Court says rear-end crashes not always negligence

September 19, 2008

A driver who crashes into the rear-end of another vehicle is not automatically negligent, the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday in upholding a jury verdict that cleared a driver of negligence in a Rapid City collision.

If a driver admits violating the law that prohibits following too closely, a judge could find the driver negligent as a matter of law, the high court said in a unanimous decision. But juries should decide cases where drivers argue they acted reasonably and prudently, the justices said.

The high court’s unanimous decision affirmed a jury’s finding that Carla Jean Hall was not negligent when she ran into the rear of Abdelaziz Baddou’s vehicle in January 2004 on a two-lane street.

Read Article Rapid City Journal

Posted By Phoenix Accident Injury Attorneys </a