In most personal injury scenarios, a specific person is at fault for an incident that causes property damage losses and expenses for others. Those harmed by the misconduct or negligence of another person can file an insurance claim after a car crash. In mild to moderate car crash scenarios, insurance coverage can be enough to reimburse those affected by the wreck.
However, sometimes insurance isn’t enough. In scenarios where insurance is insufficient given the losses generated by a recent collision, the people involved in the wreck may opt to take legal action against the party at fault for the incident. The people involved in the crash then have to look at other solutions for covering their expenses. Those who cannot afford to carry adequate insurance may also lack the capital to directly pay for the costs of a crash.
Sometimes, holding a third party liable is the best solution. Businesses can sometimes have a degree of liability for motor vehicle collisions. The three scenarios below are among the most common situations in which businesses may be subject to lawsuits because of a crash.
Dangerous vehicles or defective parts
Most collisions are the result of human error. However, some crashes occur specifically because of issues with a vehicle. There might be problems with vehicle design that make vehicles more likely to fail in traffic or that increase the severity of crashes when they happen. There might also be defective components that contribute to crash risk. Manufacturers may be responsible for releasing dangerous vehicles or defective components to the public.
Crashes that occur during work hours
Under the legal concept of respondeat superior, employers may have a degree of vicarious liability for collisions caused by their workers. If an employee is on the clock when they cause a car crash, the employer may be liable for the expenses generated in the incident. Whether the worker drove a company vehicle or their own vehicle, their employer may have to help cover the costs of any crash that they cause while driving for work.
Violations of state liquor laws
Liability can sometimes stem from liquor law violations. State statutes allow those affected by drunk drivers to hold businesses accountable if they served an underage patron or a driver who is already visibly intoxicated. Such lawsuits can help diminish the economic harm generated by a drunk driving crash.
Holding a business accountable for a motor vehicle collision can potentially result in more thorough compensation than an insurance claim or lawsuit against a driver at fault. Learning more about the various forms of compensation available after a crash can help people to limit their losses after a major motor vehicle collision.