Who is At Fault in an Accident that Involves a Vehicle with a Failed Brake Light?

Every vehicle being driven in the State of Colorado is required to have fully functioning brake lights to help prevent collisions and keep drivers informed of when traffic is slowing down. When one or both of a driver’s brake lights fail or stop working, it puts everyone around them, including themselves, at risk of engaging in an accident which is why they should be replaced as soon as you learn they aren’t working. Unfortunately, there are times when a driver may not be aware that a brake light of theirs is out or cannot afford to replace it which leads to an accident transpiring.
If you rear-ended another driver in Denver, CO because his or her brake lights were not properly working and you’re concerned that you might be held liable for the wreck seeing that you hit their vehicle from behind, we have some important information for you to consider below.
Under most circumstances, when a driver hits another vehicle from behind, they are generally to blame for causing the collision. The fact is, many rear-end accidents often occur as a result of one driver following the vehicle in front of them too closely, regardless of whether a brake light was out. In the State of Colorado, section 11.3 of the Colorado Driver Handbook states that “The 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.”
Now, if you were following too closely and the vehicle in front of you had a failed brake light, then you may be held partially responsible for the wreck as it is your duty to maintain a safe following distance between your vehicle and the others traveling around you. However, the circumstances in every car accident case differ and while one individual might be held partially responsible for causing a read-end accident involving a broken brake light, another may not.

What should I do if I’m being blamed for causing a rear-end accident, but it was another driver’s failed brake light that caused it?

If you are being blamed for a rear-end accident but believe you were abiding by all traffic laws at the time of the collision, perhaps now would be a good time to schedule a consultation with a Denver, CO accident attorney. Although you may not need to retain a legal expert in this situation, gathering some advice and information can help you decide on how you should address the issue. If you suffered injuries or your vehicle sustained damage, the last thing you want is to be held accountable for something you didn’t cause that could directly impact your ability to recover compensation.
Denver, CO accident attorney Andrew T. Brake  has worked on many personal injury cases, including those involving car crashes, and is available now to discuss the unfortunate incident that recently transpired.

Andrew T. Brake, P.C. is located at:

3615 S. Tamarac Drive, Suite 200
Denver, Colorado 80237
Phone: 303-806-9000
Website: www.brakelaw.com