More Than One Responsible Party in a Car Accident

If you are involved in a car accident, there may be several responsible parties involved. If you suffered an injury or have property damage to your car through no fault of your own, you will want to seek compensation from all responsible parties.

Initially, most people involved in car accident look to all drivers of the vehicles involved, including the driver of the vehicle where a passenger may have been injured. However, if the at fault driver is not the owner of the vehicle, the owner may be responsible.

Many who are involved in an accident due to the negligence of another driver are not aware that if the at fault driver is an employee on company business at the time of the accident, the employer may be liable also. If an employee is running company errands during their lunch break, for example, and causes a motor vehicle accident resulting in property damage or injury, the employer may be on the hook for damages.

Teenagers are at highest risk for being involved in an accident and if they do not drive in a reasonably safe manner and another driver is injured, they may be legally liable for resulting damages including medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage and other losses. If you are involved in an accident with a minor, his or her parents may be responsible, most certainly if they own the car.

Keep in mind, a finding of negligence in a car accident is not limited to drivers. If someone who was not in a vehicle contributed to the accident, such as a pedestrian jaywalking or a property owner who left an obstruction in the roadway, they may be responsible for damages. Say for example, a construction company leaves debris on the roadway after leaving a site. That company may be liable for any damage to your vehicle or injuries you suffer if you are involved in an accident as a result of the obstruction left behind.

And finally, remember your own vehicle’s insurance company. If you are injured in an accident, you can make a claim under your own insurance company to cover medical bills and if you have uninsured motorist insurance you may be able to recover even more. The reason people secure insurance in the first place is to obtain coverage in the event of an unforeseen accident. Your insurer should work with you, not against you, to provide you with the coverage you are entitled to.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Iowa personal injury car accident attorneys of Hemminger Law Firm for immediate help at 515-283-2116. We seek maximum compensation to help our clients recover lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and future medical and rehabilitative care.