver behind was unable to stop and collided with the Defendant’s vehicle. The Defendant (lead driver) was held liable as the sudden stop was in effect held to be unreasonable.

IWantMyHatBack · 05/10/2019 22:49

I'd learn to drive properly and leave a big enough gap to I don't smash into the car in front. Seriously

"DoingWhatWorks I am absolutely sure it isnt."

You should have been able to stop.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 05/10/2019 22:55

that is just not true. The most famous is below but there are loads of examples where the person at the front of the crash is held responsible

And whose fault was it the driver behind was to close to stop without hitting the car in front? I’ll give you a clue- it wasn’t the driver in front.

everyone has a legal obligation to leave enough space between themselves and the car in front to stop safely in an emergency. It’s up to all drivers to consider speed, driving conditions, road surface etc and factor that all into the distance they choose to keep between themselves and car in front.

ThomasRichard · 05/10/2019 22:57

4th car probably doesn’t want to go through insurance because they were the last in the chain and so have no one to claim from themselves. Go through insurance. Far less hassle. Leave more room next time.

safariboot · 06/10/2019 02:33

Four cars involved? Of course get the insurance to sort it out! Especially as if there's significant damage there's also a decent chance of injury involved.

You almost certainly have to declare it to your respective insurers anyway, and declare it when applying for quotes, which means your premiums are likely to get spiked even if you don't claim yourself.

Rowenaravenclawsdiadem · 06/10/2019 05:28

I was the second car in that kind of collision.
The driver in front of me had to slam on his brakes, I stopped just in time. Car behind me smashed into me pushing me into first car, fourth car smashed into him. It all went through insurance and driver I hit told insurers I was pushed into him so didn’t go against me.

I was injured because of the force I was hit from behind. It rumbled on for 3 bloody years!

BlackCatSleeping · 06/10/2019 05:47

I think you’d be pretty crazy to not go through insurance.

Blankiefan · 06/10/2019 07:17

It'll be contentious with that many people involved. Someone will be a dick. Go through your insurance and let them deal with it. Why take the heartache?

Sowingbees · 06/10/2019 07:20

That's a different argument. Yes I agree with your post but it doesn't mean car 1 wasn't at fault.

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