If you are in an auto accident, you may be certain that it was the other driver's fault. In order to recover for your injuries in court, however, you must do more than simply state what your believe. Instead, you must present evidence that sufficiently shows that the driver was negligent in some way and that the negligence led to the accident and your injuries. Moreover, the negligent party can sometimes be someone else besides the driver. For example, if a driver fails to stop and slams into your vehicle, you may think they were not paying attention. However, if the driver's brakes failed, the manufacturer that sold the faulty brakes would be the true responsible party. Determining negligence in an auto accident case is not always as simple as it may seem and can require extensive investigation and resources. For this reason and more, you always want an experienced car accident attorney handling your case.
Common acts of negligence
Drivers and other parties can be negligent in many ways and cause collisions. The following are only some examples of negligence commonly at issue in car accident cases:
- Impaired driving – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs caused an estimated 290,000 injuries1 and 10,076 fatalities in a single year in 2013.
- Distracted driving – Activities such as texting, talking on the phone, programming a GPS, and more caused about 424,000 injuries2 and 3,154 deaths in 2013.
- Aggressive driving – Impatient drivers may become aggressive and may dangerously tailgate, speed, make frequent and dangerous lane changes, threaten other drivers, and more.
- Violating other traffic laws – Even if a driver is not aggressive, any violation of a traffic safety law has the potential to lead to an accident and is considered to be negligent.
- Fatigued driving – Some research shows that fatigued driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving and fatigued driving is especially an issue with commercial truck drivers.
- Defective auto parts – If a manufacturer sells a defective part that malfunctions and causes an accident, the company may be held liable for negligence. Parts that commonly malfunction to cause accidents include brakes, tires, airbags, steering columns, and more.
- Dangerous road conditions – The government has the duty to inspect and repair roads to make sure they are free from hazards.
If an accident occurs because of cracks, uneven pavement, potholes, or other dangerous conditions, the responsible government entity should be held liable.
Contact a qualified auto accident lawyer at the Michigan Injury Lawyers for a free consultation
If you have sustained injuries in an auto accident that you believe occurred due to the negligence of another party, it is important to discuss a possible legal claim with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can help identify any potentially negligent parties and can gather the necessary evidence to prove negligence. Call the Michigan Injury Lawyers firm at 888-454-0801 to speak with an experienced auto accident attorney for free today.
References:
[1] http://www.madd.org/statistics/
[2] http://www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html
Thomas L. Stroble
FOUNDER
Mr. Stroble is a highly accomplished graduate of Michigan State University, with degrees in both science and law. He specializes in commercial lawsuits and personal injury cases. Licensed to practice law in Michigan and even the U.S. Supreme Court, he’s a well-qualified legal expert. Besides his career in law, he loves outdoor activities and volunteers as a part-time police officer in Birmingham.
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