At the end of the day all car accidents come down to fault and liability. Who caused your accident, who is at-fault, who is going to be held responsible for paying the debt the accident has caused. Working with an experienced car accident attorney in your case can help you to protect yourself and hold any at-fault drivers responsible for your accident. If you are at-fault for the accident, your insurance coverage will determine how the property damage and other costs will be paid in your case.

Driver Negligence or Misconduct

The issue of fault and legal liability in most injury-related insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits comes down to establishing who was negligent.

In a car accident case, one obvious way that a driver can be negligent is to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs while driving. (More: Is a drunk driver automatically at fault for a car accident?)

Taking certain prescription medication before driving can also amount to negligence. We’re probably all familiar with drug commercials instructing us not to take certain medications while operating heavy machinery. Well, a car is heavy machinery. If, hypothetically, you get into a car accident while taking certain prescription or over-the-counter medications, you may find yourself accused of negligence.

But a more common form of driver negligence is basic inattention to the road. Taking one’s eyes off the road, even for a second, can be negligent. There are innumerable ways in which a driver can be inattentive, including:

distracted driving (texting/phone use)
looking at something or someone by the side of the road
looking at a map or reading something
getting something out of the glove compartment
adjusting your seat
getting something out of your pocket
reaching into the back seat
eating or drinking (even non-alcoholic beverages) while driving
putting on makeup, and
shaving (yes, that’s been known to happen while driving).

Lawyers have used every one of these examples (and many more) to prove negligence in a car accident case. If you’re able to show that the driver who hit you was engaged in any of the above-listed activities at the time, that’s evidence that will improve your chances of a good car accident settlement.

Conversely, if the other driver can show that you were doing any of the things in the bulleted list above, you can expect to be held liable for the crash. That means your car insurance company will be paying on the claim, and you’ll likely be paying more for car insurance.

Poor Road Conditions

Poor road conditions like these can certainly cause (or play a role in causing) car accidents:

potholes or sinkholes in the road
cracks or breaks in the road
unlevel lanes in the road (often caused when one lane has just been repaved, but the other lane hasn’t)
a road/highway undergoing construction/repair
poor or confusing street signage
narrow roads
construction debris in the road
lack of sufficient shoulder on the road, and
bad instructions from a flagperson.

If you get into a car accident that might have been caused by poor road conditions, you could still have a claim against another driver, but you might also be entitled to take legal action against the governmental agency or entity in charge of maintaining the road. Learn more about liability for car accidents caused by poor road conditions.

Defective or Poorly-Maintained Vehicles

If your vehicle was manufactured with a defect, and you’re injured in an accident that was caused by that defect, you might have a valid product liability claim against the vehicle manufacturer. But defects in vehicles include not just problems with the way the car came off the production line, but also problems that develop over the life of the vehicle.

For example, if your brakes are wearing out, but you choose not to replace them, you are knowingly driving a defective (or at least negligently-maintained) vehicle, and you will probably be found liable if you cause an accident in which that mechanical problem played a part.

Common problems with cars that are likely to cause an accident include issues with the steering, acceleration, braking, tires, or lights. If your car is showing signs of any of these problems, get it checked out as soon as possible. If a mechanic tells you that your car needs to be repaired, get it fixed. If you can’t afford to repair the vehicle, don’t drive it. And conversely, if you get hit by another driver who was knowingly driving a car whose condition posed a safety risk on the road, you could be well set up to receive a fair settlement.

If you’re thinking about taking legal action over injuries sustained in a car accident, your best first step might be to discuss your situation (and your options) with a car accident lawyer.

Spanish Speaking Car Accident Lawyer in Houston, Texas

Spanish-speaking individuals can have a more difficult time seeking justice in their personal injury cases due to language barriers. This causes them to not take action against those who have left them with financial devastation and physical trauma. At the Law Office of Beverly R. Caruthers, our team refuses to let a language barrier affect your right to justice and compensation. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident and is in need of Spanish-speaking legal advice, our team is here for you.

Personal Injury Lawyer in Houston, Texas

If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident and suffered an injury, experienced loss of income, or are unable to work due to a car accident, you can benefit from the services of a Houston car accident expert in your personal injury case. Whether you missed work due to an injury or due to not having access to a vehicle, Attorney Beverly R. Caruthers can help you!

Beverly R Caruthers Law Office
Address: 4141 Southwest Fwy, Suite 620
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 526-9557
View our Website
View our Facebook page
View our Google Listing