According to WTVA, a two-vehicle collision that occurred earlier this month resulted in the death of a 16-year-old boy. The accident happened near the airport exit on Highway 82 in Lowndes County.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to the scene to find that a yellow Jeep had rear-ended a gray Dodge Charger. There was one person in the Jeep at the time of the collision, and four people were riding in the Dodge.
One of the backseat passengers in the Dodge sustained fatal injuries. Responders transported the other four individuals involved to a local hospital for treatment. Police are still investigating the underlying cause of the crash.
If you were hurt in a rear-end collision with a reckless or distracted driver, contact Ballard Law, PLLC. Our personal injury lawyers resolve accident cases throughout Madison County and the rest of Mississippi every single day. Call 769-572-5111 to schedule a free consultation with a car wreck attorney in Madison.
Is the Tailing Driver Always at Fault in a Rear-End Collision?
Rear-end collisions are fairly common around the country. In fact, The Washington Post reports that there are approximately 1.7 million rear-end collisions on American roads annually.
Because of the nature of these kinds of accidents, there is a widespread misconception that the driver in the back is automatically at fault. Although the tailing driving is often presumed to be liable, there are exceptions.
At the end of the day, liability in any given collision comes down to negligence. Motorists owe other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists on the road around them a certain duty of care. They have an obligation to follow all the rules of the road and to drive in a predictable and defensive way.
When a motorist breaches this duty of care and an accident results, he or she is seen as responsible for the incident. In fault states, of which Mississippi is one, that means injured parties have the right to seek compensation from his or her insurance provider.
In a rear-end collision, the tailing driver may be liable for the accident and any subsequent damages if he or she:
- Failed to leave a reasonable amount of stopping distance between the two vehicles;
- Was texting while driving and thus not looking at the road ahead;
- Failed to travel at a safe speed for the road conditions; or
- Failed to maintain control of the vehicle.
Because all motorists have an obligation to follow the vehicles ahead of them at a safe distance, tailing drivers are almost always at least partially liable in rear-end collisions. In some scenarios, though, the driver in front may also be at fault. He or she might have:
- Started traveling in reverse suddenly;
- Stopped suddenly without any apparent reason for doing so;
- Failed to repair broken brake lights; or
- Failed to pull over or put on hazard lights following a flat tire or vehicle malfunction.
If you were hurt in a rear-end collision but you are not sure how to prove the other party is liable for the incident, contact Ballard Law, PLLC. William E. Ballard will help you avoid mistakes during the claims process like overlooking certain damages or unknowingly admitting fault.
Call 769-572-5111 to schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer in Madison. You can learn more about car accident claims in Mississippi by visiting USAttorneys.com.
