Motor vehicle accidents, including SUV accidents, may happen anywhere, especially in busy areas like Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Readers should understand that any type of motor vehicle accident is governed by the law of negligence. Accordingly, if you were involved in an SUV accident, you may be thinking that you are entitled to awards and damages that can be used to pay for medical expenses and other losses.
In most motor vehicle accidents, those involved can tell who caused the crash. For example, if a speeding drunk driver struck an SUV and the driver of the latter had not time to avoid the collision, the drunk driver is likely to be responsible for the damages and for compensation to the injured parties. However, most states like Oklahoma use comparative negligence theories in determining liability in motor vehicle accidents. Comparative negligence means that each party’s negligence is measured by the authorities. For example, if you had sustained injuries following the collision and you decided to seek $50,000 damages to the other party and the jury ruled that you were 20 percent at fault in the accident, then you may only receive a $40,000 settlement.
You also may not recover damages if you are 51 percent or above at fault in the crash. It is important to check state laws to learn if you can be entitled to damages following a collision. If the insurers are willing to settle, you may first calculate your total losses before accepting the settlement. By doing so, you will be able to ask for a higher compensation based on your incurred losses.
If you want to know more about how to obtain compensation, you may speak with a knowledgeable professional who handles similar cases. This professional may be able to help you with your concerns.
Source: Findlaw.com, “Comparative negligence,” accessed on Aug. 21, 2014
Source: Findlaw.com, “Comparative negligence,” accessed on Aug. 21, 2014
