How to Determine Liability in a Three-Vehicle Rear-End Collision?

[ClaytonLynn]

Liability determination in a three-vehicle rear-end collision requires a comprehensive assessment by traffic police after on-site investigation. If the third vehicle hits the second vehicle, causing the second vehicle to hit the first vehicle, then the third vehicle bears full responsibility. Liability division in rear-end collisions includes the following scenarios: 1. The rear vehicle bears full responsibility: when the rear vehicle collides with the front vehicle in motion, causing a rear-end accident; or when the front vehicle has properly activated hazard warning lights and set up warning signs after stopping on the road, resulting in a rear-end collision. 2. The front vehicle bears secondary liability while the rear vehicle bears primary liability: when the front vehicle fails to activate hazard warning lights or set warning signs after stopping on the road, leading to a rear-end collision; or when the front vehicle lacks taillights at night, causing a rear-end accident.

[ORhett]

I once encountered a three-car rear-end collision during a long-distance drive, and the handling was quite complicated, but there's a principle: the last car is generally held fully responsible for not maintaining a safe distance. If the middle car first hit the car in front and was then rear-ended by the following car, the specific collision marks would be examined. If the front car braked suddenly or had issues with lane changing, liability would also be shared. Traffic police would retrieve dashcam footage, measure skid marks, and question witnesses. That time, I saw three cars crash in a chain with my own eyes. The driver in the middle claimed he was pushed into the car ahead, but the surveillance showed he didn't even brake, so he ended up having to compensate for both cars. Driving really requires full concentration and maintaining enough distance from the car in front; otherwise, chain collisions can be extremely dangerous.

[DelBriella]

Last month, my friend got caught in this situation—he was rear-ended on the highway, causing a three-car collision. As the driver of the middle car, he had to prove that he was pushed into the car in front by the rear vehicle. The traffic police would examine each car's braking distance records and assess the collision angles and impact forces. If the front car suddenly braked hard or changed lanes illegally, liability might be shared. However, in most cases, the driver of the last car bears the greatest responsibility for failing to maintain a safe distance. Handling such accidents requires staying calm, calling the police promptly for evidence collection, and seeking eyewitnesses. My friend's car, sandwiched in the middle, required over ten thousand yuan in repairs. Fortunately, the rear car's insurance company covered all costs, but it left him without a car for a month.

[JordanAnn]

The liability determination in a three-car rear-end collision mainly depends on the sequence and cause of the collisions. Typically, the last vehicle is responsible for compensating the two in front, which is the basic rule. However, if the middle vehicle acted improperly, such as sudden braking causing the rear vehicle to collide, the responsibility may be shared. Key evidence includes dashcam footage, road brake marks, and vehicle damage patterns. Last year when I handled an insurance claim, I encountered a case: the first car was driving normally, the second driver was distracted by their phone and rear-ended it, then the third car hit the second. As a result, the second car had to compensate the first, and the third car compensated both in front. Always stay focused while driving and maintain a safe distance—it's the safest approach.