Foo - My poor car :(

I got rear ended today coming home from work. I was driving on the highway, traffic slowed rapidly, I hit the brakes, looked in the rear view mirror, noticed the car behind me wasn't stopping, and WHAM! They hit me, and I go skidding into the truck in front of me. No one was hurt, but I'm fairly certain my 1997 Honda Civic is totaled. I'll be talking to the insurance company in the next few days. My parents left yesterday to go to Austria for 10 days, so I'm trying to decide when to tell them. Funny thing is, I hit a deer over Christmas break, and just had $1500 of body work done on my car (mostly paid for by insurance, thankfully), and the way I hit the truck in front of me, the damage is almost identical to the deer. I laughed out loud. I'm in pretty good spirits since it wasn't my fault. I'm just sad that I'll probably have to say goodbye to my car. I love my little Civic. Anyway, I don't know why I felt compelled to tell this to my internet friends, but I will anyway.

Glad you're not hurt.

Oh yeah, P.S. - the only part I'm kicking myself over is that I planned to ride my bike to work today, and slept in too late.

Good thing you drove. You would've died for sure getting squished between that car and the truck! :eek:

Good thing you drove. You would've died for sure getting squished between that car and the truck! :eek:

Yeah, that highway at rush hour scares me a little whenever I ride my bike.

He probably would've survived cause he would've been skitching on the side instead of directly behind.

Yea, we've got a few highway entrances here where it can be pretty nasty. Basically the one that I take everyday has no acceleration/merging lane. Plus, the entrance and exit are less than 500ft away. You are almost always forced to come a complete stop at the end of the entrance ramp. People who are not used to this and don't expect the stop rear end the stopped car.
Good luck with your insurance

Thats what I don't like about unibodies, very difficult to rebuild sometimes. Especially after a crash. Glad you aren't hurt. Freeway accidents like that have killed people I knew.

Glad you're ok, but are you sure you're in the clear? You rear-ended a truck so the truck driver's insurance will go after your insurance co. while your insurance co. goes after the guy behind you, etc.

This will give you an excuse to buy a new Civic. Glad you're not hurt.

Glad you're ok, but are you sure you're in the clear? You rear-ended a truck so the truck driver's insurance will go after your insurance co. while your insurance co. goes after the guy behind you, etc.

Yeah, I made my witness statement real clear that the car behind me pushed me into the truck, so hopefully it will all work out.

Thats what I don't like about unibodies, very difficult to rebuild sometimes. Especially after a crash. Glad you aren't hurt. Freeway accidents like that have killed people I knew.


You don't like unibodies because it's easier to replace your rusted bucket's parts when you have actual fenders. Huh, MICH?? :D

Glad that your aren't hurt, nobrainer. Accidents happen. Although your insurance might have to pay for the car in front of you, your insurance can still recoup that from the person that hit you.

If you are underage (not sure how old you are) then I would tell my parents right away. If you are not, then I'd try to handle it best I can so as to not upset them or ruin their vacation. The point is, you are okay and hopefully everyone else is too. :)

Yea, we've got a few highway entrances here where it can be pretty nasty. Basically the one that I take everyday has no acceleration/merging lane. Plus, the entrance and exit are less than 500ft away. You are almost always forced to come a complete stop at the end of the entrance ramp. People who are not used to this and don't expect the stop rear end the stopped car. Uh, that's not a safe maneuver! If you need to be going 60mph when you merge, then you better floor that throttle from as far back as needed to reach that speed. This might mean as soon as you turn onto the on-ramp. Or even fly around the last corner at 20-25mph to hit the ramp at speed. It annoys the h*ll outta me to follow people down the on-ramp at 25mph for 90% of it. Then at the last second they try to pick it up and end up causing all sorts of havoc on the freeway as they merge on at a snal's pace. I'm thinking about getting a big forklift installed in front of my car so I can spear these greyhairs and show then what real driving is!!! :eek:

Amen to that Danno. A lot of people need to learn how to drive. Not merging properly causes all kinds of traffic jams, and is a total pain in the ass for commuting.


