Accident Liability Dispute

PeteR86

Hi, so I was involved in an accident in July, which involved 4 cars.

It happened on a motorway exit slip road where there was static traffic so I came to a stop behind another stationary car, to which I was then shunted from behind which shunted me into the car in front.

A fourth car then shunted the car behind me causing a secondary shunt into myself and the car in front (so 2 shunts to the car in front of me, 2 shunts to my car and 1 shunt to the car behind me)

The car in front, despite leaving the scene confirming they were fine and there was no damage put in a personal injury claim - my insurance company have accepted liability, despite the accident clearly not being my fault.

The car in front confirmed they felt 2 shunts, however a witness in the car behind which shunted me first, has said they saw me hit the car in front and therefore i caused the first shunt - which is clearly fabricated.

If that was the case, then surely the car in front would've felt 3 shunts, and not 2. My insurance company have advised that because the witness is a claimant, they are credible - whereas my girlfriend who was in the car with me is not, and that the car at the front may not have felt the third shunt.

Just wondering if anyone has been through this before and have any advice.

[Deleted User]

PeteR86 wrote: »

If that was the case, then surely the car in front would've felt 3 shunts, and not 2.

No, it would still be two, because the car behind you is claiming you cause the first by yourself.

PeteR86

I meant, if I had shunted the car in front first, then they would've felt 3 and not the 2 that actually happened.

glentoran99

You are at fault anyway though surely, too close to car in front

martinsurrey

glentoran99 wrote: »

You are at fault anyway though surely, too close to car in front

are you kidding?

I hope so.

The OP stopped before the car in front as in they were 2 stationary cars, if you obey the 2 second rule, the OP had an infinite second gap.

PeteR86

glentoran99 wrote: »

You are at fault anyway though surely, too close to car in front

How so? What is the recommended distance you should leave in traffic? And that's not really the point is it - the point is that the reason I shunted the car in front is because of a shunt from behind, not a shunt I caused so distance is completely irrelevant - it's about liability.

I can be as close to the car in front as I like - I don't expect to be shunted from behind or for friend of the driver who did it to then say they saw me hit the car in front. Apart from the angle how can he be credible.

[Deleted User]

PeteR86 wrote: »

I meant, if I had shunted the car in front first, then they would've felt 3 and not the 2 that actually happened.

No - because they're trying to suggest that neither of the shunts were their fault.

In their version, shunt 1 was you going into the back of the first car. Shunt 2 was the fourth car pushing the third into you, and you in to the first car.

That leave the third car with no responsibility for any shunting.

PeteR86

OK yes, that makes sense then...

societys_child

Dash cams are very cheap and would have proved what happened.

Mungo76

I'm not sure why your underwriter would accept liability, the party behind is not independent, especially if you are claiming it is them who hit you.
Make some noise and ask them to review.