A motor vehicle accident can happen in the blink of an eye. Tragically, car accidents are one of the leading causes of death and personal injury in the United States. However, while the law cannot provide amends for the loss of a loved one or the emotional toll that an accident can take, it can nonetheless provide money damages.

Most motor vehicle accidents do not happen unless someone is negligent. In the case of car accidents, negligence is the failure of one or more people to exercise the standard of care that a reasonable person would take. For instance, speeding or otherwise reckless driving is an example of negligent conduct. Also, drinking and driving is another example of negligent conduct.

To receive compensation for a car accident, a few things must be shown. First, it must be proven that some other person was negligent. This may include not only another driver, but it could include a passenger or even someone who is not present at the scene of the accident. For example, a bartender that allows for someone to become grossly intoxicated at a bar may be responsible for any car accident that the intoxicated person subsequently causes.

After showing that someone else was negligent or careless, it must be shown that their negligence or carelessness caused the accident. This means that even if someone is driving with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit, they may not be a liable for a car accident if that accident was caused by another driver who ran a red light.

If someone is found to be negligent and it is further found that their negligence caused the car accident, then it must finally be shown that the car accident caused harm. Harm may include not only personal harm, but also damage to a vehicle or even emotional pain and suffering. Indeed, as long as money damages can be shown, then it is probable that the car accident caused harm.

In some cases, it may well be that more than one person is negligent for the car accident. In these cases, negligence is sometimes apportioned as to fault. Nonetheless, if you or a loved one is the victim of a car accident and did not cause the car accident, then full compensation for the accident can be sought against any negligent party.

As this area of law can be quite complex, those in the Clearwater area who are the victims of a car accident through no fault of their own should strongly consider meeting with a Clearwater personal injury attorney or a Clearwater car accident attorney before filing a claim for compensation. The Florida judicial system has a language all its own, and successfully navigating this system often requires a deep and extensive knowledge of the law. However, with the assistance of a Clearwater personal injury attorney or a Clearwater car accident attorney, it may be possible to secure a favorable result and obtain the money damages to compensate for the harm caused by the negligence of another.