Rear-end collision in Küps: Chain reaction injures two and causes 44,000 euros in damage

Rear-end collision in Küps: Chain reaction injures two and causes 44,000 euros in damage

A serious rear-end collision in Küps caused a stir on Sunday, August 10, 2025. At around 2:30 p.m., a 54-year-old driver in a Skoda overlooked a brief traffic jam on Kronacher Straße (B 173) in the direction of Lichtenfels. The impact with a stopped Opel that was standing in front of him set off a chain reaction that affected several vehicles and resulted in two people being injured. According to inFranken.de, the Opel was pushed onto a Suzuki, which in turn was pushed onto a Daimler and finally onto a VW.

The driver of the Opel, a 20-year-old, suffered cervical whiplash and a minor forearm injury, while a 58-year-old driver of a Suzuki suffered minor injuries such as cervical spine syndrome. The total property damage is estimated at around 44,000 euros, and investigations have been initiated against the Skoda driver for negligent bodily harm.

Legal aspects of chain accidents

Chain accidents are not uncommon and their legal framework is often complicated. In such accidents, the person driving the collision is usually liable unless they can prove that they were not responsible. An example of the complexity of these cases is a ruling by the Munich Higher Regional Court, which states that prima facie evidence of the fault of the driver in chain accidents is not always valid. It must be proven that the vehicle in front came to a stop in time and that the braking distance was not shortened by the impact, as Haufe explains.

In the said judgment it was established that the plaintiff may have already hit the vehicle in front before hitting him. An accident expert came to the conclusion that the burden of proof was on the plaintiff and that he could not prove that the rear-end collision happened. This highlights how important the circumstances and evidence are in such cases.

Traffic accident statistics in Germany

The significance of accidents like the one in Küps goes beyond the individual case. Data and statistics on traffic accidents, as available on Destatis, serve to record and analyze the traffic safety situation in Germany. These statistics form the basis for measures in legislation, traffic education and road construction, and are a central component of state traffic policy.

Overall, the accident in Küps not only highlights the urgency of road safety, but also highlights the challenges that can arise in connection with liability and the legal consequences of such incidents. It remains to be hoped that the number of accidents will be further reduced through education and preventive measures.