What are my legal responsibilities?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What are my legal responsibilities?
Car that was hit was in front of me at
a red. We were on the right only
turning lane she took the turn and I
followed she suddenly stopped and
didn’t follow through with the turn and
I rear ended we exchanged info but I
don’t have insurance on this vehicle as
I recently purchased it. We didn’t
report it but have confirmed phone
numbers
Asked on June 17, 2017 under Accident Law, California
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
Since if you hit her from behind you are the "at fault" driver. Your legal responsibiltiy here is to pay for the repairs to the car that you damaged. If you do not pay, then you can be sued in court and a judgment against you can be obtained by the other driver.. At that point, the other party can have your your wages garnished and take other actions against you in order to collect what is owed to them.
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
If she sues you for the damage, you will have to pay out of pocket (i.e. with your own money), since you do not have insurance to defend you in court or pay for you. Not having insurance does not mean you would not have to pay when at fault, but only that no one else (i.e. an insurer) will make payments for you. And if you were following her and hit her, you are legally at fault: the law requires you to maintain such safe following distance and speed that you *can* stop in time, even if the other driver stops short or suddenly.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.