Getting into an accident can be a frightening experience for an injured party. The individual may struggle with the cost of getting the medical treatment needed following the accident. In addition, he or she might have to miss work, which means losing income on top of the mounting medical bills. Monetary compensation may help injured parties to cope with the losses sustained in New York car accidents.
When people operate vehicles, they have a legal duty to exercise a reasonable amount of care behind the wheel. Failing to do this constitutes negligent behavior. The person who is deemed negligent in an accident may have to cover any financial damages resulting from his or her behavior, whether these damages involved personal injury or property. However, an injured person must provide proof that the allegedly at-fault individual truly was negligent and caused the individual’s injuries.
One example of negligent driving behavior includes disobeying traffic signals and signs. A person may also be considered negligent if he or she drives below or above a speed limit that has been posted. Disregarding traffic or weather conditions might also be deemed careless behavior on the road, and so can driving while under alcohol or drugs’ influence.
Legal guidance may help an injured person to figure out who was actually responsible for an accident. This determination can be made by looking at sources such as state traffic rules, witness statements and police reports. It is within injured people’s rights to seek their best interests regarding car accidents in New York where they have been injured or a family member has been killed.
Source: findlaw.com, “Car Accident Basics“, , Sept. 3, 2014
