Who Is Liable in a Car Accident?
Most car crash claims begin with the other driver, but the driver is not always the only responsible party. The vehicle owner, an employer, a government agency or a parts manufacturer may also play a role. Finding every responsible party is one of the first jobs of an auto accident lawyer, because each party may have separate insurance.
The other driver
Negligence asks whether a driver failed to act with reasonable care. Common examples include speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, following too closely and failing to yield. In many states, a traffic law violation can serve as evidence of negligence, and some states apply negligence per se. A traffic citation helps a claim, but it is not required to prove fault, and paying a ticket is treated differently from state to state. A car crash lawyer will compare the driver's conduct with the traffic laws of the state where the crash happened.
When someone else owns the car
If the driver borrowed the car, the owner's insurance policy often covers https://simonjgev973.summitquill.com/posts/how-uninsured-motorist-coverage-pip-and-medpay-work-after-a-car-accident permissive drivers. An owner who lends a car to someone known to be unlicensed, impaired or reckless may face a negligent entrustment claim. Rental and leasing companies are a special case. A federal law known as the Graves Amendment generally protects them from liability for a renter's negligence, unless the company was negligent itself, such as by renting a car with known brake defects.
Employers and work vehicles
If the driver was acting within the scope of employment, the employer is usually answerable for the driver's negligence under respondeat superior. This can apply to delivery drivers, sales staff and others who drive for work. Rideshare crashes raise separate coverage questions, since the available coverage can depend on whether the app was on and a ride had been accepted. A motor vehicle accident attorney will typically request the employer's policy in addition to the driver's.
Road defects and product defects
A missing stop sign, a broken traffic signal or a dangerous road defect may point to a government agency. Claims against public bodies come with special immunity rules and short notice deadlines, which vary by state. If a defective tire, brake or airbag contributed to the crash or the injuries, the manufacturer may face a product liability claim. Open recalls can be checked with the vehicle identification number on the NHTSA recall lookup. Some states have dram shop laws that allow claims against a bar that served a visibly intoxicated driver.
Claims by passengers
Passengers who are hurt may have claims against one driver or both, even the driver of their own vehicle. Coverage can come from the policy on the car the passenger rode in and from the other driver's policy, and in some cases from the passenger's own policy. Some policies limit claims between members of the same household, which makes the wording of the policy important.
Comparative negligence and multiple parties
Most states use comparative negligence, which may reduce a recovery by the injured person's percentage of fault, while a small number still apply contributory negligence. How fault is divided among several defendants also varies by state. An automobile accident lawyer looks at every possible party because one policy may not cover the full loss. This is general information and not legal advice, and no outcome can be predicted from it.