You don't like unibodies because it's easier to replace your rusted bucket's parts when you have actual fenders. Huh, MICH?? :D

Beats a bunch of ****ty plastic that falls apart when the car goes over a bump. My car is a solid assed car. Biggest problem with a unibody is the floor. Pain in the ass to replace or fix, especially after it gets bent out of shape. Not to mention most unibodies are FWD and by nature a pain in the ass to fix.

Beats a bunch of ****ty plastic that falls apart when the car goes over a bump. My car is a solid assed car. Biggest problem with a unibody is the floor. Pain in the ass to replace or fix, especially after it gets bent out of shape. Not to mention most unibodies are FWD and by nature a pain in the ass to fix.


My plastic Trans Am never fell apart. You ding it, and lo and behold, no dings! And when did they make a FWD Trans Am?? The only reason it would be a pain in the butt to fix is because you have no idea what you are doing. ;)

By the way.....how'd the bondo job come out on your wheel wells? *snicker!*

I got rear ended today coming home from work. I was driving on the highway, traffic slowed rapidly, I hit the brakes, looked in the rear view mirror, noticed the car behind me wasn't stopping, and WHAM! They hit me, and I go skidding into the truck in front of me. No one was hurt, but I'm fairly certain my 1997 Honda Civic is totaled. I'll be talking to the insurance company in the next few days. My parents left yesterday to go to Austria for 10 days, so I'm trying to decide when to tell them. Funny thing is, I hit a deer over Christmas break, and just had $1500 of body work done on my car (mostly paid for by insurance, thankfully), and the way I hit the truck in front of me, the damage is almost identical to the deer. I laughed out loud. I'm in pretty good spirits since it wasn't my fault. I'm just sad that I'll probably have to say goodbye to my car. I love my little Civic. Anyway, I don't know why I felt compelled to tell this to my internet friends, but I will anyway.
Well, on the flip side, YOU got rear ended, so it's not a chargeable accident as far as insurance is concerned, so here's the good news! NO INSURANCE RATE INCREASE!:D :beer:

You also aren't hurt!:D

Quick Edit: All legal responsibility goes to the rearmost driver in a chain reaction accident.

It's not safe at all, I completely agree. But, I didn't design this road. The problem is that there is
a. No acceleration/merging lane at all
B. the exit ramp is less than 500 feet from the entrance, so while you are trying to merge, you have to wait for people who are also exiting.

So whenever I merge, I keep it in 3rd gear until I am at 4 or 5 grand, then I can put it into 5th. I've seen plenty of accidents on this road in this spot.

My plastic Trans Am never fell apart. You ding it, and lo and behold, no dings! And when did they make a FWD Trans Am?? The only reason it would be a pain in the butt to fix is because you have no idea what you are doing. ;)

By the way.....how'd the bondo job come out on your wheel wells? *snicker!*

No, the only reason it's a pain to fix is the floor is not removable, and by nature it's less strong without a frame. My friend had to weld sheet metal to the floor of his Iroc. Chore and a half. And no, nobody made a FWD TA. This thread is about a misfortunate and sad accident that happened to a civic.

The plastic might not get dinged, but you sure did go nuts cleaning it after you spilled a little gas on it that one time.:p

You failed to mention that the bondo was only to cover a very solid job I did with sheet metal. A light cover up, and it worked just fine. You should drive that car in the winter here. The floor would rust out, and it would be expensive as hell to fix it.

No, the only reason it's a pain to fix is the floor is not removable, and by nature it's less strong without a frame. My friend had to weld sheet metal to the floor of his Iroc. Chore and a half. And no, nobody made a FWD TA. This thread is about a misfortunate and sad accident that happened to a civic.

The plastic might not get dinged, but you sure did go nuts cleaning it after you spilled a little gas on it that one time.:p

You failed to mention that the bondo was only to cover a very solid job I did with sheet metal. A light cover up, and it worked just fine. You should drive that car in the winter here. The floor would rust out, and it would be expensive as hell to fix it.

I'd rather shop at Walmart than to drive a ford.

