When Mississippi motorists are involved in an accident that was caused by failing brakes, they may wonder who will be held responsible. Although the driver whose vehicle did not brake may be held liable on certain situations, there are a few other circumstances where that may not be the case.

When drivers fail to brake and collide with the vehicle in front of them, they will be held at least partially responsible for the accident. Investigators may look at the vehicle’s black box to determine what speed the vehicle was traveling when the accident occurred and whether or not the driver attempted to brake.

In some cases, mechanical issues could cause the brakes to fail. This occurs when a driver hits the brake pedal only to find that the vehicle will not stop. In most cases, however, drivers, are responsible for ensuring that their vehicle is road safe. This means that they are required to keep their brakes in working conditions at all times. In rare cases, a defect in the vehicle’s brake system could occur, resulting in a crash. When this happens, the manufacturer could be held liable.

Rear-end car accidents can result in serious injuries to occupants in the vehicle that has been hit from behind. Although it is usually assumed that the trailing driver was at fault, this is not necessarily the case. An attorney representing an injured victim will review a variety of evidence, including the accident investigation report and the vehicle software, in order to pinpoint financial responsibility.

Some Mississippi motorists may be looking forward to the wide introduction of self-driving cars, and these are expected to make highways safer. Experts say autonomous cars will significantly reduce the incidence of accidents caused by human error, but there will still be potential for other types of incidents. For example, software in a car might malfunction and cause a crash. Safety features, such as collision avoidance systems, might fail.

When accidents happen in cars driven by people, investigations focus on which driver may have been at fault, or if both were at fault. They might look at whether a driver was speeding or ran a red light. When they happen in self-driving cars, the focus may be on the manufacturers or the software developers.

The auto insurance industry is likely to change in response to these changes. The focus will shift from identifying the responsibility of drivers in accidents to looking at product liability.

However, until this happens, the main cause of car accidents will probably continue to be human error. Many accidents are caused by distracted driving or other actions that may not result in a criminal charge, such as driving while fatigued. An individual who is injured in such an accident might expect compensation from insurance, but sometimes, the compensation offered is low. The injured person might then be able to file a lawsuit against the driver even if the driver was not charged in the accident or if the driver faced charges and was found not guilty. In a successful civil lawsuit, it will be necessary to present a preponderance of evidence to demonstrate that the driver was negligent. This is a lower burden of proof than proving a case beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the requirement in a criminal trial.

Many Mississippi residents lose sleep when the clocks shift forward for daylight saving time. While one hour of lost sleep does not seem like it would be a big change, it can actually prevent people from being as sharp and quick-minded as they normally are. In fact, there is actually evidence that daylight saving time could cause an increase in traffic accidents.

In one study, which was conducted in 1999, researchers analyzed fatal car accident data from a 21-year period. The results showed a significant increase in the number of road deaths on the Monday after daylight saving time begins. It was presumed that the increase in road deaths occurred on Monday and not on Sunday as many people can sleep in on the Sunday daylight saving time begins. Since then, other studies have found similar results.

Although an increase in road deaths has been found, the real takeaway from the studies is that a loss in sleep can have an effect on drivers. If a person is already chronically sleep-deprived, losing another hour of sleep can be detrimental to a driver’s ability to operate their vehicle safety. Drivers should focus on maintaining a healthy sleeping schedule as much as possible.

If a fatigued or otherwise negligent driver causes a car accident, a person injured in the accident could potentially seek compensation for the damages they sustained. A personal injury attorney may submit evidence that shows that the other driver was responsible for the accident, such as the police report and eyewitness testimony. The attorney may also gather other evidence that demonstrates the severity of the injuries that were suffered.