A car accident can potentially turn someone’s life upside down, whether they live in Lake Charles or elsewhere. Victims of car accidents are interested in holding the person who caused it responsible for their actions. If the victim decides to file a civil lawsuit against the driver they believe was responsible, the court will have to determine liability. If the court finds the driver to be liable, he or she may have to pay for any damages caused by his negligence,
In order to determine whether a driver is liable, courts will analyze whether he or she behaved negligently behind the wheel. While it may seem obvious who was careless, it is not always easy to determine whether a rule was violated. Courts will consider whether the driver was disobeying traffic signs, speeding, disregarding weather or traffic conditions and whether other factors played a role when making their decision.
Courts may also find a driver liable based on their reckless driving. Speeding, excessive lane changing and improper passing all fall under the category of aggressive driving according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A driver may also be liable if he was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
When a court finds a driver liable, the financial compensation awarded to car accident victims may help them get back on their feet and start the healing process. This financial compensation can cover lost wages, medical expenses, hospital bills, and other costs. Accident victims have a long road ahead of them with their physical and emotional wounds. Any financial assistance may make their path to recovery a little bit easier.
Source: FindLaw, “Car Accident Basics,” accessed on July 28, 2015
