What Is Driver Negligence?
Driver negligence is a common cause of car accidents and refers to someone who has caused injury or harm to someone else by behaving carelessly. Four common causes of driver negligence include reckless driving, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and disobeying traffic laws. It can be difficult to prove someone’s negligence caused you harm, but doing so is key to winning a personal injury case.
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Was the Driver Negligent?
To prove the defendant (person being sued) caused harm to you by being negligent behind the wheel, you need to prove the defendant did something careless, such as failing to stop at a red light. You need to prove that the defendant did not follow the law and was not reasonably careful. You’ll also need to show what injuries and losses the defendant caused, whether physical, financial, or emotional.
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How to Defend Yourself
If you’re on the wrong end of a personal injury claim due alleged negligence while you were driving a motor vehicle, there are some defenses you can use to prove your innocence. For example, if you hit a pedestrian with your vehicle but he or she ran into the middle of the road and did not cross at a crosswalk, you may be able to escape all or a portion of the liability for the pedestrian’s injuries.
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When You Are Injured
When injured in a car accident, you may wonder what your next steps should be. The first thing you should do is call 911. Never leave the scene of an accident or allow the other driver to leave without speaking to a police officer and exchanging insurance details. I’ve always found that gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and finding a good car accident attorney near me is the best way to speed recovery after a car accident.