Road Conditions
Time: Daytime, with normal traffic conditions
Road: Two or more lanes in each direction
Sequence of Events
A vehicle in the right lane
Suddenly changed lanes to the left without using a turn signal
This caused the front vehicle (Vehicle A) to brake hard and stop in order to avoid a collision
Vehicle A
Successfully stopped in response to the sudden lane change
The stop was abrupt but necessary due to the unsafe maneuver of the John Doe vehicle
A second vehicle was following closely behind
Vehicle B (the defendant)
Was driving behind Vehicle A and failed to stop in time, resulting in a rear-end collision
There were no mechanical issues or weather problems; the failure was attributed to inattention or insufficient following distance
Primary Cause of the Accident
The driver of Vehicle B argued:
"The main cause of the accident was a third vehicle suddenly cutting into our lane without warning, forcing the front car to stop abruptly."
Vehicle A sustained damage from the collision and sought compensation through a civil lawsuit
Vehicle B acknowledged partial fault but asked the court to consider the major contributing factor: the unknown third party’s reckless maneuver
Supporting Evidence
Skid marks and accident scene photographs
Driver testimony
Indirect witness statements indicating a third vehicle cut across lanes
Vehicle B promptly reported the involvement of an unknown vehicle (“John Doe”) to police and insurers
Court’s Key Findings
Vehicle B was assigned 3% fault for failing to stop in time
97% of the fault was assigned to John Doe, the unidentified third-party vehicle
The injured party (Vehicle A) was awarded $107,890 in damages
The insurer for uninsured drivers (UM insurance) was held responsible for John Doe’s portion