| Automobile Accidents
Automobile accidents are one of the leading causes of accidental
injury in this country. Each year, thousands of people are killed
in motor vehicle crashes and millions are injured. These crashes
are frequently caused by the negligence of other drivers, leading
to their own death or injury as well as those of innocent victims.
Motor vehicle accidents can have many causes, but they can usually
be divided into negligence, intentional misconduct, or product liability.
While it is true that accidents can be caused by a so-called "act
of nature" such as earthquakes, these are rare.
Negligence is one of the primary causes of automobile accidents.
Negligent acts mean that the driver causing the accident did not
exercise reasonable care. For example, he was driving too fast or
too slowly for the conditions. Or he allowed himself to be distracted.
Or he carelessly ignored traffic signals or conditions. There are
many areas in which negligence can occur but negligence is a failure
to be careful rather than an act intended to cause harm. A person
who is distracted and rear-ends another vehicle at a red light is
negligent.
Intentional misconduct, on the other hand, is an action committed
when the person knew that doing so could cause harm and did not
care, or actively desired to harm others. A driver who drives at
a high rate of speed, cutting in and out of traffic, is intentionally
putting himself and others at risk.
The law of strict liability could apply in some circumstances and
neither negligence nor intent would need to be shown. One cause
of auto accidents is product failure. The Firestone tire litigation
is a prime example of product failure. In that case, a defect in
the tire caused accidents beyond the control of drivers. The defects
were not intentional but in law the manufacturer was responsible.
A similar situation could exist if a repair to the car was done
improperly and resulted in a crash. In some states, in the case
of auto accidents caused by drunk drivers, the business or host
who supplied the alcohol and allowed the driver to drive in an intoxicated
condition could be found to have a secondary liability.
If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call Boller & Vaughan S.C. at (608) 268-0268 or submit
an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and
if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which
means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds.
In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date,
known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you
do not waive your right to possible compensation.
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