What Is a Motor Vehicle Case?

A motor vehicle case is any personal injury lawsuit that results from the motor vehicle accident lawsuits vehicle involved in an accident. While the majority of cases are governed under common law principles but there are some legal issues that are specific to this particular area.

According to New York law, owners of vehicles are responsible for accidents that occur when their vehicles are operating without their permission, either express or implied. Our legal team tackles these cases on an incidental basis.

Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness testimony can provide an excellent addition to other evidence in a Motor vehicle accident law firms vehicle crash. This type of testimony often helps to identify the criminal or provide details on the circumstances of the crash. However there is a large amount of evidence that suggests eyewitness identifications are often in error.

For example, witnesses are prone to making mistakes when they try to recall the color of an object or its shape. Furthermore, perceptual distortions -- like fading memories -- can also distort a witness's memories of a particular event.

Witness memory can also be distorted if a witness is given crucial questions or details. For example, researchers in one study found that asking participants to estimate how fast the car was travelling influenced their answers. Other factors that influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimonies include age, attention level, skill as well as stress, health conditions and prejudice.

Even though many experts will claim that eyewitness testimony is able to be relied upon there is a need to educate law enforcement agencies and jurors about the possibility of errors in this type of evidence. In some instances, inaccurate eyewitness testimony has been responsible for wrong convictions, and even murder. In 2018, the Innocence Project proved that the fingerprints on a cup, which a witness used to identify the suspect in a burglary, were not the Royal Clark's.

Vehicle Examination

As a general rule inspections for Motor Vehicle Accident Law Firms vehicles should be conducted annually. Certain types of vehicles, like private-sale vehicles or those with inspection stickers that are expired, may require periodic inspections. It is also mandatory for certain situations, for instance 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 can be issued.

When an inspector conducts an inspection, they begin by checking certain details such as the vehicle's make and model as well as the date of registration as well as the odometer reading and the list goes on. The inspectors then start to look at the car itself, beginning with the most obvious parts like the mirrors, windshields, lights, and the horn. There are numerous checklists that ensure a thorough inspection is completed, which includes inspecting things such as rust and suspension components.

Drivers are expected to remain vigilant on the road and keep an eye out for pedestrians, other drivers, and potential hazards. Failure to do so could be considered negligence. It is also the driver's responsibility to ensure that they are in control of their vehicle at all at all times. A defective vehicle may cause the vehicle to lose control, motor vehicle Accident Law Firms resulting in serious injuries. The manufacturer of a vehicle may be held liable for the accident if it was caused by an auto defect or component part.

Defective Components or Parts

For a vehicle to function properly, thousands of tiny electrical and mechanical parts must function. If one of these components fails, the results can be devastating. Most of the time, these accidents result from manufacturing defects or other problems in the design or construction of a specific component. When a defective car part is the reason for an accident, the responsible party may be liable to compensate the victims of the crash for their injuries.

Many people believe that all accidents involving cars are caused by human error. While nearly 94 percent of car accidents result from driver error but there are other causes that can cause a crash including road conditions and defective auto parts.

Defective car parts include brakes, seats, airbags, tires or any other component which may fail to function as designed and lead to an accident. Sometimes, these problems are caused by aftermarket improvements that weren't made with the same level of attention to detail as the original parts on vehicles. Sometimes, the defect is found in the original design of the part.

Manufacturers are required to produce vehicles that meet minimum safety standards. If a vehicle, or any parts of it, was not built or designed to these specifications the manufacturer may be held liable for any damages resulting from an accident caused by a defective component.

Insurance Coverage

In most states, motorists are required to carry insurance if their negligence or misconduct can cause harm to others. Liability insurance covers bodily injuries and property damage liability.

Bodily injury liability pays for your medical bills and the medical costs of others injured in a collision caused by your vehicle up to the limits of your policy. Typically there is a separate limit for each victim and a single limit for the total amount of property damage. Some insurers offer optional policies that have higher limits for these kinds of damages.

Property damage coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged by an event other than collision with another vehicle or object, such as windstorm, fire, theft and the impact of deer. The coverage can also cover damage caused by driving over potholes. This type of insurance is required in New York, among other states.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) is required in many states, although some states only require it if the driver at fault has no insurance or is not insured at all. This coverage will reimburse you or your passengers for your loss of property and medical expenses if the at-fault driver is not insured, has no insurance, is underinsured or is involved in a hit-and run crash.