Who Is Liable for Your Accident in Palm Beach County?
One moment, you’re enjoying a beautiful day on the beach. The sun is shining, the sand is hot, and maybe you’re thinking about taking a swim. The next moment, you’re hurt, and someone else is trying to avoid responsibility for your Palm Beach County accident.
So what can you do when someone else injures you? You may be the plaintiff in the courtroom, but you need to know who’s responsible before you file a claim. Luckily, that’s where a lawyer can step in. When you’re suffering for someone else’s mistakes, reach out to your lawyer for guidance.
Who Caused the Accident?
One of the simplest ways to determine who’s at fault is to determine who caused the accident. In many cases, the at-fault party was the person who was careless and hurt you.
That can be anyone, from a Palm Beach driver who’s too busy texting to watch the road to a person who assaulted or abused you. When someone directly causes an injury, they may be held liable for the damage they caused.
When Employers Are Liable
But not every claim is so simple. Let’s say you were hit by a car, only to discover the driver was at work. They may be a delivery driver, for example, so they were on the clock when they injured you.
When this happens, the driver may not be the liable party for your lawsuit. Their employer may be financially liable for your injuries. This doctrine, called vicarious liability, states that employers are responsible when an employee injures someone in the scope of their job.
This applies to other types of injuries, like medical malpractice or nursing home abuse. Let’s say a nurse injured you during your stay in a hospital. While the nurse may be responsible for hurting you, the hospital or doctor group may be the actual defendant at your trial because of vicarious liability.
Indirect Causes of Accidents
Sometimes, your injuries may not have been directly caused by another person. You may have instead lost control of your car, for example, because of a defect in your car. Or your accident may be the fault of a road defect, like a pothole. Who’s responsible for your accident when you were the only person involved?
Your accident may have been caused by someone acting carelessly, even if they weren’t there. Manufacturers are responsible for making their products reasonably safe. If your brakes fail, then, it may be the manufacturer’s responsibility. In other cases, you may have been hurt because the Florida Department of Transportation failed to repair a road defect.
That applies to more than car accidents. Let’s say you slipped and fell in a store. A store employee may have been negligent and failed to warn you or clean up the spill, but the property owner is ultimately liable for your injuries.
Call an Attorney to Identify the At-Fault Party
A serious injury can be confusing, not to mention the pain and suffering you were put through because of the accident. Someone was careless, and now, you need help holding them accountable for their actions. But you may be unsure who’s responsible for your injuries, let alone how to hold them accountable for their actions.
At The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo, we know it’s tough to identify the at-fault party and get compensated without help. Your lawyer is here to help you act as the plaintiff and get duly compensated when you take advantage of our free consultations. Give us a call at 561-659-6366, or fill out the online contact form below.
