Georgia Personal Injury Trial Attorneys

Rear-end Collision: Whose Fault is It?

By: Fry | Goehring

A rear-end collision is one in which one car crashes into the back of another vehicle. It is most often the fault of the driver who crashes into the back of the other vehicle, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, there may be some scenarios where the front driver may be at fault.

Determining who caused the crash can become even more complicated when the driver in the back pushed the vehicle into another vehicle in front of it, creating a multi-vehicle crash. If you’ve been involved in a rear-end collision, whether you were rear-ended or you rear-ended another vehicle, how do you determine whose fault it is?

WHEN IS THE DRIVER IN THE REAR NOT AT FAULT?

In many cases, the driver in the rear will be at fault in a rear-end collision, but there are instances when they are not. Here are just a few examples when the driver in front could be responsible for a rear-end collision:

  • The driver suddenly slams on their brakes for no reason.
  • The driver is driving on the road erratically, which causes the driver behind to run into them.
  • The driver unexpectedly puts the car in reverse. For example, they could put the car in reverse if they pulled out too far in an intersection or at a stoplight leaving a parking lot.
  • The driver cuts in front of another driver, and there’s not enough time for the driver behind to stop.
  • The driver merges into traffic but doesn’t go at a sufficient speed after pulling in front of another car.
  • The driver’s brake lights are broken.
  • The driver has a car emergency but doesn’t pull over the shoulder of the road.

WHEN IS THE DRIVER IN THE REAR AT FAULT?

Typically, in a rear-end collision, the driver in the rear is considered at fault. It’s up to every driver on the road to ensure that they maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them so that they have plenty of time to stop just in case.

A driver in the rear will be at fault if it can be proven that they were driving recklessly. Some good examples of reckless driving would be that they weren’t maintaining a safe distance from the car in front of them, if they were traveling too fast at the time of the crash, or if they were weaving in and out of traffic.

Have you been involved in a rear-end collision in Georgia because of another driver’s negligence? You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Call on an expert legal team that will help you understand your rights. Set up a free consultation with the Fry Law firm today by calling (404) 948-3571.