I'd rather shop at Walmart than to drive a ford.For anyone not keeping score at home, that's really saying something! :eek:

I'd rather shop at Walmart than to drive a ford.
Ooooooooh burn!!

That's scary, you hate ford that much you'd shop at a Walmart? :eek:

I'd rather shop at Walmart than to drive a ford.

Eh, I'd say it's a toss up. Clearing house for China's slave labor crap vs a company that is set in it's greedy enviornment destroying ways. They can both **** off frankly.

Good save, Mich. * :D

Awww. I rather push a ford than drive a chevy, Hey wait, I drive a chevy truck! (slinking off)

I wouldn't even push a ford.

Are we talking modern Ford here, or something more classic?

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6095/1995fordaspire3638396x2ex0.jpghttp://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8039/1930fordmodelasedanyellpf5.jpg

It makes a difference.

Quick Edit: All legal responsibility goes to the rearmost driver in a chain reaction accident.

I've heard otherwise. In my drivers ed class they made sure to emphasize that in a chain accident like that you can be hit with a "following to close" because you should have at least 1 car length between your car and the one in front of you when stopped. But if the cops find that the car behind him pushed far enough he should be okay. What I was taught may also only apply in Ontario, or only to the situation they showed us (cars stopped at a light).

nobrainer, glad you're okay and hopefully your insurance company isn't a bunch of jerks about this :)

Yeah, I was just about to mention that - you can be partially responsible even if you didn't do anything. :(

Anyway, my approach to ramps like that is... take it as fast as I can. I WILL squeal my tires because I'm going 45 on a TIGHT 25 MPH ramp. I WILL pass you on the shoulder, even in the dirt, if you're not going fast enough. If push comes to shove, I'll dive for the breakdown lane for more acceleration room. Dammit, I have a 52 hp diesel. Get the hell out of my way, I need every inch of this ramp.

Oh, and I make DAMN sure I get on the exit ramp before a Buick. Buick drivers are the ones most guilty of going 35 on a ramp until the last second.

Dammit, I have a 52 hp diesel. Get the hell out of my way, I need every inch of this ramp.Indeed. In a low- or under-powered vehicle, onramps (especially with short merges) are a whole new challenge.

At least, with it being a diesel, the plume of black smoke when I'm sending it to 4800 in every gear, with WOT, causes people to take pity on me and slow down to let me in, sometimes. :roflmao:

Well, on the flip side, YOU got rear ended, so it's not a chargeable accident as far as insurance is concerned, so here's the good news! NO INSURANCE RATE INCREASE!:D :beer:

You also aren't hurt!:D

Quick Edit: All legal responsibility goes to the rearmost driver in a chain reaction accident.


Sorry but that is wrong. A rear ending is almost always the rear ender's fault. He should have had more cushion between him and the car in front. It might be deemed to be the fault of the other driver, but if the OP did not have enough space between him and the car in front he will shoulder some(or even all) of the responsibility for hitting the guy in front of him.

Sorry but that is wrong. A rear ending is almost always the rear ender's fault. He should have had more cushion between him and the car in front. It might be deemed to be the fault of the other driver, but if the OP did not have enough space between him and the car in front he will shoulder some(or even all) of the responsibility for hitting the guy in front of him.

I'm sorry, but it sounds like the OP was able to stop clear of the car ahead of him, thus had given adequate cushion of space between him and the car ahead of him. An additional impact from behind would have forced the car forward (laws of physics and all withholding) and pushed him into the car ahead. In the state of Texas at least, the rear most person in an accident carries the burden of cause.

I'm sorry, but it sounds like the OP was able to stop clear of the car ahead of him, thus had given adequate cushion of space between him and the car ahead of him. An additional impact from behind would have forced the car forward (laws of physics and all withholding) and pushed him into the car ahead. In the state of Texas at least, the rear most person in an accident carries the burden of cause.

Yeah I've heard it both ways from you guys and the people here in Kansas that I've talked to. We'll just have to see what the insurance company says.

