What if Multiple People are to be Blamed for your Injury?

Published on: 28 February 2019 Last Updated on: 24 February 2020
Injury

Car accidents are by definition complicated, and when more than one person is to blame for one, they can get even more so. That is why it is so important to fully understand what just happened and where to place the blame. It is necessary to determine the group of people or an individual, whatever the case may be and figure out where responsibility is to be assigned for the crash and the resulting trauma.

When We Talk About Fault, What Do We Mean?

Legally, fault refers to the person accountable for affecting harm. This harm might have happened through careless actions that may be defined as negligence. Once the fault has been determined, the individual at fault is bound to pay-up compensation entirely for causing damage and other material or physical losses that result as a consequence of that injury. In case a lawsuit pertaining to a personal injury ends up at court, a civil jury can decide the result of the verdict in favor, which in turn could be a very substantial amount.

Yet, in some cases, more than one person may be at fault. That means that both people involved in the accident may have contributed to it happening to a greater or lesser degree. This may result in both of them being considered at fault. To determine the amount of blame that falls on each individual in an injury case of a personal nature, all states follow some version legalities which involve one of two rules:

  • Contributory negligence
  • Comparative negligence

Contributory Negligence:

Negligence of a contributory nature considers that if you are in any way guilty of causing your own injury, you do not have the right to make anyone else accountable for it. In an ideal Contributory Negligence structure, if you are even 1% at fault, the law withholds you from collecting any compensation from a person who is potentially 99% at fault, even if you’re out hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. If it is determined that you have been marginally negligent, you receive nothing. Although an extremely harsh rule, it is still commonly used in some states.

Comparative Negligence:

The first thing that must be figured out if one needs to understand the comparative negligence legality, is the extent of fault that falls on each person that was involved in the accident. In most instances, both individuals turn out to be negligent to a certain degree. The sitting judge or the as the case may be, would determine the percentage or quantum of fault assigned to each that contributed to the accident. It may be determined that one of them is 60% responsible while the other one is only 40% to blame. In these cases, each party can collect damages that are commensurate to the percentage of fault that would be assigned to the other party.

Some states adhere to a strict comparative negligence rule, while others hold a structured point to determining the quantum of fault assigned to an injured plaintiff.

What Legal Rule Does Florida Follow?

Florida is a pure comparative negligence state.

If you have been involved in a car accident and need someone to be by your side, there are several reputable personal injury lawyers, like the attorneys at Friedland& Associates, who are knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the Fort Lauderdale civil courts and car accident litigation. Call them today to receive a free consultation.

Read Also:

