Causes of Accidents - Human Factors

All drivers need to operate their cars in a safe and reasonable manner. People do not always do this, however, and human factors that result in unsafe driving are the main cause of car accidents. If you were injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver, you should contact a knowledgeable New Hampshire car accident attorney to discuss your options for seeking compensation from the responsible party. The car accident lawyers at Peter Thompson and Associates have over 60 years of combined experience representing residents of New Hampshire who have suffered harm in accidents caused by another driver. We will work hard to assist you in pursuit of damages for your injuries.

A variety of human factors can cause accidents. The laws of New Hampshire require all drivers to maintain safe speeds, maintain a safe distance from any car in front of them, and obey traffic control devices to ensure the safety of other drivers and passengers. Additionally, the law prohibits drivers from operating their vehicles if they have consumed drugs or alcohol in excess of the legal limit. A failure to abide by these laws is an error of judgment that commonly causes accidents. In other cases, drivers may simply lack experience driving, or they may fail to recognize that their age or health issues hamper their ability to drive safely. Even competent drivers can become distracted at times, and failing to pay attention for even a few seconds can cause an accident.

Whether a driver engages in intentionally reckless behavior or is unaware of his or her driving deficiencies, any driver who causes a car accident due to a failure to drive in a safe manner should be held liable for the damages caused by the accident. The majority of lawsuits arising out of car accidents are pursued on the theory that the negligent actions of one of the drivers caused the accident to occur. In New Hampshire, to recover damages on the theory that the other driver’s negligence caused the accident, you must show that the other driver owed you a duty to drive in a safe and reasonable manner, but he or she breached the duty in some way, and the breach caused the accident. You must also demonstrate that the accident caused the property damage and injuries that you allegedly sustained.

A police report documenting the accident, eyewitness accounts, photographs, and surveillance footage can be important pieces of evidence that can help you show that the other driver drove in a negligent manner. An experienced car accident attorney can conduct discovery to obtain any information needed to support your claim.

Car accidents often result in both property damage and injuries. If you suffered harm due to an accident, you may be able to recover compensation for any economic damages sustained. For example, you might be able to recover the cost of repairing any property damage and the cost of any past and future medical treatment. If you were married when the accident happened, your spouse may be entitled to loss of consortium damages. In addition to recovering damages for any economic losses caused by the accident, you may be able to recover compensation for the pain and suffering caused by the accident. If you were injured in a car accident, it is important to act quickly, since any lawsuit seeking compensation for damages sustained in a car accident must be filed within three years of the date of the accident under New Hampshire law. Therefore, you should seek the assistance of an experienced attorney as soon as possible to help you formulate a plan to pursue damages.

The attorneys at Peter Thompson and Associates are adept at litigating car accident cases and have the knowledge and experience to assist you in your pursuit of damages following a car accident caused by human factors. We pride ourselves on achieving a high rate of success and a history of successful verdicts. We have offices in Bedford, Nashua, Portsmouth, and Manchester, and we assist injured individuals throughout New Hampshire. Contact us at 800.804.2004 or via our online form to schedule a free appointment.