How Are Motorists Liable for Car Accidents in Pennsylvania?

The law requires all drivers to operate their vehicles with caution. This is to ensure their safety as well as that of others sharing the road with them. While this is true, not all drivers fulfill this obligation and operate their vehicles negligently. In doing so, they can cause dangerous accidents that often lead to serious injuries.

As these injuries have the potential to impact a person for the rest of their lives, victims sometimes wish to pursue legal action against the negligent party. This is to hold them responsible for their behavior that caused the injuries. To accomplish this, they must file a personal injury claim. Throughout this process, it is important to retain the services of an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney to assist the case.

Types of Negligence

Unfortunately, not all drivers act safely behind the wheel. When people drive negligently, it puts the entire road at risk for harm. While there are many different ways a driver can be considered negligent, these actions can be placed into two general categories:

  • Dangerous driving: This occurs when a driver fails to abide by the rules of the road. Actions that are considered dangerous driving can include speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes, driving while drowsy, unsafe passing, failure to follow by stop signs and lights, street racing, driving under the influence, etc.
  • Distracted driving: This is one of the leading causes of automobile accidents in the United States. It occurs when a driver does not give the road their undivided attention at all times. Common distractions can include using a cell phone behind the wheel, eating, searching for something in the car, and speaking to other passengers.

Proving Negligence

Drivers who act negligently on the road can cause serious, life-changing injuries as well as possibly even death to others. Because of this, victims can hold a negligent driver responsible through a personal injury lawsuit. It is important to know that, to be successful, the injured party is required to satisfy the burden of proof. This can be done by proving, with evidence, that their injuries were directly caused by the driver’s behavior. Useful evidence can include medical documentation of the injuries, a police report from the accident, pictures or videos of the scene, and eyewitness statements corroborating your personal injury claim. If you believe you have been wrongly injured in a car accident, you must reach out to our experienced firm as soon as you can.

Contact our Firm

Friedman Schuman is an experienced and dedicated legal resource for clients throughout Pennsylvania. We proudly serve clients facing a wide range of legal matters. If you require the services of an effective attorney, please contact Friedman Schuman today to schedule a consultation.

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