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Cycling Accident

7 Approaches to Adopt to find the Best Solution after a Cycling Accident

It’s scary when a bike crashes into a car or a car into a bike. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it. If you’re riding a bike, however, it’s important that you know how to deal with the situation after the crash. What you do after the incident may have a huge effect on your recovery from damages and injuries to your bike and to yourself. Moreover, it may also impact the result of any lawsuits. Below are the things you need to do to access the best resolution after a cycling accident. 7 Approaches to Adopt to find the Best Solution after a Cycling Accident: 1. Wait for the authorities to arrive: Right after the accident, you should wait for the police to arrive first so they can work on writing a police report, even if you think you are unharmed. Not a lot of people actually realize they’ve been injured until a few hours after the accident. Some people attain minor injuries, but these could develop into a much serious problem later on. And if you choose to let the whole thing go and leave the accident scene, you will lose the chance of identifying the at-fault driver or the person involved in the accident. While waiting for the police to arrive, never attempt to negotiate with the driver. Most people would apologize and accept blame, but you’ll never know what they’re capable of when suddenly faced with an impending lawsuit. Some drivers would later deny their negligence and even deny they were involved at all. Always wait for the police to come so everything gets documented in their police report. Also, the police can ticket the driver, which is very useful in the future when you’re starting to settle the case with your insurance company. 2. Relay your version of what happened into the accident report: Some police officers end up talking to the motorist to get a statement of what happened and not bother talking to the cyclist. Given this tendency, you must do everything you can so you can get your version out and recorded into the accident report. Your injuries may be very little or minor, but make sure they are recorded. For all you know, those minor injuries may later develop into something more serious. Should it happen that the officer in charge of the accident scene refuses to include your statement in the police report, have the report amended later. 3. Get driver and witness details: Remember to get the name of the driver who is at fault, driver’s license number, phone number, address, insurance details, and vehicle license number. You should also get the names and contact information of people who have seen the accident. Don’t rely on the police alone to get this information for you because they may fail to do so. If in case you have acquired serious injuries and cannot get the necessary details, ask a witness or a bystander to help you out. 4. Document the accident: If it’s possible, remember even the tiniest details of the accident. Take note of what happened, how the whole thing transpired, and where the location of the accident is. Additionally, document the weather, traffic, and road conditions. It would help you greatly if you can write all of these down. 5. Document your injuries: If you’re hurt, request for medical attention immediately. Even if the injuries are minor, you should always get help from first aid responders as this can help prove that you were in fact injured. This will be included in your medical records including the extent of your injuries. Also, see to it that the areas injured are photographed as soon as the accident took place. After the accident, you can also record in a journal what and how you’re feeling as well. 6. Preserve evidence: Never touch the state of your bike and other things nearby and on the accident area itself. Do not try and fix anything before the police arrive. Do not wash your clothes, and do not let anyone touch your helmet or bike before documentation takes place. Take photos of yourself and damaged equipment and send them to nobody else but your attorney. 7. Turn to a professional for advice: Expect complex legal issues after the accident. For this reason, you will need a bike accident attorney who understands this type of accidents. An attorney can: Represent you in a lawsuit Negotiate with the respective insurance companies, and Advice you on the next steps to undertake. Before communicating with anybody else, especially your insurance company, talk to your attorney first. Remember that whatever you said right after the accident can be used against you later on. Sometimes, all it takes is a letter from a law firm to the insurance company in order to resolve issues. Your attorney can also help you settle your injury case without having to go to trial. What Not to Do After a Cycling Accident: In the event of a crash, the person who has caused the crash is liable to pay you for damage through his insurance provider. This compensation would not just be restricted to medical fees, but also for destruction to property. However, this won’t be possible if you fail to document the damages. You can’t get a claim simply because there is no evidence. To get the best possible evidence, do nothing until everything is recorded and documented. Seeking help from a qualified and certified attorney can help you take these steps. If it is not possible for you to wait until all your equipment is fixed, make sure to take a record of all the damage that has been done thoroughly before starting to tinker with it. Your photos should be taken from multiple angles in order to prove before a court of law or an attorney, or the insurance agencies about the damages if it’s necessary. Talk to an Expert Today: You can always rely on Murphy's Law Cycling Accidents Brisbane to help you navigate the challenging legal issues that happen after the accident. An initial round of discussion with them is confidential and free.  Professionals who deal with such cases or have prior experience of them can help you with what you should do, and what you should avoid doing that will compromise your situation. The team’s accident lawyers will look after the administrative process and will help you gather the necessary evidence. Call now for a free case assessment. Read Also: Things About A Personal Injury Lawyer Along For The Ride: Passenger Rights In Vehicle Accidents

