Was in a 10 car pile-up wasn't my fault now I'm being sued! NEED ANSWERS!?

It was a chain reaction where a lady pinned someone up against the guard rail and caused him to stop short. One after another cars ran into the back of each other. My car was the sixth. My insurance lapsed 2 weeks before and I didn't renew it out of irresponsibility. I couldn't see the wreck coming up in time because of a large truck and trailer blocking the view (car num 3).Car num 4 slammed into the back of that trailer and then car num 5 hit her. I slammed on the brakes after seeing this and slid into the back of car num 5. My car was totaled but num 5 had only few dents on his rear fender that were caused by me. I offered to pay for fender but num 5 ignored it. Everyone in the lineup got a following to closely ticket. Mine was thrown out in court. Both drivers 4 and 5 are with state farm and are claiming i caused them to wreck. State Farm is suing me for $20,000 but said they would settle for $9,800. I don't have anything! I have pictures from the wreck. Worth it to fight it? How?

I definitely think that you should seek some free legal advice, but I do believe that you will end up having to pay for the 5th car. Even though your ticket for following too closely was thrown out in court, that issue will arise again if you try to fight this matter in court. Fact of the matter is, as someone else mentioned I believe, unless car number 6 hit you and forced you into car number 5, you are still liable because had you been following at a reasonable distance from car number 5, you would've had ample time to stop.

As for car number 4, they will have to prove that car number 5 hit them because you hit car number 5, so if they have witnesses to say that is indeed what happened, you're screwed. And since car number 5 is blaming you for the whole thing, and they are probably the only ones who could attest to that in court on car 4's behalf (because they themselves of course are not going to admit fault), it's not looking so good for you there either.

Seek some legal advice, tell them the situation, show them the pictures, and see what they think. If you know a lawyer, or know someone who knows a lawyer, I suggest you go that route. Definitely seek out FREE advice, and the reason I say try to go someone you know or that a friend knows is because there are lawyers out there (some, not all) that are just so sue-happy that they will try to take anyone to the cleaners. Given your current financial situation, you definitely don't need someone giving you faulty legal advice which will lead you to hiring them (to the tune of $200+/hour) and being out even more money.

And some more advice...about letting your insurance lapse....Honey, I don't care what you have to do - pawn your CD collection, donate plasma, work a second job a few hours a week - DO NOT let your insurance lapse again. I'm a full-time college student NOT living off mommy & daddy, so I KNOW how hard that insurance payment is every month on top of all the other bills. When your policy gets cancelled, your rates go up (as I'm sure you've already found out). I know someone who ran into some financial trouble and failed to pay his payment for two months, and his policy was cancelled. His LIABILITY payment jumped from $38/month to almost $90/month! That's a big hit when you're on a limited income! Also, IF you're able to, pay your payment every six months instead of monthly - it takes billing fees off and makes it cheaper for you! Saves me about $40 every six months!

I wish I had better news for you....but I wish you the very best of luck! Stay on top of that insurance from now on! I hope you come back and update your post with the latest about what's happening! My fingers are crossed for ya!

how? Most states, your rights in that situation are simple; the people you hit settle with your insurance company, you settle with the people who hit you.

YOu go back to the insurance company of the guy who hit you for all the damages you are liable for; and hope as an uninsured motorist, you don't forfit anything,.

I don't think it's right that you're being sued, when it's obviously not your fault since you were 6th in line.
How can 4 and 5 blame you when they were before you?
It's ludicrous. Get some free legal advice about this, they're accusing you of something you didn't do.

I would call and get free legal advice in your county

In a chain reaction, you are responsible for the damage to the car in front of you unless you were pushed into them by a car hitting you from behind.

You are responsible for car #5, but not #4 UNLESS you hit # 5 so hard he was driven into #4. The fact your car was totalled suggest this is possible.

If they are willing to settle, you would be advised to do so. Normally, your insurance would handle it and they would settle to avoid the legal costs. In your case, you need to consider the same. It will cost you more than $9800 to fight in court.