Auto Accidents in Southern Maryland: What if the Other Driver Was Driving With Headphones On?

If you have been injured in a car accident in Charles County, Maryland, and the other driver was wearing headphones while driving, the other driver is probably legally liable to pay compensation for your injuries and any damage to your car or other property.

Legal liability for Maryland auto accidents is based on the Law of Negligence. This means that victims must prove that the at-fault driver breached some duty owed to the victim. In Maryland, all drivers owe a duty to every other driver to obey traffic laws. Failure to obey traffic laws is a breach of that duty and will typically lead to that driver being held legally liable for causing an auto accident. Examples of violating traffic laws include failing to stop at red lights and speeding. We all know examples where drivers have been held liable to pay money damages for running a red light and/or speeding.

With respect to wearing headphones or earbuds, Maryland law specifically prohibits drivers from wearing headphones while driving. See Md. Transportation Code, Section 21-1120. Thus, a driver who causes an accident while wearing headphones has violated traffic laws, has breached his or her duty to other drivers, and, likely, will be held legally liable to pay for all injuries and damages.

Further, all drivers have a duty to drive carefully and not engage in driving behavior that might cause injury. There have been many cases in Maryland where drivers have been held liable for paying compensation when they have driven while distracted. Wearing headphones or earbuds is an extreme form of driving while distracted. If a driver is listening to music, an audiobook, or something else, that is distracting. Just as importantly, if a driver is wearing headphones or earbuds, the driver cannot hear warning horns or other audible signals of danger on the road. All in all, this leads to the legal conclusion that the driver is NOT being careful while driving and is, thus, liable.

Once an injured victim proves that the other driver has breached his or her duties to those on the road, the other two elements of negligence are causation and injury/damage to property (like a motor vehicle). Experienced and trusted Maryland car accident attorneys know how to prove the four legal elements of Negligence. So, it is important to consult with and retain such attorneys if you have been injured by a driver wearing headphones. Contact the Maryland auto accident lawyers at the Law Office of Robert Castro. Use our contact page or call us at (301) 870-1200. We are top-rated Maryland car accident attorneys with offices in Waldorf, Maryland. Contact us quickly since there are strict deadlines for obtaining an insurance settlement or court judgment after an accident.

If you have been injured, you can recover for many types of damages, including:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages and earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigurement
• Loss of limb
• Repair/replacement costs for damaged property
• And more

Contact Waldorf, MD Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers. Our address is