What Is Fault?
Fault is when an entity intentionally or negligently fails to act reasonably, according to legal standards or one’s duty, resulting in harm to another person. This failure can arise from various factors such as ignorance, carelessness, negligence, or a lack of skill. If actions like not being aware, not taking proper precautions, disregarding others, or lacking necessary skills lead to injury to another person, they can all be considered as fault.
Legal scholar John C. Jeffries Jr. states, “Fault is the linchpin of tort liability.” Fault plays a crucial role in various aspects of law, including tort law (civil wrongs), contract disputes, and criminal law. Establishing fault is essential in legal proceedings to determine liability and to assess damages or penalties accordingly.
Fault forms the basis for legal liability and compensation. For example, in a car accident case, fault may be assigned based on factors like speeding, failure to yield, or distracted driving. For plaintiffs seeking damages, proving fault is essential to demonstrate that the defendant’s actions or negligence directly caused their injuries or losses. Conversely, defendants may argue mitigating circumstances or lack of fault to defend against legal claims.
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Defending Yourself After a Trucking Accident – Advice from Dan Munley, Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
While I’ve seen them often, it always pains me to see trucking and car accidents. The one that took place today on I-94 in Michigan City, Indiana is one of the worst semi-trailer accidents this lawyer has seen. According to NBC Chicago’s report of the accident, three deaths have already been confirmed. The crash involved over 15 semi-trailers (semi-trucks) and dozens of passenger vehicles, which were pinned underneath these large semi trucks. Many of the injured were taken to University of Indiana Health-LaPorte Hospital for treatment of injuries.
Sadly, many of these victim’s families are probably at the hospital right now, focused on their loved one’s safety, meanwhile, the law firms representing the insurance companies are likely already beginning to do everything they can to minimize compensation or reimbursement for pain and suffering. That includes making evidence disappear quickly. I know this because I’ve seen it done before in cases I’ve represented just like this. […]
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Who Can Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers Sue After a Bus Crash? The Answer May Surprise You
After a Pennsylvania Bus Accident, there are more possible parties that could be sued than you may think. Personal injury lawyer explains:
- What parties could be responsible?
- How does the number of parties involved in a lawsuit affect how much settlement money your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers could get for you?
- Do Personal Injury Lawyers in Pennsylvania charge you any initial fees?
Who can Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers sue after your bus crash?
After you or a loved one gets into an accident with a bus, or while riding in one, there are a number of possible parties that could be held responsible in your lawsuit.
Here’s a list of possible parties that Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers could sue:
- The Owner of the Bus: Potential owners of the bus that Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers could pursue in your lawsuit include; […]
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What Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers Will Tell You About Insurance Policies That Big Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About
Pennsylvania Law gives you two options for car accident insurance coverage: your insurance company won’t like one of them. A Personal injury lawyer from Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys explains:
- What’s the difference between a full tort and limited tort policy?
- How much do personal injury lawyers in Pennsylvania charge you to handle your car accident case?
- Do Personal Injury Lawyers in Pennsylvania charge up-front fees?
WATCH VIDEO: PENNSYLVANIA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS TALK ABOUT CAR ACCIDENTS:
Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers will advise you to choose “full tort” on your policy
When trying to get money after you get hurt in a car accident, Pennsylvania law provides two options:
Full Tort
or
Limited Tort
If you choose “Limited Tort” […]
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Snow and Frigid Temperatures Cause Dangerous Road Conditions in Pennsylvania
Snowy road conditions have already caused hundreds of accidents in Pennsylvania this winter, shutting down highways and resulting in deaths and many injuries. During a sudden heavy storm over the recent holidays, a chain reaction crash involving 35 vehicles closed down a section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Several tractor-trailers were mixed in the wreckage, which caused a 4-mile traffic jam. Ten people were taken to area hospitals.
According to a Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer, those same wintry conditions existed when more than 40 vehicles piled up in multiple crashes on I-78, closing the interstate for a time, and resulting in more than 60 injuries. State Police also reported that sudden snow squalls causing numerous accidents resulted in the Northeast Extension of the turnpike being closed on Christmas Eve from Clarks Summit to Allentown. Numerous accidents have also been reported on smaller roadways throughout Pennsylvania.
Advice from Pennsylvania personal injury attorney Julia Munley on what to do if you are in an accident. […]
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A Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer tells you what you should do right after a car accident
Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer: After you get into an accident, there are things that you can choose to DO and NOT DO right afterward that may affect your injury claim against the other driver’s insurance company.
A Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer will advise doing the following right after the accident takes place:
- Stay inside your vehicle unless it’s too dangerous to do so
- Turn on your hazard lights
- Call 911 even if the accident didn’t seem too bad
- Seek medical help for anyone involved in the accident if needed
- Don’t move any vehicles or alter the scene unless you have to
- Don’t leave the scene
- Write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of everybody involved in the accident, including witnesses
- Write down the names/badge numbers of police officers who come to investigate
- Take pictures of injures and damage
- DON’T admit fault
- Call your insurance company right away and let them know what happened
- DON’T talk about the accident with anyone except the police and your own insurance company. […]
