Failing to properly see other vehicles on the roadway or violating traffic signals can result in accidents and significant injuries for those involved. Those violating their duty of reasonable care in the operation of their vehicle may have significant liability to those injured as a result of their actions.
A woman recently died in motor vehicle accident in Louisiana. According to reports, the woman pulled out in front of another vehicle on a highway. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, while the other driver was. The woman died at the scene of the accident. The other driver was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of moderately severe injuries. Toxicology tests were performed, but the results were not immediately available.
In the event of a car accident, the determination of which party is liable is important. To determine such liability, courts apply the legal doctrine of negligence. Under negligence, an injured party must show that a driver owed them a duty to use reasonable care in their actions, which is mostly assumed in motor vehicle accidents. They must also show that the driver breached this duty, that the breach caused the accident and that they were injured as a result. Negligence can be found in multiple actions including failing to signal a turn, disobeying traffic signs, speeding and driving while impaired, among many others.
Drivers must constantly be aware of their surroundings and what is occurring on the roadway, especially on highways and interstates where speeds are higher. Being inattentive or failing to follow the rules of the road can lead to potentially serious injuries and liability for those involved.
Source: thenewsstar.com, “Jonesboro woman dies in two-vehicle wreck,” Cole Avery, April 2, 2014