I'm sorry, but it sounds like the OP was able to stop clear of the car ahead of him, thus had given adequate cushion of space between him and the car ahead of him. An additional impact from behind would have forced the car forward (laws of physics and all withholding) and pushed him into the car ahead. In the state of Texas at least, the rear most person in an accident carries the burden of cause.


I have been reading up on this and it seems to depend on the state. In PA, if this accident occured it would have been the fault of each rear ender. The idea in PA at least is that if you don't leave enough space in front of you, you are responsible if someone else pushes your car into another. If you stop short by mere inches, that wouldn't be enough. At least that is how it used to be according to an insurance agent friend of mine. Now how they figure out how much cushion is appropriate, I don't know.

Probably some complicated mathmatical formula that no one completely understands and is still completely based on assumptions of how fast each person hit the person in front of them. That or complete and total guess work.

I've been in a rear end accident where the person driving was able to stop with plenty (let's say 6-7ft) before the the car ahead of them. However because he eased brake pressure off the pedal once stopped (not completely off, but not stomping on the brake) the impact from behind caused us to lurch forward more half of the open distance, the impact speed was under 5mph. Road conditions and much else can come into play in what can be deemed a safe distance to consider when following on the road. It sounds as if the person behind the OP was probably moving at a decent rate of speed when they hit him, and cause him to cover more than a reasonable space before hitting the car ahead of him. Of course, none of us were there to witness first hand so it's all speculation at this point based on what the original poster stated.

Sorry but that is wrong. A rear ending is almost always the rear ender's fault. He should have had more cushion between him and the car in front. It might be deemed to be the fault of the other driver, but if the OP did not have enough space between him and the car in front he will shoulder some(or even all) of the responsibility for hitting the guy in front of him.
A rear ender when shoved forward by another vehicle is an exception, however. If another vehicle knocks your into another vehicle, you had no possibility of avoiding this by any means at all...other than by not being there at all. I spent 25 years as a commercial driver and had to learn the laws in all states concerning liabilities. Ialso trained and was involved in safety training and accident avoidance/defence for the trucking industry. I'm sure though that you will find an obscure precedent though to refute me, being the keen legal mind you are....etc.:rolleyes:

A rear ender when shoved forward by another vehicle is an exception, however. If another vehicle knocks your into another vehicle, you had no possibility of avoiding this by any means at all...other than by not being there at all. I spent 25 years as a commercial driver and had to learn the laws in all states concerning liabilities. Ialso trained and was involved in safety training and accident avoidance/defence for the trucking industry. I'm sure though that you will find an obscure precedent though to refute me, being the keen legal mind you are....etc.:rolleyes:


I just know what my insurance agent friend of mine said about PA several years ago. But I am sure a trucker is more qualified than an insurance agent to know about insurance laws. Did you learn to insult people during those 25 years as a trucker or does it just come naturally. Notice, I never insulted anyone in this thread.

I have been reading up on this and it seems to depend on the state. In PA, if this accident occured it would have been the fault of each rear ender. The idea in PA at least is that if you don't leave enough space in front of you, you are responsible if someone else pushes your car into another. If you stop short by mere inches, that wouldn't be enough. At least that is how it used to be according to an insurance agent friend of mine. Now how they figure out how much cushion is appropriate, I don't know.

Insurance agents don't know squat. They write policies, they don't determine liability in auto claims. In a two car loss, the car in back will nearly always be found to tbe the at-fault party. The exception would be if the car in front made a sudden, unsafe stop for no reason. What this means is that if you slam on your brakes because some fool is tailgating you, you could end up shouldering some of the liability for the loss.

In a rear end loss with 3 or more cars, the claims adjuster (not the agent) will assess the rear damage and the front damage of the middle car (or the first one to be struck, usually) to determine the force of the impact. The will also ask the driver in front if they felt one impact or two. This is done to determine if there is any comparative liability. The middle car will generally bear little liability, unless they were found to be stopped too close to the vehicle in front of them based on the prevailing traffic conditions.

I handled claims for 10 years, and found most agents to be idiots. No salesperson has the right to discuss liability determinations.

