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:

• Impaired driving
• Distracted driving1
• Drowsy driving2
• Aggressive driving
• Violating traffic laws
• Improper passing
• Failing to maintain their vehicles

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: