When Is a Rear-End Collision Not Your Fault?

A rear-end collision is not your fault under some circumstances, including if the car in front makes an unsafe or reckless maneuver that leads to the crash or the vehicle’s brake lights do not work.

There may also be some protections if you are having a medical emergency or are all involved in a multi-car pileup. Speak with a Providence rear-end collision lawyer today to go over the facts of your accident and determine liability.

It May Not Be Your Fault if a Driver’s Brake Lights Do Not Work

Generally, a rear-end collision is not your fault if a motorist’s brake lights do not work properly. When this motorist steps on the brakes, you may have no idea that their vehicle will stop soon. Therefore, if you are traveling behind this car, you may crash into it. Yet, you may not be held responsible for the accident. 

It is reasonable to expect a motorist to fix faulty brake lights. However, if a driver chooses not to do so, they put themselves and others in danger. This motorist is violating their duty of care to other drivers. As such, they may be liable if their vehicle’s defective brake lights contribute to a rear-end crash. 

For those who are not at fault for a rear-end collision and want to seek compensation from a liable motorist who was driving a car with faulty brake lights, you have a limited time in which you are allowed to do so.

Based on Rhode Island General Laws § 9-1-14, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is three years. 

You May Not Be at Fault for a Rear-End Crash if a Driver Makes an Unsafe Maneuver

A rear-end crash may not be your fault if the other driver involved in it switches lanes without signaling, stops for no reason, or makes other unsafe maneuvers. In these situations and many others, a motorist is acting carelessly or recklessly. They are choosing not to comply with the rules of the road and, as a result, may be at fault for a rear-end accident. 

Talk with a rear-end collision attorney if another driver commits a careless or reckless act, leading to your crash. Your lawyer shares FAQs and other legal resources. They can determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit against the other motorist. 

If you take legal action against a driver after a rear-end collision in which you are not at fault, this motorist may do everything they can to dispute your case.

Thankfully, your lawyer knows what legal challenges you will face. They prepare an argument designed to make it clear that you are in no way to blame for the incident.

Other Drivers May Be Responsible for a Rear-End Collision if It Is the Result of a Chain Reaction

You drive your car and keep your vehicle a safe distance from others. A motorist is driving faster than the posted speed limit and slams the front of their car into the rear of a car many feet away from yours. If momentum causes the car that was struck to crash into the rear of your vehicle, you may not be at fault for the accident. 

In a chain-reaction accident, the driver who caused the initial harm may be at fault. In the above example, the driver who was speeding could be held accountable for the losses of all drivers involved in the crash. With help from a car accident attorney, you may recover economic and non-economic damages from this motorist. 

A rear-end crash lawsuit allows you to request compensation for your car repair costs, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other quantifiable and subjective losses.

Your attorney commits substantial time and resources to your case. They may secure compensation for you via a settlement or by bringing your case to trial. 

A Medical Emergency May Allow You to Avoid Being Held Accountable for a Rear-End Crash

There are times when a driver blacks out or has a seizure. This motorist may crash their car into the rear of a vehicle in front of them. Since the driver had no control over their medical emergency, they may not be held responsible for the accident. 

Get legal help if you had a medical emergency that prevented you from stopping your car and led to a rear-end collision. Your attorney can get information about your accident. From here, they can craft an argument that explains to a judge or jury what happened. 

It is rare for a medical emergency to allow a driver to avoid having to take the blame for a rear-end crash. Regardless, emergencies sometimes occur. If you are involved in a rear-end collision in which you were dealing with an emergency, you may not be held responsible for your losses. 

A Rear-End Collision Is Not Your Fault if the Driver in Back Is Tailgating

If a driver chooses to travel too closely behind your car, they may not have enough time to bring their vehicle to a complete stop if you suddenly hit the brakes. Thus, this motorist may be held responsible for an accident in which the front of their car slams into the back of yours. 

Consult with a Providence car accident lawyer if the driver in the car behind yours was tailgating and caused your crash. Your attorney may use traffic camera footage, witness statements, and other proof to support your case.

They may prove that you are not at fault for your accident. If they succeed, the other driver or their insurance company may cover your accident losses. 

Gemma Law brings more than 100 years of combined experience to your personal injury case. We can connect you with a Providence personal injury lawyer who learns about your rear-end crash and who is responsible. Schedule a free case consultation with us. 

Partner with an Attorney Who Can Prove You Are Not to Blame for a Rear-End Crash

Gemma Law has an outstanding track record in rear-end collision cases, having recovered millions of dollars for these and other personal injury victims.

We can evaluate your rear-end crash case and look for ways to prove that someone else is liable. Request a free case consultation with us for more information.