READ MOREDetails
Forex Scammers Use Complicated Jargon to Lure Victims

Forex Scammers Use Complicated Jargon To Lure Victims

Any technique intended to deceive traders and persuade investors that investing in the Forex market will yield big returns is referred to as a Forex scam. The foreign exchange market is essentially a zero-sum game in which one party profits while the other loses. By now, everyone is aware that investing online carries some risk. In the world of foreign exchange, this is especially true. Scammers who get confidence from the anonymity of the internet commit a lot of Forex scams online. To prevent financial disaster, it is essential to distinguish a scam from a real forex trading activity. Common Types Of Forex Scams Here are a few typical Forex scams to be aware of. Signal Sellers The signal seller scam is a fraud in which a person or business sells advice on which trades to undertake while stating that this advice is based on expert forecasts and will ensure profits for novice traders. For this service, they typically charge a daily, weekly, or monthly fee, but they do not provide any information that enables the trader to profit. In order to win the trader's trust, they typically have a ton of testimonials from purportedly reliable sources, but in practice, they do nothing to predict profitable trades. High Yield Investment Program Scam High-yield investment programs (HYIPs) are typically merely a type of Ponzi scheme where a high rate of return is guaranteed for a little initial investment into what is really a Forex fund. When there are no more participants in the scheme, the proprietors often close it down and seize all of the remaining funds. In reality, the early investors are being paid back from the funds created by the current investors, and a steady flow of new investors is needed to keep the funds flowing. Ponzi And Pyramid Schemes Forex pyramid schemes concentrate on luring new participants into investment clubs that promise to provide information and guidance for profitable forex trading. Members of these programs pay a subscription fee and are urged to find new members so they can gain a commission. Instead of actual forex trading earnings, this scam makes money from membership fees. Because you advance up the pyramid and 'earn' more money as new members join, this business model is known as a pyramid scheme. The leaders typically shut down the plan and pocket the entire sum of money when no new members can be attracted or when membership begins to decline. Fraudsters promote fictitious currency funds that promise a high rate of profit in a short period of time using Ponzi schemes. In order to provide the idea that the scam is succeeding, they typically only require a minimum initial payment and pay the first participants the promised profits. Then, these investors are urged to recruit their friends and relatives to join the investment program. Once enough people have contributed to the swindle, the con artists disappear and are nowhere to be seen. This leaves the investor with no money! How Can You Recognize Forex Scams? Watch out for these warning flags that can assist you in spotting a Forex trading scam and keep you from falling victim. Unsolicited offers: It's probably a fraud if you receive a call unexpectedly offering you a chance to invest in the Forex market. Never send the company your personal details or money if they ask you to. 'Risk-free' investing: Since there is always some risk involved in investing, any organization that claims to provide these chances can mostly be regarded as a scam. Unrealistic profits: One thing about Forex scams is the fact that in most cases, they have been seen to make promises of returns that are quite hefty on the initial investment you have made. These are too good to be true. Businesses promising instant wealth through such investments are probably scams. Time pressure: A company that tries to trick you into investing immediately is probably a scam. Some con artists will even provide perks or discounts to entice you to make an immediate investment. Advertisements on social media: An increasing number of con artists are promoting phony investment possibilities on social media. They frequently entice individuals to invest by showing them pictures and videos of expensive things. Taking your time is the best strategy for avoiding forex trading scams. Don't make impulsive decisions; instead, it is essential that you carefully weigh both the advantages as well as the disadvantages. It is not at all simple to find a trustworthy and helpful Forex broker, but the effort will pay off in the long term. Doing a Google search for a Forex broker or agency's name should be your initial move after discovering them. Look for user testimonials on reliable websites. Avoid using that service provider if there aren't any or if they seem fraudulent. You can also read the reviews of scams to see whether a Forex broker is actually as reputable in reality as they are advertised. Find out if the broker is the subject of any pending legal actions as well. What To Do If You Get Scammed? Scammers are often quite persuasive. They make calls, send emails, and text messages in an effort to obtain your money or private information. Additionally, they are skilled in what they do. Here's what you should do if you believe you've been scammed. If you made a payment to a fraudster, you can: Get in touch with your bank or credit/debit card provider. Inform the authorities in your area. If you disclose your login details to a scammer, you can: Make a new, secure password. If you're using the same password elsewhere, change it there as well. If a scam artist gains unauthorized entry to your computer, you can: Update the security software on your computer, run a scan, and remove any issues it finds.  Read Also: How Financial Trading can give you the Life you want Forex Trading Wisdom: Talk Yourself Out of Bad Trades CFD Trading: Everything You Need to Know in 2021

READ MOREDetails
Court

Why You Should Never Try to Defend Yourself in Court

After an arrest, some defendants may consider trying to represent themselves in court to save money. However, this is not going to work out well and could mean they not only end up convicted but receive the maximum penalties as well. It's not a good idea for any defendant to try to handle the court case on their own, Here are the reasons why you should never try to defend yourself in court: It's Too Easy to Make Incriminating Statements Defendants tend to hope they can talk their way out of an arrest; or convince a judge to drop the charges. However, while doing this, many will inadvertently say something that proves to the arresting officers or the judge that they're guilty. A lawyer, on the other hand, knows what to say to avoid incriminating statements. Ready to learn more about how a lawyer can help? You can find more at hopelefeber.com  now. There's Tons of Paperwork and Deadlines Court cases involve a ton of paperwork, all of which need to be filled out properly. And many different deadlines that must be followed. Even missing one part of a file or missing a deadline by a day can have devastating consequences, and it can be very difficult to keep up with everything. Lawyers have experience with this, however, and will make sure everything is filled out completely and no deadlines are missed. It's Hard to be Objective Defendants will find they have a hard time being objective about the case; which means they can't really look at it from the prosecutor's point of view or see it how a jury might see it. They're simply too close to the case; which means they can miss important information that could make a difference in how their case is handled. Rules of Evidence are Incredible Complex The rules of evidence must be followed, but aren't always. In some cases, this could mean the defendant can have evidence dismissed, which will help their case because there will be less evidence against them. However, the defendant won't necessarily understand the rules of evidence because they are incredibly complex. This could mean they miss out on a good way to fight the charges. Court Procedures Need to be Followed A failure to follow court procedures can have a devastating impact on a case. The defendant may understand the steps in the criminal process, but they won't know all of the procedures that have to be followed during each step. Missing something could mean they end up convicted of the crime and could impact their sentencing negatively. When it comes to criminal charges, trying to defend against them without help from a lawyer is never a good idea. There are too many potential mistakes that can be made that will leave the defendant with a worse outcome than they expected. Instead, it's always a good idea to work with an experienced lawyer. And to ensure the right help is obtained as early on in the legal process as possible. Read Also: Why Are Court Reporters Necessary? Dating versus Courtship: Which is right for you How to Choose the Best Murfreesboro Criminal Defense Attorney

READ MOREDetails