Pileup Crash Caused by Possibly Drugged Driver Which Rear-ended Another Car Sends Multiple People to the Hospital; Rio Rancho Personal Injury Attorney Shares Thoughts
Multiple news outlets are reporting a six car pileup in Rio Rancho, New Mexico which has sent several people to the hospital. This includes a beloved teacher from Rio Rancho High School, Matt Farley. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash, but believe that one driver, a female motorist driving an Infiniti rear-ended a Volkswagen that was stopped at a red light. The preliminary investigation shows that the female motorist may have been driving drugged at the time of the subject accident. No charges have been filed yet, but she may face several charges for starting this dangerous and potentially deadly pileup.
Here at the Mark Caruso, P.C., our experienced Rio Rancho car accident attorneys have handled many pileup car crashes which have seriously injured or taken the life of victims. These crashes can be very difficult because there are usually a lot of possible causes to the crash and several possibly liable parties. But we have the experienced, knowledge, and resources to work with police, private investigators, and do our own investigation to uncover the causes of these accidents. If you or a loved one have been injured in the above-referenced accident or a similar motor vehicle accident in Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, or anywhere else in New Mexico, call us today for a FREE consultation by dialing (505) 308-1556.
Liability in Rear End Car Crashes
Whenever a driver rear-ends another vehicle, there is almost always doing to be liability against that rear-ending driver. This is because there needs to be a non-negligent excuse for rear-ending another vehicle, such as an emergency and unknown medical emergency (i.e. a sudden heart attack) or some other cause outside the control of the driver (i.e., rear-ended by another vehicle and pushed into the rear of another vehicle).
This is codified in both the common law, or judge-made law, and the statutory law, or legislatively made law. Under NM Stat Section 66-7-318, which governs following too closely, subdivision (A) provides that “[t]he driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.”
When a driver does this and causes serious Personal injuries to another, or like this case causes a pileup car crash, he or she may be automatically liable for the crash under the doctrine of negligence per se. This doctrine finds a person liable for causing a harm to another person that is protected by the statute. Here, the New Mexico statute protects all motorists from being injured in rear-end collisions.
Drugged Driving and Motor Vehicles: A Dangerous Combination
The initial police investigation believed that the female driver of the Infiniti was operating her vehicle was under the influence of drugs. This is just a preliminary finding, and she has not been charged and is innocent until proven guilty. This post should in no way be considered charging her with guilt of liability.
But it brings up an interesting point of law and common issues occurring. A few months ago we reported that drugged driving was now more common than drunk driving, which is a terrifying finding. Drugged driving can be just as bad as drunk driving, if not worse. Motor ability, reaction time, perception, and other important and necessary factors required to safely operate a motor vehicle will be impaired while drugged driving.
As you would expect, drugged driving is both illegal under the common law and statutory law. It goes without saying that a motorist must maintain his or her facilities when operating a motor vehicle, and to use the reasonable care that a reasonably prudent driver would under the circumstances. A reasonably prudent person would not use drugs and drive.
Under the statutory law, NM Stat. 66-8-102 makes it “illegal for a person who is under the influence of any drug to a degree that renders the person incapable of safety driving a vehicle to drive a vehicle in this state.” If a driver drives drugged, it will result in a finding of negligence per se which renders a drugged driver automatically liable.
Rear-end and Drugged Driving Crashes in Rio Rancho Deserve Representation from the Mark Caruso
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call the experienced New Mexico car accident attorneys at the Mark Caruso today by dialing (505) 308-1556 You can also contact us on our website through the easy to use and convenient Contact box located by clicking here.
