What can I do to recover my damages if anything and am I liable for the damage to the car in front of me if I was involved in a 4 car pile-up?
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What can I do to recover my damages if anything and am I liable for the damage to the car in front of me if I was involved in a 4 car pile-up?
I was the last car in the line – it was completely unavoidable and there was extensive damage to my vehicle as well as the other cars involved. The police determined the car in front initiated the accident and the driver received 2 citations – 1 for crossing a double white line and the other for unsafe lane change. I am insured but do not have collision coverage. My car was towed to a collision repair shop and I am driving a rental now. The police kept telling me I wasn’t at fault.
Asked on November 12, 2015 under Accident Law, Indiana
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
If you don't have collision coverage, to recover money, you'd have to sue any driver(s) you believer were at fault in the accident (liability, or the obligation to pay, depends on fault) for your losses or costs. Bear in mind that other drivers who feel that you were at fault (such as the driver of the car right in front of you, which you hit) can sue you as well--they can try to prove in court that you were at fault, and you can present your evidence to the contrary. The police's opinion as to fault is helpful evidence, but it is not controlling or dispositive: a court could find to the conrtrary.
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