Finding a way to determine legal liability for injuries and property damage caused by a vehicle accident can often be extremely challenging. However, it is often the result of negligence caused by another party. While it may be easy to simply point a finger and say that another individual must pay for the damages and injuries, it is usually not that simple in a court of law. This is why many individuals hire a competent car accident attorney to handle a case in an effort to determine legal liability.

The Act of Carelessness

Nolo.com states that the basic rule of determining legal liability is based on the carelessness or negligence of one individual that caused suffering, pain or injury along with property damage to another individual[i]. In its most basic form, this could include:

• Not Following the Rules of the Road – If the individual was simply neglectful of following the rules of the road, he or she may be completely liable for causing the accident.

• In the Employment of Others – If one individual causes the accident while being employed by another, and driving their vehicle, the employer could be held legally liable, in full or in part.

• Lending a Vehicle – If the owner of the vehicle lends their car or truck to another by giving permission and that individual has an accident, the owner of the vehicle may be held legally liable even though they were not involved directly in the crash.

In situations like this, it is important to hire a car or truck accident attorney to ensure that the rights of all involved parties are properly represented in a court of law during a lawsuit. The competent accident attorney will file a personal injury lawsuit against the individual that is known to have caused the accident by failing to take responsible care, or pay attention.