Originally posted by svt4stv:
Originally posted by shotwell:

Yes, you have to maintain safe distance etc, but since the car in front of Red hit another car, Red hitting that car is considered part of the same accident. It's a chain reaction thing. You can't be expected to stop on a dime when the yahoo in front of you isn't paying attention. The person who caused the accident is responsible for everything that happens as a result of that accident.

This is the way it works in Washington State. I can't be completely sure how it works in Maryland.



you sure that's how it works in Washington? Res Ipsa Loquitor "The thing speaks for itself"--its a legal principal. you are required to maintain a distance that will allow you stop in time for whatever reason the vehicle in front of you stops. the only way he would have hit him is because he wasn't completely paying 100% attention or he was tailgating to the point that he could not possibly stop in time. it happened to me years ago. i looked down at the radio for a second, looked up, the car ahead of me was at a dead stop on the on-ramp while i was still doing about 30mph. if he had came along 20 minutes later and plowed into them it wouldnt be their fault, just because someone else caused that accident. technically, there are TWO accidents here.



Yes, I'm pretty sure. I was a passenger in a car that was involved in one of these. My friend plowed a Honda, after the Honda hit someone else, and that someone hit someone. It was a 9 or 10 car accident. We were rearended as well. The guy who caused the accident was found responsible for the whole thing, and his insurance company had to pay it out. I don't even think lawyers were involved in that one.

I'm not saying for sure that this is the case with Red. I am saying for sure that there are special circumstances involving multi car accidents, specifically in Washington State. All the more reason to speak with a lawyer. Most of them give free consultations when dealing with car accidents.

Good luck and keep us posted!

'98 SVT Contour, in at least 639 pieces 4 Speed MTX...synchro and shift fork replacement in progress