Auto Accidents, Injuries and the Rules of the Road

All drivers in New Hampshire are required, at common law, to exercise reasonable care in the operation of their motor vehicles.   In most cases, however, the specific negligence of a driver causing an accident is determined by whether that driver violated one of the “Rules of the Road.”   These “rules” are statutory enactments found in RSA 265.   They cover all the basic infractions that can lead to accidents:   traffic control devices, red vs. green lights, duty to yield, illegal passing and turning, speeding, drunk driving, and more.  These statutes can also form the basis of criminal violation citations, and if an injury case goes to trial, the jury will be read the applicable statutes so that a violation can form the basis of civil liablity.