Many people in Virginia are severely injured in motor vehicle collisions every year. Across the country, thousands of people lose their lives or suffer permanent disabilities due to crashes. This can pose a particular danger on holiday weekends when the roads are crowded as drivers hit the road to go on vacation or celebrate with family and friends. In some cases, crashes may be caused by mechanical problems, wildlife or out-of-control weather. However, the vast majority of damaging collisions are linked to negligent and dangerous driving.
The precise definition of negligence matters when seeking accountability for the damages caused by a motor vehicle accident. Under the law, drivers can be held responsible for a crash if they are proven to be negligent, which means they breached a duty of care owed to their fellow drivers. When it comes to car accidents, the existence of a duty is often relatively easy to prove. All licensed drivers have the responsibility to drive safely, follow the rules of the road and aim to protect others on the roadways as part of the privilege of driving. There are a number of ways that people could breach that duty, including by driving while drunk or distracted, violating traffic laws or even getting behind the wheel while overly tired.
In order to hold the driver liable, the accident victim must show that that driver’s negligence was the cause of the car crash. Some forms of negligence are not very important in terms of liability if they were unrelated to the actual cause of the incident.
Car accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries, brain damage and lifelong disabilities. People who have been injured in a crash due to someone else’s negligence might want to work with a personal injury lawyer to seek compensation for their damages, including lost wages and medical bills.