Glad you're ok, but are you sure you're in the clear? You rear-ended a truck so the truck driver's insurance will go after your insurance co. while your insurance co. goes after the guy behind you, etc.

In rare instances, his insurance may pay for the truck's damages, then pursue the car in back. Usually, they would tell them to get stuffed, and pursue the responsible party direct.

Sorry but that is wrong. A rear ending is almost always the rear ender's fault. He should have had more cushion between him and the car in front. It might be deemed to be the fault of the other driver, but if the OP did not have enough space between him and the car in front he will shoulder some(or even all) of the responsibility for hitting the guy in front of him.


So.
If you are driving an '89 CRX(1770pounds) and are struck, from behind, by an H2 Hummer (8600pounds) and then pushed into the vehicle in front of you, causing an accident between you and the vehicle in front of you. That accident will be your fault?

The people in your state must have a very limited grasp of physics. Are you in Kansas? Or maybe you believe all the stuff your highschool drivers ed teacher told you?

Chuck, I actually had a claim where the claimant's attorney tried to claim that our insured hit the car in front of him, then bounced backwards into the car behind him (claimant's vehicle) that had apparently safely stopped.

Right.

Just filed my claim. Taking the car in to get an estimate tomorrow.

In the case of a total loss, what happens to the totaled car?

You can usually pay a small portion of the pre-total value to buy the car back, and then pay for the repairs yourself.

You can usually pay a small portion of the pre-total value to buy the car back, and then pay for the repairs yourself.

That's called salvage. If the cost to repair exceeds a certain percentage (usually around 70%) of the actual value of the vehicle, the insurance company will write it off as not economical to repair. But there's no guarantee that it can be repaired for what they would pay him, nor is there any guarantee it can be repaired at all. And once it's repaired, its title will state SALVAGE, which kinda screws any hope of selling it again.

Would you want to buy/drive a $5,000 car that had $4k in repairs?

Insurance agents don't know squat. They write policies, they don't determine liability in auto claims. In a two car loss, the car in back will nearly always be found to tbe the at-fault party. The exception would be if the car in front made a sudden, unsafe stop for no reason. What this means is that if you slam on your brakes because some fool is tailgating you, you could end up shouldering some of the liability for the loss.

In a rear end loss with 3 or more cars, the claims adjuster (not the agent) will assess the rear damage and the front damage of the middle car (or the first one to be struck, usually) to determine the force of the impact. The will also ask the driver in front if they felt one impact or two. This is done to determine if there is any comparative liability. The middle car will generally bear little liability, unless they were found to be stopped too close to the vehicle in front of them based on the prevailing traffic conditions.

I handled claims for 10 years, and found most agents to be idiots. No salesperson has the right to discuss liability determinations.


My friend is not an idiot. And although she doesn't determine fault, she is privy to that information on a daily basis at the small firm she works for. How about truckers? Do they determine liability as well or better than insurance agents? Or do they just drive a truck better?

UPDATE:

Car is totaled. I'm not surprised.

My friend is not an idiot. And although she doesn't determine fault, she is privy to that information on a daily basis at the small firm she works for. How about truckers? Do they determine liability as well or better than insurance agents? Or do they just drive a truck better?

I'll bet she takes scene photos and measurements, reads police reports, takes recorded statements, and visits body shops all week long too.

An agent's job is to sell. Their number one concern is looking after their book of business, and making sure their insureds are not charged for a loss, since that affects their bottom line. I've only ever known a handful of agents that weren't sleazy salesjerks.

My friend is not an idiot. And although she doesn't determine fault, she is privy to that information on a daily basis at the small firm she works for. How about truckers? Do they determine liability as well or better than insurance agents? Or do they just drive a truck better?
If you are referring to me, among my duties in the trucking industry was working in the Safety Department at the end, training drivers in accident avoidance and defense, if you remember my earlier post in it's completion.

This job also included investigation of the accidents and collecting data for legal as well. I worked the SE region, but also would fly up to the Northeast. I have practical experience in the field, as a driver, Company Safety Officer, and investigator. I'm not just talking out of my hat.