Multi-Vehicle Accidents in St. Mary’s County, Maryland: Who is Responsible?
Multi-vehicle auto accidents are usually some form of chain reaction, like balls on a billiard table. A common example is a three-car collision where the rear car crashes into the middle car, which is then shoved forward and crashes into the front car. In the article below, we will term these the “first-to-impact,” “middle,” and “last-to-be-impacted” vehicles. If you have suffered injuries in a St. Mary’s County, Maryland, multi-car accident or crash, contact us here at the Law Office of Robert Castro. Our number is (301) 870-1200, and we have offices in Waldorf, Maryland. We are relentless, dedicated, and experienced Maryland car and auto accident attorneys and we can help determine which driver was responsible for your accident. We will do everything we can to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.
Who is responsible and legally liable?
Who is responsible depends on the facts of each case, and each case is unique. But, as a rule of thumb, the at-fault party tends to be the driver of the vehicle that made the first contact. That is, typically, it is not the fault of the driver of the ricocheted vehicle (the “middle” vehicle) or of the driver into which the ricocheted vehicle was deflected.
The reason for this legally lies in the Maryland doctrine of negligence. To be “at fault” for a car crash, the four elements of negligence must be proven. These are: duty, breach of duty, causation, and injury. With respect to duty, every driver in Maryland owes various duties to others using the roads. These include the duty to be careful and watchful and the duty to obey traffic laws, rules, and regulations. These duties are breached when a driver is NOT careful and watchful and if a driver violates traffic laws (like speeding or racing through a red traffic light).
In multi-vehicle traffic crashes, the driver who made first contact is usually the driver who was not being watchful or who broke a traffic law. The “middle” driver had the same duties but did not breach those duties since, after first contact, the “middle” driver has no control — or limited control — of his or her vehicle. And, generally, the driver of the “last-to-be-impacted” vehicle has no fault since he or she was the victim of the negligence.
Can the “middle” driver also be at fault?
In some cases, the “middle” driver can also be at fault. But, typically, the “middle” driver is also a victim who can seek compensation from the driver of the vehicle that made first contact. In those cases, the “middle” driver is also a victim and seeks compensation from the driver who made the first contact.
The “middle” driver could be at fault if they engaged in some independent negligence that contributed to the cause of the accident and injuries. Maybe both the first and middle drivers were violating Maryland traffic laws and jointly caused the crash. In that case, the victim will be able to make claims against the insurance policies of both the other drivers and, potentially, file personal injury cases against each/both in the Maryland State courts. In resolving a case like that, a jury would apportion responsibility between the two at-fault drivers, say in a 75%/25% ratio. In such a case, the victim’s total damages would be collected from each at-fault party in that ratio.
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 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601.
