Your opinion on this traffic accident?

Question

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_24559.aspx

I am perplexed and a bit outraged after reading this story. Why is the driver of the Pontiac at fault for other than speeding? If a vehicle slams on the brakes for whatever reason (animal running across the road, or you suddenly felt chest pain), it’s the responsibility of those behind him to stop in time. Drivers are supposed to leave sufficient distance to allow for a safe stop. If someone decides to tailgate at high speed and loses control because the car in front brakes, it’s their own fault. What if the SUV had rear-ended and killed the Pontiac driver instead, then whose fault would it be? I hope this guy manages to successfully fight the over the top charges.

Answer 1

Whereas I would generally agree that under normal circumstances the SUV driver would be totally to blame, but in this case the report indicates that the Pontiac driver deliberately caused the accident. The dead SUV driver is still more to blame than anyone else since he clearly was engaged in this game of tag or road rage or whatever, and he's the one who lost control, but if this guy braked for no reason other than to try and cause this accident - he's hardly innocent.

The deceased guy is hardly an innocent victim, however - he could have chosen not to engage in this chase. In addition - he was not wearing his seatbelt (the video said he was ejected). The drivers area of that truck is intact - he would probably have survived if he had his belt on. Are seatbelts required in Ontario (this was in Toronto)?

That said, it's totally irresponsible to drive around slamming on the brakes for no (real) reason - so this car driver deserves some punishment for his actions.

My 2 cents

Answer 2

well the law states here in pa. that the driver has to have his car under control at all times, but now if a car is stopped behind another car at a stop light and a car comes around and hits the rear of the car and drives the car into the first car, then its the last cars fault, even though the second car hit the back of the first car.