What Is a Motor Vehicle Case?

A long beach motor vehicle accident law firm vehicle case is a personal injury lawsuit that involves a motor vehicle accident. Although most cases are governed by the standard common-law notions of negligence but there are a range of particular issues that pertain to this area of practice.

Under New York law, owners of vehicles are accountable for any accidents that occur when their vehicles are being operated with their permission, whether explicit or implied. Our dedicated legal team handles these cases on a contingent fee basis.

Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness testimony can provide an important addition to other evidence in a motor vehicle accident. This kind of evidence can be used to identify the perpetrators of crimes and provide details on how the incident occurred. However, there is a wide research that indicates that eyewitness identifications can be highly incorrect.

Witnesses, for instance, are more likely to make mistakes in recollecting the color of an object or its shape. Perceptual distortions, for example, fading memories, can also make a person forget the exact incident.

Moreover, witness memory can be distorted by leading questions or other information offered to a witness. For example, researchers in one study found that asking participants to estimate how fast the car was moving affected their responses. Other factors that affect the accuracy of eyewitness accounts include age ability, attention level, stress, health conditions and motor vehicle accident prejudice.

While many experts claim that eyewitness testimony is able to be relied upon, there is a need to educate law enforcement agencies and jurors regarding the possibility of errors in this type of evidence. In a few cases, faulty eyewitness testimony has been responsible for wrongly convicted people and even murder. In the case of 2018, for instance the Innocence Project was able to demonstrate that the fingerprints found on a cup used by an eyewitness to identify the suspect in a burglary not that of Royal Clark's.

Vehicle Inspection

As a rule inspections for vehicles are required every year. Certain types of vehicles might need be inspected more frequently in certain circumstances, like those that are being sold privately or have an expired inspection sticker. It is also mandatory for certain situations, like when a resident of New York moves and needs to change their address, that their vehicle is inspected before the new stickers can be issued.

When an inspector conducts an inspection, they begin by checking some of the details like the vehicle's make and model as well as the date of registration as well as the odometer reading and others. The inspector then will inspect the vehicle, starting with the obvious parts like the windshields and mirrors as well as the lights and horn. There are a number of checklists that will ensure that an exhaustive inspection is done, including checking for things like suspension components or rust.

Drivers must be vigilant and keep an eye out for other motorists, pedestrians and other potential dangers. The failure to do so could constitute negligence. A driver must also maintain control at all the time. A vehicle that is defective can cause a loss of control of the vehicle, which could cause serious injuries. A vehicle's manufacturer may also be held liable for the accident if it was caused by an auto defect or a component part.

Parts or Components that are defective

In order for a vehicle to function correctly, thousands of tiny electrical and mechanical parts must work together. When one of these components is damaged, the result can be catastrophic. Usually, these incidents result from manufacturing defects or other problems in the construction or design of a specific component. If a component that is defective in a vehicle is at the root of an accident, then the party responsible for the accident could be liable for compensating the victims for their injuries.

Many people believe that all auto accidents are caused by human error. While 94 percent are caused by driver errors There are also other factors such as roads and parts that are defective that could cause an accident.

Defective auto parts include brakes, tires, seatbelts and airbags or any other component that could fail to perform as intended, resulting to an accident. These defects could result from parts purchased from an aftermarket store that were not constructed as well as the original components on a vehicle. Sometimes, the defect is found in the original design of the part.

The manufacturers are required to create vehicles that meet minimum safety standards. If the vehicle or its components were not designed or built to these specifications the manufacturer could be held responsible in a lawsuit for product liability for motor vehicle accident any damages that occur in the event of an accident that was caused by the defective component.

Insurance Coverage

In the majority of states, drivers are required to carry insurance if their recklessness or conduct results in harm to others. Liability insurance covers bodily injury as well as property damage liabilities.

The bodily injury liability covers your medical costs and those of others who are injured by your vehicle in an accident, up to the limit of your policy. There is typically a limit for each injured person as well as a limit for property damage in all forms. Some insurers offer policies that have higher limits on these types of damages.

Property damage insurance will cover to repair or replace your car when it is damaged in any other way than an accident. This includes theft, fire windstorm, or collision with a deer. It can also cover damage that is caused by driving through potholes. This type of coverage is mandatory in New York and some other states.

In many states, uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance (UM/UIM) is required. However, some states only require it if the driver at fault is not covered by insurance. This coverage reimburses your medical and property damages in the event that the driver at fault does not have insurance or is not insured.