Motor Vehicle Legal Terms

The laws governing motor vehicle accident law firms vehicles differ widely from state to state. In general, laws assume that the vehicle was operated by the owner's permission.

The mortality rates are influenced by laws that increase penalties or make revocation automatic or make social hosts targets. All of these measures, including obligatory education, alcohol treatment and interlock devices, have only a tiny effect.

Legal Definitions

State laws govern legal terms for motor vehicles. The definitions used by the federal government for national standards for fuel economy and licensing standards for commercial vehicle drivers are primarily administrative and are not applicable when states decide on their own classifications for registration. These vehicle registration classifications determine if a driver needs to be issued a special license to operate certain types of vehicles.

The state laws define the terms "automobile," "light truck" and others. For example, the definition of light truck encompasses any motor vehicle accident lawyers (jejucordelia.com link for more info) vehicle that has an estimated carrying capacity of less than 7,500 pounds. This excludes panel delivery trucks and pickup trucks. It also excludes any vehicle or combination of vehicles that is designed primarily to carry passengers or property within its own structure, like manufactured homes and trailers.

Wheel chairs are vehicles with wheels utilized by people who physically disabled and are unable to walk. A moped is an automobile with no more than three wheels on the ground, and that travels at maximum speed of 35 miles per hour.

A pedicab, also known as a pedal-driven vehicle, is driven by the person who sits on the top of it. The owner of a vehicle is the one who holds the legal title.

Traffic Laws

Each state has its own set motor vehicle laws that cover everything from registration process to the insurance requirements. The laws also deal with the kinds of vehicles that are covered by law. Some of these laws are the same across states, however other laws differ significantly. There are laws that restrict how many people can be carried in a pedicab. There are laws that prohibit reckless driving in certain types of roads, like a parking lots.

If you violate the law, you could be punished and fined. Penalties could include having your license suspended or the requirement to take a traffic class.

The law that regulates speed limits on roads is one of the most important laws that states have. In New York, for example it is stated that the speed limit for a commercial vehicle is identical to that of an automobile.

It also defines a "motor vehicle" as any vehicle or any other device that moves mechanically and is used on roads to transport people or property or for other commercial reasons. The law does not include trailers, coaches, semitrailers, all-terrain and snowmobiles, motorized mobility assist devices used by disabled people and self-propelled corn as well as harvesting machines for hay.

Insurance

A motor insurance policy for vehicles is an agreement between the insurer and insured that protects against financial loss resulting from liability for bodily injury or death, property damage to a third party arising from ownership and operation, maintenance or the use of a covered automobile. It may also cover physical damage to the vehicle. It must contain the address and name of the insured named as well as the coverage provided by the policy, the cost paid for it, the time of effectivity and the limits of liability. It should also contain an agreement or endorsement that the insurance is provided in conformity with the coverage described in the policy, in relation to bodily injury, property damage, or death, and is subject to all of the provisions of this chapter.

The wording in a motor vehicle policy can be confusing to anyone, and Duncanville law firms usually recommend that an individual review a sample policy to fully know the terms. One of the most common areas of confusion is the definition of the term "motor vehicle." The phrase appears frequently in statutes governing registration of vehicles as well as financial responsibility laws.

A few examples of coverage under the motor vehicle accidents vehicle policy are commercial auto insurance for vehicles used for business, commercial establishments, jobs, or other activities carried on for profit; auto liability insurance that covers MP and PIP as well as uninsured motorist and underinsured driver coverage (UM/UIM). Many states require drivers to have this type of insurance.

Permissible Use

If someone other than the named insured or a family member drives your vehicle and gets involved in an accident, it is important to understand the process of insurance coverage in these scenarios. This is called permissive usage. The specific terms of your insurance policy could differ, but most large car insurers offer this type of coverage.

It is important to keep in mind that you are responsible for any damage caused by a driver with your permission. Permission may be express or implied but does not necessarily need to be in writing.

In determining if there is an implied permission, courts consider the relationship between the parties; their past conduct and the use of the vehicle; as well as the circumstances surrounding the specific driving incident in question. A court will also examine whether any restrictions were imposed on the scope of permissive usage and whether even minor deviations from the time, location and use limitations of the original permission would violate of these limitations.

Be aware that adding a driver to your car insurance is likely to result in your premium going up, since it makes the vehicle more risky to insure. It is therefore important to be aware of your options before lending your vehicle to other people. If you aren't sure whether you should add someone to your policy or not, contact Jerry to discuss the specific terms of your insurance policy. Get a no-cost quote.