“Still, the accident would not have happened had the paparazzi in the lead car not slammed on his brakes for no reason.”
Don’t know how it works in California, but it Texas, it is his fault. Doesn’t matter whether someone slams on their brakes or not. They have some phrase about, “failure to follow at a safe distance.” If you hit them from behind - it would take a miracle not to have it called your fault.
Generally you would be correct, even here in California. However, 10 years ago I rear Ended 5 cars and totalled everyone of them in my 3/4 chevy service truck on the freeway.
It turned out that an asian woman was going freeway speed when she slammed on the brakes to keep from running over a piece of tire laying flat in the lane. Everyone was crashing into her, I just cleaned it all up. The CHP found me only 10% Liable and the Judge Dismissed EVERY LAWSUIT on Day one, finding me factually innocent.