Auto Collisions Attorneys, MA - Mazow | McCullough, PC

Auto Collisions

Has your loved one been killed in a motor vehicle accident? The right wrongful death attorneys can help. Learn about our expertise in wrongful death suits.

On a day-to-day basis, there is nothing the average person does that is more dangerous than getting into his or her car. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are more than 32,367 fatalities annually as a result of car crashes. Too often, these collisions are a result of the negligence of another person.

What Causes Auto Accidents?

There are numerous causes of automobile collisions, including but not limited to:

  • Distracted driving
  • Drunk or drugged driving
  • Speeding
  • Reckless driving
  • Failure to obey traffic laws
  • Inclement weather
  • Vehicle design or manufacturing defects
  • Driving while fatigued
  • Poorly trained drivers
  • Road rage or aggressive driving behaviors
  • Passenger interference
  • Poor road conditions
  • Racing
  • Tailgating

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NEGLIGENCE THAT CAUSES OR CONTRIBUTES TO CAR ACCIDENTS

Whether you are in an accident with a commercial truck, a passenger van, a ride sharing vehicle, or a personal vehicle, you need to establish that the other driver, their employer, or another entity was negligent and this negligence directly caused your accident.

Some examples of negligence in auto accident cases include but are not limited to:

  • Driver fatigue
  • Driver impairment
  • Distracted driving (using cell phones, GPS, eating, grooming, or talking)
  • Speeding or reckless driving
  • Failure to maintain vehicles to meet proper safety standards
  • Failure to screen drivers, by employers
  • Other negligent hiring patterns
  • Not training drivers correctly
  • Breaching federal regulations related to commercial drivers
  • Breaking state laws on ridesharing services
  • Overloaded commercial trucks
  • Manufacturing issues with vehicle components (airbags and tires, for example)

A quality auto accident lawyer can help you identify the liable party or parties, prove negligence, and file an insurance claim or a lawsuit for your damages.

COMMON CAR ACCIDENT INJURIES THAT MAY RESULT IN FATALITIES

It is a common misconception that car accidents are always “accidental” and are something unfortunate that just happens. The truth is many car crashes are the result of either the carelessness of another driver, the negligence of a company that has hired the driver, or the negligence of the company that manufactured the vehicle or its parts. Some types of negligence that can cause or contribute to car accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Open head wounds, including penetrating head wounds
  • Closed head injuries and brain injuries
  • Crush injuries
  • Blood loss
  • Damage to internal organs

TYPES OF WRONGFUL DEATH CAR ACCIDENTS

Wrongful death can occur in a variety of different car accidents. You may be in a car accident where the liable party is any one of the following:

Individual Drivers: When another driver acts negligently and causes an accident leading to the death of another driver, to passengers in another car, or even to passengers in their own car, they may be held liable for the damages that resulted in that incident. If their insurance doesn’t cover the cost of the damages, their personal assets may be at stake.

Commercial Drivers: Commercial drivers including truck drivers, bus drivers, taxi cab drivers, and others may also be held personally liable after a fatal car crash.

Employers: Generally, if a commercial driver is employed by a company and acting within the scope of employment, their employer is liable for damages associated with the accident.

Ridesharing Drivers: People who drive for ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft can also be held liable when they cause car accidents.

Ridesharing Services: Typically, ridesharing services only want to claim liability for accidents if the ridesharing driver has a paying passenger in the car. However, these companies have been held liable in cases where the driver was on the way to pick up a fare, even if though they didn’t have a passenger, and some argue that these entities should be liable for any accidents that occur when the driver is logged into the app.

Cases dealing with individual drivers, commercial vehicle operators, and employers tend to be relatively straightforward, but the liability around ridesharing accidents is still being established. To protect your financial interests, you need a quality car accident attorney who understands ridesharing liability issues and will fight for your rights.

WHEN TO CONTACT A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWYER

If a loved one has been killed as a result of a car crash, be it as a driver, a passenger, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist, it is important that you contact an attorney to discuss your options. A wrongful death claim as a result of a motor vehicle collision requires in-depth investigation, the knowledge and experience to use the information uncovered, and a zealous advocate to stand up for the rights of your loved one. You deserve an answer to how the collision happened, compensation for your loss, and ideally the knowledge that can help prevent an accident like this from ever happening again.

INVESTIGATING A WRONGFUL DEATH CAUSED BY A CAR ACCIDENT

The first step when bringing forward a claim for wrongful death caused by a car accident is to determine how the accident occurred. Gathering evidence from police reports, witnesses, photographs of the scene, and medical records is important when trying to determine who may be at fault.

If, for example, a drunk driver caused the crash that killed your loved one, a case may be brought against the driver and potentially even the bartender who served the driver. If the accident was caused by a tire blowout, a case may be able to be brought against the manufacturer of the tire, or possibly the facility that installed the tires if they knowingly sold defective tires or did not properly install the tires on the vehicle.

A wrongful death car accident lawyer has the skills and experience to investigate every aspect of a motor vehicle collision to determine who may be able to be held legally liable for the damages you and your family have suffered. You can learn even more about what to do if you lose a loved one in a car accident here.

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