Fault in Rear-End Accidents

Who is At Fault and Pays For A Rear-End Collision?

A rear-end accident is usually the most straightforward when it comes to determining fault; since the rear driver failed to stop, the collision is their fault. However, that’s not always the case, as courts will sometimes determine that the driver in the front was negligent. It all depends on the circumstances of the crash.

Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the chief causes of rear-end accidents, as the driver is not paying attention and therefore doesn’t have enough time to react. Texting while driving is the main cause of distracted driving, but drivers can also be distracted by rifling through junk, pets or kids in the back seat, and changing a music station on the radio. In these cases, the distracted driver is at fault.

Weather Related Driving Conditions
Wet driving conditions like those in snowy or rainy weather can cause the car’s brakes to skid and collide with another car. It’s important to check driving conditions before starting your journey and adjust your driving style to meet those conditions. If you are in an accident because of driving conditions, investigators will look at whether or not you took precautions to accommodate the slippery roads.

Driving While Tired
A commonly overlooked cause of an accident is fatigued driving. If the driver did not get enough sleep the night before, they are as dangerous as someone with a BAC of .08%. At risk drivers may be shift workers, drivers who spent a night drinking alcohol, individuals with sleeping disorders, or those who’ve been awake for too long. Their reaction times, ability to pay attention, and awareness of hazards are all negatively impacted by not getting enough sleep. A few signs to look out for are:

• Nodding off while driving
• Frequent yawning
• Drifting in and out of your lane
• Missing exits and inability to read exit and traffic signs

Tailgating Another Car
Following too closely gives the rear driver less time to brake when they’re surprised. This can also cause an accident, and the rear driver would be liable because they were negligent in their duty to maintain a safe distance between them and the other car. However, “brake checking” is when the front driver notices they are being followed closely, and they purposefully slam on their brakes without a valid reason. In this case, part of the fault would be on the front driver because they slammed on their brakes for no apparent reason. If you feel like this is the case, it’s possible that you and your lawyer can argue this in court.

As you can see from above, it’s not automatically the rear drivers fault in a rear-end collision. However, liability changes depending on which state in which the accident occurs. California courts pay attention to the amount of negligence each driver involved in the crash exhibits in the events leading up to the crash. Finding out how much you and the other driver are responsible for will be crucial to determining compensation.

Comparative Negligence

California courts abide by the doctrine of pure comparative negligence in car accident cases. The doctrine of comparative negligence allows the courts to determine liability on a case-by-case basis. If the court determines that the back driver was only partially at fault, then the amount of compensation may be reduced.

For example, if the courts find the other driver to be 20% responsible for their own injuries, then they would have to cover 20% of the damages in the case, while the driver maintaining 80% fault will have to cover 80% of the damages.

The Accident Lawyers Firm is highly experienced in dealing with pure comparative negligence, and they will fight to lower the compensation you owe to a fair amount regarding the accident. If you’ve been on either side of a rear-end accident, you should contact us to ensure a fair trial.