Motor Vehicle Attorneys Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

What Is a Motor Vehicle Case?

A motor vehicle case is a personal injury lawsuit involving an accident involving a motor vehicle. While most cases are governed by the common law principles of negligence, there are a number of particular issues that pertain to this practice.

According to New York law, vehicle owners are accountable for any accidents that occur when their vehicles were operated with their explicit or implied consent. Our legal team tackles these cases on an contingency basis.

Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness testimony can be an invaluable addition to other evidence in a motor vehicle crash. This type of testimony typically helps identify the person who committed the crime or provide specifics about the manner in which the crash occurred. However there is a vast research that indicates that eyewitness testimony can be wildly inaccurate.

For instance, witnesses tend to make errors in recollecting the hue of an object or its shape. Perceptual distortions, for example, faded memories, may cause a person to forget an incident.

In  motor vehicle accident attorneys indianapolis , the memory of witnesses may be affected by the direction of questions or other information offered to a witness. For example, researchers in one experiment found that telling participants to estimate how fast a car was traveling influenced their answers. Other factors that affect the accuracy of eyewitness accounts include age, attention level, skill, stress, health conditions and prejudice.

While many experts will insist on the reliability of eyewitness testimony, it's crucial to educate jurors and law enforcement agencies members on the possibility of mistakes. In some instances, inaccurate eyewitness testimony is responsible for wrongly convicted people and even murder. For instance, in 2018 the Innocence Project was able to demonstrate that the fingerprints found on the cup used by witnesses to identify a suspect in a burglary not the Royal Clark's.

Vehicle Inspection

As a general rule inspections of vehicles must be performed every year. Some vehicles, such as private-label vehicles or those that have expired inspection stickers might require more frequent inspections. It is also a requirement in certain situations, for instance when residents of New York moves and needs to change their address, it is required that their vehicle is inspected before the new stickers can be issued.

When an inspector conducts an inspection, they begin by checking a few details such as the car's model and make as well as the date of registration, its odometer reading, and the list goes on. The inspector then will inspect the vehicle, beginning with the obvious parts like the windshields and mirrors, the lights and the horn. There are many checklists to ensure a thorough inspection is performed, including checking for things like suspension components or rust.

Drivers must be alert and keep an eye out for pedestrians, other motorists and other potential dangers. Failure to do so could be regarded as negligent. A driver must also maintain control at all time. A vehicle that is defective could cause the vehicle to lose control, which could result in serious injuries. A car's manufacturer could be held liable for the accident when it was caused by an automobile defect or part.

Components or parts that are defective

In order for a vehicle to function effectively, thousands of tiny mechanical and electrical components must work together. If one of these components fail, the consequences could be devastating. Most often, these accidents result from manufacturing defects or other problems in the design or construction of a specific component. If a car part that is defective is the reason for an accident, the party responsible is likely to be responsible for paying the crash victims for their injuries.

Many people think that all auto accidents happen due to human error. While 94 percent of accidents are caused by driver errors, there are also other factors, such as road conditions and defective parts that can cause an accident.

Defective components of a car include brakes, airbags, seatbelts, tires or any other component that may not function according to the specifications and cause an accident. Sometimes, these flaws result from aftermarket modifications that were not designed with the same level of care as the original parts on vehicles. Sometimes, the problem can be found in the original design of a part.

Manufacturers are required by law to make vehicles that meet minimum safety standards. If a vehicle, or any of its components, were not built or designed to these specifications the manufacturer may be held liable for any damage resulting from an accident caused by a defective component.

Insurance Coverage

In many states, drivers are required to carry insurance if their recklessness or conduct results in harm to others. Liability insurance covers bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

The bodily injury liability covers your medical costs and the medical expenses of anyone else injured by your vehicle in an accident up to the policy limit. Typically there is an additional limit for each victim and a single limit for the total amount of property damage. Certain insurance companies offer policies that have higher limits on these kinds of damages.

Property damage coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged by an event other than a collision with another car or object, like theft, fire, windstorm and the impact of a deer. It can also be used to cover damage to your car from driving over potholes. This kind of insurance is required in New York, among other states.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) is required in a number of states, but some require it only when the driver at fault has no insurance or inadequate insurance. The coverage pays you or your passengers for your injuries to property and medical expenses when the at-fault driver has no insurance, is underinsured or involved in a hit and run accident.