I was driving on the freeway in California when a car ahead suddenly stopped after hitting a dog. I ended up lightly rear-ending that car, then got hit hard from behind, which pushed me forward. Now I’m trying to understand who’s actually at fault.
When I look up info, it seems like responsibility is shared among several parties—the dog owner, the car that stopped suddenly, me, and the car behind me. But the first driver I hit is now claiming it’s all on me and wants my insurance to cover their medical bills.
Is this worth fighting, or do I have to accept liability here?
Typically, you’re responsible for any damage to the car in front of you, while the car behind you is responsible for your rear-end damage. If the dog was a stray, there’s no one to pursue for liability. If the dog has an owner, it might be possible to pursue them, depending on local leash laws. As an adjuster, I wouldn’t spend time figuring out who owns the dog unless it’s clear.
Generally, you’re at fault for hitting the first car, while the vehicle behind you is at fault for rear-ending you. If the hit from behind pushed you into the car in front, then the other driver might share some of that responsibility.
Unless you’re in a no-fault state, you’ll be responsible for the car in front of you, and the car behind you will be responsible for hitting you. The dog or its owner and the first car usually aren’t held responsible.
Marin said:
Did you get pushed into the car in front after being hit from behind?
That wouldn’t fully remove OP’s liability for hitting the front car first. The driver behind might share some responsibility if there’s additional damage from that impact.