Rear Ended Another Driver, Cited for Following Too Closely, What Next

[murtazapen]

My question involves a traffic accident in the State of: WA

I rear ended another driver (girl in her teens) this evening in stop-and-go traffic. I had about a 2 car buffer between us, but was unable to stop in time when she braked, and tapped her. No visible damage to her car, but we called the cops and I was cited with a "following too closely".

Is there any point fighting this? The cop told me there needed to be overwhelming evidence against the other driver for it to be her fault in this case, and we never flagged down any witnesses. The only reason I ask is while we were waiting for the cops, the girl was yelling into her phone that this was the third time she got rear ended... now, this is heresay and therefore probably inadmissable, but I feel like I had a sufficient buffer and was driving at barely 20mph, so is it really following too closely?

Also, if I fight the ticket, should I be informing my insurance company, or is that admission of guilt? I know she is sure to call my insurance.

Oh, and btw, she refused to show not only me but also the cop her insurance card, and got ticketed for the same.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks.

[Who'sThatGuy]

If you were only going 20 mph and had 2 car lengths between your car and the other, you were ether not paying attention (careless driving) or misjudged your distance between you and the car in front of you and were following to close.

Because if you were going 20 mph with 2 car lengths between the both of you, a child could have ran between both your cars and you could have stopped without hitting the child.

[jk]

but I feel like I had a sufficient buffer and was driving at barely 20mph, so is it really following too closely?

the fact you hit her proves you were following too closely. As the cop said, unless you have overwhelming evidence to support a claim it was her fault, it will be seen as your fault.

and just so you know; unless she cut you off and slammed on her brakes, it is your fault. That is the type of thing the cop was referring to.

The only reason I ask is while we were waiting for the cops, the girl was yelling into her phone that this was the third time she got rear ended... now, this is heresay and therefore probably inadmissable,

yes, that is hearsay but even if it wasn't, it wouldn't prove she was at fault. It simply proves she drives in places where people tend to not pay close enough attention to the car in front of them and end up hitting it.

[murtazapen]

Thank you guys for your insights.

So, what's the SOP now? Should I call my insurance company and report the incident or wait for the other driver to initiate a claim with them?

[Who'sThatGuy]

Thank you guys for your insights.

So, what's the SOP now? Should I call my insurance company and report the incident or wait for the other driver to initiate a claim with them?

You didn't notify your insurance company yet? That's the first thing you should have done. Call them now as they should have a 24 hour claims line.

[murtazapen]

Will do, thanks Who'sThatGuy.