Comparative Negligence and Motor Vehicle Accidents in Ventura, California – What Does California’s Comparative Negligence Law Mean for Your Ventura Car Accident Case?
One of the things that is true about car accidents in Ventura is that it is not always the case that one person alone is one hundred percent responsible for causing an accident. For example, a Ventura car accident victim may have been rear-ended by a driver that was distracted by their cell phone, but the victim was not wearing a seatbelt, exacerbating their injuries. Another example might be a case where a pedestrian victim was hit by a drunk driver but was jaywalking when the accident occurred. In both scenarios, the victims of the car accident may be partially at fault for causing their own injuries. But what happens when a Ventura car accident victim is partly at fault for causing their own injuries? Can a Ventura car accident victim that is partially at fault recover any compensation under California personal injury laws? We answer those questions here.
Comparative Negligence in a Ventura Car Accident Case – When More than One Party is at Fault
Under California comparative negligence laws, it is possible for more than one person to be found at fault in a Ventura car accident. This means that even if a Ventura car accident victim was partially responsible for their car accident injuries, they can still bring a case for compensation. If the victim is successful with the car accident case, however, the amount of compensation will be reduced in proportion to how much the victim was at fault for causing their own injuries. For example, in the above scenario where a drunk driver rear-ended the victim, but the victim was not wearing their seat belt, a determination may be made that the victim is also responsible for causing their own injuries. In this case, the victim would still be able to be awarded compensation, but that compensation would be reduced by the amount of fault attributable to the victim.
Legal Help with Your Ventura Car Accident Case
Comparative negligence is an issue that pops up often in Ventura car accident cases. Accordingly, it is a good idea to speak with an experienced Ventura car accident lawyer about your case as soon as possible after a serious car accident occurs, to learn about your rights and options. Every Ventura car accident case is unique, and whether comparative negligence applies in your case depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the case.
The experienced Ventura car accident lawyers at Zavala Law, PC are here to help victims of serious car accidents get compensation for their injuries and losses caused by other drivers. If you need legal help with your Ventura car accident case, contact Zavala Law, PC and speak with a lawyer today.
