Is a rear end collision in Washington State an automatic at fault for the party that hit the other driver?

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My son was rear ended in a collision. The other party’s insurance is denying the claim, due to their customer stating my son changed lanes, which he did not do. I have heard that in Washington State, if you rear end someone, it is automatically your fault.

A. There is no longer an ‘automatic’ determination of fault in Washington. Every case is fact dependent and it all hinges on the reasonableness of the parties actions. It is true, however, that when someone rear-ends someone else, there is generally a fairly strong presumption that it is their fault. In these situations a qualified attorney can usually win this fight, assuming all the facts are good.

Frankly, it doesn’t surprise me that the insurance company is treating you that way. Insurance companies will do ANYTHING to try to save money. They only owe a duty to their corporate shareholders to maximize corporate profits. This is accomplished not by doing the right thing, but by fighting claims that they ought to pay.

I recommend you request a copy of my free book, The Truth About Washington Car Accidents. It is a must read for anyone in Washington who has been in a car accident. My book will help explain the process and what you should do. My book is available for free to Washington residents at https://www.StraightTalkLaw.com/freeoffer. While at my website, www.StraightTalkLaw.com, you may also want to request a copy of my book, The Shocking Truth About Lawyer Advertising. This book will help you figure out why all lawyers, and their ads, are not created equal. Best of luck.