If another car hits your vehicle in Michigan, it’s usually not hard to figure out who was responsible for the accident. State law indicates that there must be a driver who is identified as being at fault.
However, if road debris hits your vehicle, liability can be more difficult to determine. Many questions arise from this type of unique situation, such as:
- Are other drivers responsible for accidents caused by road debris?
and:
- Can you take someone to court after a road debris accident?
Ultimately, it depends on the type of debris that hit your vehicle. If someone’s car hit a rock that smacked your vehicle, you might not be able to file a claim. It’s virtually impossible to prevent these types of car accidents because you can’t avoid every rock and pebble on the road. Some of those rocks and pebbles can cause a crack to form in your windshield. While you aren’t likely to receive any compensation for this, you will want to connect with your insurance company and get the crack fixed before it gets worse.
However, you might want to call an attorney if debris fell off another person’s vehicle, causing an auto o truck accident. This could include loose cargo, lumber, gravel, and barrels falling off the back of a truck. It also includes parts of the vehicle, like a spare tire falling off a vehicle and hitting someone else’s car, or something that was attached to the hood of another car improperly, such as a cargo holder or bike.
Other drivers aren’t responsible for road debris like rocks and pebbles, but they are responsible for looking after their vehicles and securing their cargo before they get on the road. If not secured properly, any of the aforementioned items can cause serious issues to you or other passengers in your vehicle. As a result, if debris from another person’s vehicle hits your car, you could potentially file a claim with their insurance company.
Another question we often get is: how do you know if you can file an insurance claim?
If you’re not sure if you can file a claim or not, talk to an experienced auto accident attorney or truck accident attorney at Bashore Green first. They could help you determine liability and figure out whether the other driver was responsible for the accident.
You might need to review the evidence and talk to witnesses to determine that the other driver was at fault. If they were, your attorney could help you file a claim with their insurance company and receive a payout.
For any questions, contact the personal injury and auto accident law firm at Bashore Green at 248-209-6009.