A car accident occurs between two consumer vehicles, a consumer vehicle and a pedestrian, bicyclist, or manmade structure. Incidents with commercial trucks and motorcycles are not, by strict definition, car accidents.

In motor vehicle accidents, legal claims usually arise from allegations of negligence. Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care, in this case, when operating a motor vehicle. Common types of negligence contributing to automobile accidents include:

• Disregarding traffic signs and/or signals
• Failure to signal when turning
• Disregarding the speed limit (driving faster or slower)
• Disregarding road conditions
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (illegal, legal, prescription, or over-the-counter)

If negligence is proved, the guilty party may have to pay for damages or injuries to persons or property that resulted from his or her negligence. The injured party is known as the plaintiff and the alleged offender is called the defendant. Three things need to be proved in such a lawsuit:

• That the defendant was negligent
• That the negligence was the cause of the accident
• That the accident was the cause of the plaintiff’s injuries or damages to the plaintiff’s property.

Negligence is not the only cause of motor vehicle accidents. Other causes, unrelated to the conduct of the drivers, including:

• Manufacturing defects (in which case the manufacturer or supplier may be liable for resulting injuries and damages)
• Defects in signs, traffic signals, road maintenance, road lighting, etc.

In these cases, government entities may be held responsible. Special laws apply to these cases.