Who is at fault in a collision caused by cutting in line?
2 Answers
Here is the division of responsibility for collisions caused by cutting in line: 1. Scraping while cutting in and merging lanes: Generally, cars are prone to cutting in at traffic light intersections. If a rear-end collision occurs due to cutting in, the vehicle that cut in is at fault. 2. Rear-end collision after overtaking from the right: If the following vehicle overtakes from the right and causes a rear-end collision afterward, the following vehicle is at fault. According to China's Road Traffic Safety Law, overtaking from the right is prohibited. 3. Rear-end collision while crossing a solid line: If a vehicle crosses a solid line and causes a rear-end collision, regardless of the circumstances, the vehicle that crossed the line is fully responsible. According to China's Road Traffic Safety Law, vehicles are prohibited from crossing solid lines while moving.
I remember one time driving to work during rush hour, someone cut in line aggressively and ended up scraping my car. Later, the traffic police determined it was the other party's full responsibility. According to traffic rules, if a collision occurs while cutting in, the primary responsibility lies with the vehicle that cut in. This is because forcing a lane change violates the right-of-way principle and can easily disrupt the safety of traffic flow. If there is dashcam footage as evidence, determining responsibility becomes much simpler. I recommend avoiding following others in cutting lanes while driving normally. If an accident does occur, stop the car first, take photos, and report it to the police—don’t argue privately to avoid escalating the issue. When filing an insurance claim, the at-fault party usually has to compensate for the other party's losses, which can be quite troublesome. Protecting your own rights is very important.
