motor vehicle settlement Vehicle Litigation

In the majority of motor vehicle crash cases, the plaintiff’s award is lowered by their percentage of fault. The jury decides this based on the evidence they are presented with.

To be held liable for a personal injury, Motor Vehicle Litigation the defendant has to be negligent during the incident. The degree of liability is determined by the degree to which the negligence caused the accident.

Liability

The purpose of a motor vehicle accident claim is to seek damages for the injuries and losses resulting from another party’s negligence. Unless the injured person lives in one of the few states that operate under a no-fault system of insurance for trucking or automobile accidents, an accident lawsuit must demonstrate that a defendant’s careless actions or failure to act caused a collision with injuries to the body.

An experienced lawyer can help you determine whether the driver who caused the accident or other defendant is liable for your losses. Most auto accident cases hinge on the plaintiff’s ability prove the defendant’s negligence based on tort liability principles. This includes a defendant’s obligation to the victim, defendant’s violation of this duty direct and actual causation, and injuries.

A skilled lawyer can also assist in determining liability in cases in which the insured driver or owner of the vehicle are involved in a lawsuit. Most automobile insurance policies grant coverage to any person who drives the vehicle with the approval of the owner, with certain exceptions. This usually involves analyzing CPLR SS 1602.

Damages

A successful motor vehicle lawsuit needs to establish damages suffered by the plaintiff. This is usually accomplished by providing detailed documentation of expenses out of pocket and also future losses expected to arise as a result of the injuries suffered. These are known as economic and non-economic damages.

The former covers things such as medical bills and lost income while the latter covers things that are more intangible like pain and suffering. It can be difficult to determine an exact value to non-economic losses like mental distress and the loss of enjoyment life.

Your lawyer will assist in formulating your damages with the use of a range of techniques. This may include retaining accident reconstruction experts who review police reports, photographs, witnesses’ testimony, and other evidence in order to reconstruct the crash.

Your lawyer will also strengthen your claim with expert opinion detailing the economic and non-economic effects of your injuries. This includes estimates of future medical and support costs, wage projections and other financial factors. These are vital in order to ensure you’re fully compensated for any loss you have suffered and will continue to suffer in the future.

Comparative Fault

A system known as comparative fault – or contributory negligence determines the extent to which an injured person could be accountable for in a car accident. It’s a crucial issue in a variety of cases and one that your attorney could be required to prove.

The majority of states have some kind of a comparative fault rule, which permits victims to seek compensation even if they have a share of the blame in an accident. However, the amount of their settlement will be reduced based on their level of fault. For example, if a jury decides to award you $100,000 for your injuries, but determines that you’re 40% in the wrong, you’d receive only $60,000.

There are actually two different kinds of modified comparative fault rules. The first is the 50 bar rule. This rule prevents the injured party from receiving compensation if they’re responsible for more than 50 percent. Colorado and Utah are two states that are governed by this rule. The other variant, called pure comparative negligence, allows victims to claim damages if they are found to be 99 per cent responsible.

Statute of limitations

In the majority of instances, a person who is injured in a car accident is allowed to file a lawsuit against the party who caused the crash. However, these lawsuits must be filed within the statute of limitations or else the victim’s claim is forever barred.

The statute of limitations has nothing to do with whether or not the insurer of the defendant will settle it, and has everything to do with the triggering event that initiated the case, which is the incident or accident which caused the injury. Therefore, knowing exactly when the clock starts to tick is vital for ensuring compliance with this important legal requirement.

In New York, those injured in car accidents have up-to three years to bring a personal injury lawsuit. In certain cases, this timeline can be shortened. For instance, in situations where a minor is involved, the statute of limitations is suspended until the child is legally emancipated after marriage or reaching age 18, which is usually two years after the date of the accident. There are other exceptions and experienced lawyers can provide advice on the specifics.

Representation

We have a wealth of experience representing and advising utilities and public entities in matters related to motor vehicle litigation. Our clients include local, county, state and federal entities regulating fixed public utilities such as electric, gas, and water/sewer services. We also represent transportation entities including taxicabs, trucking and limousine companies, before the Public Utilities Commission in cases which involve fees, rates and service.

In a motor vehicle case car accident case, we can help determine the responsible parties and support you in pursuing compensation. Our firm also assists victims of tractor-trailer collisions and car accidents, as well as wrongful death cases.

Our practice in commercial motor vehicles offers advice to national leasing companies, and national logistics companies on product liability and automobile accident claims. We handle pre-suit evaluations as well as proactively manage discovery. We apply trial-ready techniques to ensure an optimal outcome for the client whether that is through a the summary disposition or a favorable decision. Our team of lawyers advises franchised motor vehicle litigation vehicles as well as truck dealers on issues that concern factory-dealer relations and represents them in New motor vehicle lawyers Vehicle Board protests regarding the termination of dealerships, audits of incentive and warranty programs, as well as relocations.