Counterclaim against victim of traffic accident; The "sugatan" rule

Kadalasan, ang kinakasuhan ng pulis ay ang drayber na nakabangga dahil malimit na ang nabangga ang sugatan o namatay. Ibig sabihin, kakasuhanpa rin siya ng pulisya regardless kung may kasalanan siya o wala, may ebidensya o wala. Yan ang praktis. [More often, the police file charges against the driver of a car involved (treating the injured or the dead as the victim). The prevailing practice in the police force is to file charges against the driver regardless of fault or negligence and regardless of whether there is sufficient proof to hold trial against him.]

Subalit, sinabi natin na hindi komo siya ang drayber na nakabangga at "hindi sugatan," siya na ang may pananagutan, samantalang ang nabangga na pedestrian na sugatan o namatay ay siya na ang biktima. Kailangan pa ring patunayan ng nabangga sa prosecution o sa korte na sa drayber nagmula ang kapabayaan o negligence. Otherwise, walang pananagutan ang drayber. [However, we have repeatedly said that the fact that the driver was the one who hit the "victim" or that he is uninjured does not make him automatically liable even if the other person involved suffered injuries or death. There is still a need to prove in court that the driver was at fault at the time when the accident occured.] (Kontra Demanda Laban sa Nabangga by Reynold Villania; December 19, 2017)
Ngayon, alam mo ba na pwede ka ring magsampa ng kontra demanda labang sa nabangga? Kung ikaw ay nasugatan rin dahil sa pangyayari, pwedeng magsampa ng kontra demanda for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries. Kung hindi ka naman sugatan, pero nasira ang sasakyan mo o ibang gamit, reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property. [Now, it must be pointed out that the driver also has a right to file counterclaims against the one he crashed into. If the driver has suffered bodily injuries, he may file charges for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries. If not bodily injuries but damage to his car, the driver may file charges for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property. (This is provided he can prove his allegations in court.)]

Kung magsabi ang pulis na bahala na ang piskalyang magdetermina ng kapabayaan, then, mariing igiit sa kaniya na isampa rin ang kaso ng drayber kontra sa nabangga. Since playing safe siya ay hindi makapag decide kung sino ang may kapayaan, lubos lubusin na niya. Isampa ang dalawang kaso- isang kaso kontra sa drayber at isang kaso kontra sa nabangga. Trabaho ito ng pulis at wala siyang karapatang tumangi, otherwise pwedeng ireklamo. [If any policeman says that the prosecutor's office has the power to determine whether there is probable cause to prosecute for reckless imprudence, the driver may argue that a case should also be filed against the other person involved. If this policeman cannot decide who is at fault, two (2) charges should be filed, one against each of the persons involved in the traffic accident.] (Kontra Demanda Laban sa Nabangga by Reynold Villania; December 19, 2017)