Who Can Be Held Responsible for an Auto Accident?

Who Is Liable in a Car Accident?

Most car crash claims begin with the other driver, but the driver is not always the only party who may be responsible. The vehicle owner, an employer, a government agency or a parts manufacturer may also play a role. Identifying every party with legal responsibility is an early task for a car accident lawyer, because each party may have separate insurance.

Driver negligence

A negligence claim asks whether a driver failed to use 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 citation can help a claim, but it is not required to prove fault, and paying a ticket is treated differently from state to state. A car accident attorney will compare the driver's conduct with the traffic laws of the state where the crash happened.

Owners and rental companies

When the driver borrowed the car, the owner's policy often covers permissive users. 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 treated differently. Under a federal law called the Graves Amendment, they are generally shielded from liability for a renter's negligence, unless the company itself was negligent, for example by renting out a car with a known brake defect.

When the driver was working

When a driver is working within the scope of employment, the employer is generally responsible for the driver's negligence under respondeat superior. This can cover delivery drivers, sales staff and others who drive as part of the job. 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 car accident lawyer will typically request the employer's policy in addition to the driver's.

Government agencies and manufacturers

A missing stop sign, a broken traffic signal or a dangerous road defect may point to a government agency. Claims against cities, counties https://shaneqodt395.lucialpiazzale.com/the-timeline-of-an-auto-accident-claim and states face 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. NHTSA's recall lookup shows open recalls by vehicle identification number. In some states, a bar that served a visibly intoxicated driver may face a dram shop claim.

When a passenger is hurt

Passengers who are hurt may have claims against one driver or both, including the driver of the car they were riding in. Coverage can come from the policy on the car the passenger rode in and from the other driver's policy, and sometimes from the passenger's own policy too. 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. States also differ in how fault is divided among several defendants. A car accident attorney reviews every possible party, since a single policy may not cover the whole loss. This is general information and not legal advice, and it cannot predict how a claim will turn out.