What Is a Motor Vehicle Case?

A motor vehicle case is any personal injury lawsuit that results from an accident in a motor vehicle accident attorney vehicle. While the majority of cases are governed by common law however, there are a few issues which are unique to this area.

According to New York law, owners of vehicles are accountable for accidents that happen while their vehicles are operating with their permission, express or implied. Our legal team takes care of these cases on a contingency basis.

Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness testimony is an excellent addition to other evidence related to motor vehicle accident law firms vehicle-related cases. This kind of evidence can be used to identify the perpetrators of crimes or provide information on the circumstances of the accident. There is a vast body of research that indicates that eyewitness accounts are often not accurate.

Witnesses are likely to make a mistake when attempting to recall an object's colour or shape. Perceptual distortions like faded memories can cause a person to forget the exact incident.

Witness memory can also be affected when a witness receives crucial questions or details. Researchers found that in one experiment where participants were instructed to estimate the speed of a vehicle influenced their responses. Other factors that affect the reliability of eyewitness testimony include age and attention level, as well as skill, stress, health conditions and prejudice.

Even though many experts will affirm that eyewitness testimony can be trusted there is a need to educate jurors and law enforcement agencies regarding the possibility of errors in this type of evidence. In some instances eyewitness testimony that was incorrect has led to wrong convictions, or even murder. In 2018, the Innocence Project proved that the fingerprints that were found on a cup that a witness had used to identify a suspect during a burglary, were not the signatures of Royal Clark's.

Vehicle Inspection

In general vehicle inspections are required every year. Certain vehicles, for instance those sold privately or those with expired inspection stickers, might require more frequent inspections. It is also required in certain situations, such as when a resident of New York moves and needs to change their address, it is required that their vehicle is inspected before the new stickers are issued.

An inspector will first confirm a few specifics including the model and make of the car as well as the date of registration and odometer reading, and so on. The inspector will then examine the vehicle, beginning with the obvious areas like the mirrors and windshields, the lights and the horn. There are numerous checklists to ensure thorough inspections are completed, which includes the detection of things like rust or suspension parts.

Drivers must be alert and keep an eye out for pedestrians, other motorists and other potential dangers. Failure to do this can be considered negligence. It is also a driver's duty to maintain control of their vehicle at all time. A defective vehicle can cause a loss of control over the vehicle, which can cause severe injuries. It is also possible that the manufacturer could be held liable under the law on product liability in the event that the accident was caused by a defect in the car or its component parts.

Defective Parts or Components

To make a vehicle work effectively, thousands and millions of tiny mechanical components and electrical components must work together. When one of these parts fails, the consequences can be devastating. Usually, these incidents are caused by manufacturing defects or other problems in the design or construction of a specific component. If a defect in the design or construction of an automobile is the cause of an accident, the party accountable for the incident could be liable for a reimbursement to victims for their injuries.

Many people think that all auto accidents happen because of human error. While 94 percent of accidents are caused by driver errors however, there are other factors such as roads and parts that are defective that can cause an accident.

Defective car parts include brakes seatbelts and tires, airbags, or any other component that may not function according to the specifications and cause an accident. These issues could be the result of parts from the aftermarket that were not constructed as well as the original parts on a car. Sometimes, the problem is in the original design of a piece.

The manufacturers are required to make vehicles that meet the minimum safety standards. If a vehicle, or any of its components, were not designed or built in accordance with these standards, the maker may be held liable for any damages resulting from an accident caused by a defective part.

Insurance Coverage

Most states follow a tort liability system that requires drivers to have insurance in case their misconduct or negligence causes injury to another. Liability coverage includes bodily injuries as well as property damage liabilities.

The bodily injury liability covers medical expenses and the medical expenses of anyone else injured by your car in an accident up to the limit of your policy. There is typically an amount for each injured person, and a limit for all property damage. Some insurance companies offer optional policies that have greater limits for these types of damages.

Property damage coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged by an event other than a collision with another vehicle or object, like theft, fire, windstorm and the impact of deer. It could also cover damage to your car from driving over potholes. This kind of insurance is required in New York, among other states.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) is mandatory in many states, though certain states require it only if the driver at fault is not insured or has inadequate insurance or inadequate insurance. This insurance covers you or your passengers for medical and property losses when the at-fault driver is not insured, has no insurance, is uninsured or in a hit-and-run crash.