At best, an automobile accident is an inconvenience that results in having to file some insurance papers and taking your car to a shop for minor repairs. At worst, a motor vehicle crash could cause fatal or life-altering injuries. Regardless of the severity, determining liability is a matter of establishing who was responsible for causing the accident.
When a person gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, they are expected to drive with a standard of care that would be considered reasonable given the circumstances. Should a driver fail to apply a reasonable level of care, then they are considered to have been negligent. If their negligence leads to an accident causing injuries or property damage, then they may be liable for said injuries and damages.
In determining negligence, a court may examine a variety of acts that a driver might have committed which may have contributed to an accident. Here are some of those possible acts:
- Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- Failing to obey traffic signals or signs.
- Driving faster or slower than the speed limit that was posted for the area.
- Not driving appropriately given the traffic or weather conditions.
- Not signaling while making a turn.
This list is not all-encompassing. For example, a court may also take into account if someone was driving in a reckless manner and disregarding the likelihood that their actions could result in an accident.
This is why you may wish to consider contacting an Illinois auto accident lawyer if you are involved in a collision. A lawyer may have knowledge on how to establish liability. An investigation of the incident carried out by the lawyer may help clarify any acts of negligence.