Which parties can be held liable for a car accident?

If you suffer a serious, debilitating injury in a car accident, you probably have numerous questions and concerns that need to be addressed sooner rather than later. One of the most important questions is – which party, or parties, can be held liable for your harms and losses caused by the car accident? 

The answer to this question is… it depends. The reason there is no single, definitive answer is that there could be multiple liable parties in a car accident injury case. In order to properly assess which party, or parties, could be held liable requires conducting an in-depth investigation into how the accident occurred. 

Car Accidents Are Occurring Far Too Often

Injuries and deaths stemming from car accidents are, unfortunately, on the rise both in Massachusetts and nationwide. For example, for the third year in a row, 40,000 people were killed in crashes on U.S. roads in 2018, according to preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council. If that was not bad enough, nearly 4.6 million people were badly injured in car wrecks.

Regarding Massachusetts, data from Allstate Insurance’s annual Best Drivers Report revealed that Worcester, Boston, and Springfield have some of the highest auto accident rates in the entire state. For example, an estimated 399 people lost their lives in car wrecks in Massachusetts in 2016.

Potential Liable Parties

As mentioned, it is possible there could be numerous potential liable parties when a serious car accident occurs. For example, if you were driving on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester and got rear-ended by another motorist who was texting and driving, then that negligent motorist would be the party that could potentially be held liable for your harms and losses. 

However, let’s say you were a passenger in a vehicle and the driver was texting while driving. The driver, as a result of being distracted, ran a red light. At the same time, another motorist who was intoxicated winds up t-boning your vehicle. In this situation, it may be possible to pursue a personal injury claim against both the driver of the vehicle you were in, along with the other motorist who was intoxicated at the time of the collision. 

Best Way to Assess Which Parties Could Be Held Liable

If you were badly injured in a car wreck and are unsure about which party, or parties, could be held liable for your harms and losses, a great way to assess the best path forward is by contacting an experienced personal injury attorney. You can meet with a knowledgeable and experienced car accident lawyer from Eden Rafferty who will answer your questions and provide guidance on the relevant accident laws and regulations to your particular case.  

Take Action Today by Contacting Eden Rafferty

In the aftermath of a serious car wreck, taking swift action and contacting an experienced injury attorney is critically important to help protect your rights and ensure you have the strongest case possible against the liable party, or parties. Contact the respected and skilled car accident lawyers with Eden Rafferty. We are a trusted and respected law firm based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Our team of seasoned car accident attorneys possesses over eight decades of the collective experience and strong track records of achieving positive outcomes for individuals and families.