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This article covers everything you need to know about getting into a car accident in a friend’s car: who is liable? the car owner or the driver.
Why do Auto Accidents Usually Happen?
Auto accidents usually occur because of driver error or negligence. They may also occur when vehicle owners entrust their vehicles to a driver with a poor driving record or a history of moving violations. Of the most common causes of vehicle accidents is the failure to follow standard traffic laws, including right-of-way laws, posted speed limits, and turn signal laws.Accidents may also happen when drivers fail to utilize safety devices in their vehicles, such as rear-view mirrors, side-view mirrors, and backup cameras. Drivers have a duty to utilize these devices while on the road – and while pulling out of parking spaces in parking garages and lots.Auto accidents may also occur when drivers fail to watch the road attentively and drive distracted. A distracted driver does not give sufficient time and attention to the road. Instead of watching the road, distracted drivers might adjust their music, program a GPS navigation system, or send/receive a text message.Alternatively, paying attention to others in their vehicles, such as rowdy children, may distract drivers. When drivers fail to watch the road attentively or turn their head to the side, they may not notice an oncoming vehicle or an approaching pedestrian. As a result, they may bring about a serious accident.In addition, some auto accidents happen when people drive in an overly aggressive or zealous manner. This behavior is typically called road rage. Road rage occurs when a driver tailgates another vehicle, cuts another vehicle off in traffic, or weaves in and around other vehicles in busy highway traffic. When a driver exhibits these aggressive driving maneuvers, they may negligently and inadvertently cause a serious traffic accident or series of collisions.Finally, some car crashes happen when drivers come under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Passenger vehicle drivers who have a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of 0.08 percent or higher are legally intoxicated. However, when the driver is under 21 or a commercial vehicle driver, they must follow stricter laws.Intoxicated driving is extremely dangerous because alcohol is a depressant that slows down the central nervous system's ability to function properly. Intoxicated drivers may experience blurred vision, dizziness, and other physical symptoms that prevent them from seeing other vehicles and pedestrians in time to avoid an accident.Likewise, alcohol intoxication may decrease concentration, erode reflexes, and delay reaction time. As a result, the driver may not react quickly and appropriately to an emergency, causing a serious accident.When people drive carelessly or recklessly, they are more likely to cause an auto accident. The type of accident that results will usually depend upon the location, the positions of the vehicles, and other environmental circumstances.Some of the most common accidents that negligent drivers cause include:- Head-on collisions, where the fronts of two vehicles that are traveling in opposite directions strike one another
- Rear-end accidents, where one vehicle hits the back of another vehicle, usually because the rear vehicle is speeding
- Sideswipe accidents, where the sides of two vehicles hit one another while traveling in the same direction
- Broadside or T-bone accidents, where one vehicle hits the side panel of another vehicle
Frequent Auto Accident Injuries
There is no disputing that forceful auto accidents can bring about debilitating injuries that may be permanent or fatal. A car crash victim's injuries may require intense medical treatment, including medical procedures, physical therapy, and doctor appointments. In addition, accident victims may have extensive pain and suffering for the rest of their life due to their accident-related injuries.An accident victim's injuries will depend largely on how the accident happened, the type of accident, and how their body moved in the vehicle at the time of the accident.Common auto accident injuries include:- Soft tissue contusions
- Eye injuries
- Traumatic head and brain injuries
- Mouth injuries involving the jaw or teeth
- Broken bones
- Broken ribs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis injuries
- Open cuts and bruises
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
Proving Fault and Damages in a Car Accident Case
As the injured accident victim in an auto accident case, you have the legal burden of proving fault and damages. If you can successfully satisfy your legal burden of proof, you can recover monetary damages from the at-fault owner's or the at-fault driver's insurance company.First, an injured accident victim must establish a legal duty of care on the part of the vehicle driver and owner.First of all, drivers have a duty to be careful, safe, and prudent at all times. As part of this duty of care, drivers must obey all traffic laws and regulations while driving and refrain from intoxicated or distracted driving. In addition, vehicle owners have a duty to entrust their vehicles only to safe, capable drivers.Next, the accident victim must establish that the at-fault party violated their legal duty of care.For example, a driver might have violated one or more traffic laws or drove in an overly aggressive or distracted manner. Similarly, a vehicle owner might have entrusted their vehicle to a driver with a known track record of moving violations or DUIs.Sometimes, vehicle owners bear vicarious responsibility for the negligent actions and inactions of someone who drives their car with permission.Next, the accident victim must legally establish that as a direct result of the responsible party's negligent behavior, the accident occurred, along with the victim's personal injuries.A personal injury attorney typically needs to retain a medical expert to testify in the case to demonstrate the causal relationship between a car accident and the accident victim's claimed injuries.A medical expert can physically examine the accident victim and draft a report supporting the causal relationship between the accident victim's injuries and the car crash. Additionally, a medical expert can demonstrate that the claimed injury or injuries are permanent and unlikely to improve over time.A skilled car accident lawyer can help you satisfy your legal burden of proof and recover monetary compensation from the appropriate insurance company.What Is a Favorable Monetary Damage Award in a Car Accident Claim?
Auto accident victims may need extensive medical treatment for their injuries. In addition, their injuries may be so severe that they cannot go to work and earn money for themselves and their families. Bills can pile up quickly, and accident victims may not know where to turn.Fortunately, an injured car accident victim can recover monetary compensation for their accident-related injuries and other losses. First, they can seek compensation for their past and anticipated medical costs. If they miss work time, they can receive compensation for lost earnings – or loss of earning capacity if they had to switch jobs and take a pay cut.In addition to these economic damages, auto accident victims may recover their intangible losses from an at-fault owner or driver's insurance company.Those losses may include compensation for:- Related mental distress or anguish
- Loss of the ability to use a body part
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of spousal companionship and consortium
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
- Permanent disfigurement
- Lifetime care costs