Motor Vehicle Legal Terms

The laws governing motor vehicle accident lawsuit vehicles vary from state to state. In general, laws assume that the vehicle was used by the owner's permission.

The mortality rates are affected by laws that increase penalties, make revocation automatic, or make social hosts targets. All of these measures, which include mandatory education, alcohol treatment and interlock devices, have a slight impact.

Legal Definitions

State laws govern motor vehicle legal terms. The various definitions that are used for matters related to national requirements for fuel efficiency and licensing requirements for commercial vehicle drivers serve mostly administrative purposes, and are not applicable to states that decide their own registration classifications. These classifications for vehicle registrations determine whether a driver must be granted a specific license to operate certain kinds of vehicles.

These state laws define the terms "automobile," "light truck" and others. For instance an example, a light truck is any motor vehicle that has a capacity that is less than 7,500 pounds. This excludes panel delivery trucks and pickup trucks. This is any vehicle or combination specifically designed to transport passengers or property within its own structure. This includes manufactured homes and trailers.

A wheel chair is a machine with wheels, used primarily by those who have physical disabilities that make them cannot walk as pedestrians. A moped is a motor vehicle with fewer than three wheels that are in contact with the ground that travels at speeds of no more than 35 miles per hour.

A pedicab is a motorized vehicle which is driven by an operator sitting on it. Someone who holds the legal title to a car is called its owner.

Traffic Laws

Each state has its own set motor vehicle laws that cover everything from registration process to insurance requirements. They also regulate the types of vehicles that are covered by law. While some of these laws are fairly similar across states, some are very different. For instance there are laws that restrict the number of passengers you can carry in the pedicab. There are laws that ban reckless driving on certain types of roadways, such as parking spaces.

Anyone who drives a motor vehicle that is in contravention of these laws could face penalties and fines for doing so. Penalties can include having your license suspended or the requirement to take a traffic class.

The law that governs speed limits on roads is one of the most important laws that a state has. In New York for example, the speed limit is the same for commercial vehicles as it is for automobiles.

It also defines the term "motor vehicle" as any type of vehicle or other device that is driven mechanically and is used on roads to transport property or Motor vehicle people or for other commercial uses. It does not include semitrailers and trailers such as coaches or house trailers or vehicles that only run upon rails or tracks snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and motor vehicle snowmobiles, motorized mobility assist devices operated by a person with disabilities, and self-propelled corn or hay harvesting machines and tractor.

Insurance

A motor vehicle accidents vehicle insurance policy is an agreement between the insurer and insured which provides insurance against financial loss resulting from liability for bodily injuries or property damage to a third party that arises from ownership, operation, maintenance or the use of a covered vehicle. It can also protect physical damage to the vehicle. It must contain the name and address of the named insured as in addition to the coverage offered by the policy. It also includes cost of the policy and the time for the duration of the policy in force, as well as the limits of responsibility. It must also include an agreement or an endorsement that states that the insurance offered is in accordance with the coverage provided for bodily injuries or death, or property damage.

Duncanville law firms typically recommend that people read the sample motor vehicle policy in order to understand the terms. One of the most frequent areas of confusion is the definition of the term "motor vehicle." The phrase appears often in statutes governing the registration of vehicles and financial accountability laws.

Some examples of coverage provided under the motor vehicle policy are commercial auto insurance that covers vehicles used for commercial establishments, business activities, employment or occupations that are conducted for profit; automobile liability insurance which includes PIP and MP; and uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). Many states require drivers to have this type of insurance.

Permissive Use

If anyone other than an insured or a family member is driving your car and gets into an accident, it is crucial to know the way insurance coverage works in these instances. This is known as permissive usage. The specifics of your insurance policy may vary, but a majority of major automobile insurers provide this kind of coverage.

However, it is important to note that the person driving your vehicle must have your permission for you to be held accountable for damages. Permission can be given in writing or implied, and it is not required to be written down.

To determine if there is implied consent, courts take into consideration the relationship between the parties, their past behavior and the usage of the vehicle and the circumstances surrounding a specific driving incident. The court will also consider whether any restrictions were imposed on the permissive use, and if even an unintentional deviation from the date, time, and location limitations of the original permission would violate these restrictions.

Keep in mind that adding another driver to your car insurance will cause your premium to go up, since it makes the vehicle more risky to insure. Therefore, it is important to consider your options carefully prior to lending your vehicle to other people. Contact Jerry for a no-cost insurance quote and discuss the terms of your policy.