Different Causes of Accidents and Who Is Responsible

Car accidents often end catastrophically. The individuals who suffer injuries have rights to pursue compensation for the damages they have sustained. However, before filing a claim, it’s crucial to recognize the various causes of crashes and who is responsible.

Knowing the various causes can help you prove liability, which can protect your rights when dealing with the negligent party and his or her insurance company. Here are some of the top causes of car accidents and ways to determine who is responsible.

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is one of the top causes of car accidents throughout the nation. Drunk driving liability most often falls on the intoxicated driver. However, Michigan has a dram shop law that brings establishments into the case for potential negligence.

If a bar or establishment serves alcohol to someone who is already visibly intoxicated, they are contributing to the intoxication. They hold some liability if the driver leaves the establishment and causes an injury in a drunk driving accident.

Distracted Driving

The law looks down on any driver who texts or calls while driving. Distracted driving is a severe problem on the road and often considers three factors:

• The driver takes his or her focus off driving
• The driver takes his or her eyes off the road
• The driver takes his or her hands off the steering wheel

Distracted driving can cause significant harm. In fact, when traveling 55 miles per hour while looking away from the road for five seconds, you can go the length of a football field. It’s easy to see how this situation can cause catastrophic injuries in a collision.

Third-Party Liability

Drunk driving is not the only situation that brings about third-party liability. There are also situations involving defective products. If a vehicle has a faulty product that causes the crash, the manufacturer of the auto part is negligent and subject to a lawsuit filed by the injured party.

Our Michigan car accident attorneys aim to protect the rights of our clients from start to finish. With Fieger Law on your side, you can feel confident in holding negligent parties accountable for their actions and pursuing justice.

Call our team at (800) 294-6637 for a free consultation.