Who is Responsible for Your Car Accident?

January 6, 2017 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman
Who is Responsible for Your Car Accident?

In order to hold a party liable for your medical bills, lost income, and other losses stemming from an auto accident, you must first identify that responsible party. If you were hit by a driver who was stumbling around after the collision and was clearly drunk, then liability in your crash will be obvious. However, it is not always that simple to determine who should be held liable after a collision. Part of our job as your dedicated St Petersburg car accident attorney is to fully investigate the circumstances of your accident so that you know who to hold responsible.

Depending on the cause of your crash, the responsible party may be another driver, a corporation, or a government entity and the specific legal issues in your case can significantly vary depending on who caused your injuries. Some examples of potentially negligent parties that may be liable for your collision include the following:

Other drivers - Many auto accidents are caused by an error on the part of a driver. Though drivers are expected to operate their cars and trucks in a reasonably safe manner, they do not always manage to do so. When a driver is unsafe and causes injury, they can be found negligent and responsible for any losses incurred by victims. Some examples of driver negligence include:

Car manufacturing companies - Manufacturers have the legal duty to make products that are safe for their intended use - and motor vehicles are no different. If a car is somehow defective, a malfunction can result in a driver losing control and often crashing. Whether it resulted in a single car crash or a multiple vehicle crash, the manufacturer should be held liable for the losses of all victims if it sold a defective vehicle. Some ways a vehicle can end up defective include:

  • Inherently defective design
  • Inadequate materials used
  • Improper assembly
  • Failure to issue a recall if a defect is discovered

Government agencies - In most cases, the government is responsible for making sure that the roadways are in safe condition and are free from hazards that may injure drivers. However, with busy schedules and tight budgets, many government agencies put road repair low on their priority list. Many accidents happen because of improperly inspected or maintained roadways, including:

  • Potholes
  • Cracks
  • Dangerous intersections or turns
  • Improperly designed roads
  • Improperly timed or non-working traffic signals

Consult with an Experienced Clearwater Car Accident Attorney Today

Proving liability in a car accident is challenging and can involve complex legal issues. It is essential to have an auto accident lawyer on your side who has extensive experience representing car crash victims and who has the resources to identify negligence whenever necessary. If you have been injured in a wreck, please call Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA at 727-451-6900 for a free consultation as soon as you can.

Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33765 727-451-6900

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Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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