25 Shocking Facts About Motor Vehicle Litigation
Motor Vehicle Legal Terms
The laws governing motor vehicles vary between states. In general the law, it assumes that the vehicle is being operated with its owner's permission.
Laws enhancing penalties such as making revocation automatic and targeting social hosts have varying effects on mortality rates. Mandatory education, treatment for alcohol, and interlock devices have little effect.
Legal Definitions
The laws that govern the legal definitions of motor vehicles are formulated and regulated at the state level. The various federal definitions used for national requirements for fuel economy and licensing standards for commercial vehicle drivers serve mostly to serve administrative purposes, and do not apply to states determining their own registration classifications. These classifications for vehicle registrations determine whether a driver must be granted a specific license to operate certain kinds of vehicles.
The state laws define terms such as "automobile," "light trucks" and others. As an example light truck, it is any motor vehicle that has an rated capacity of less than 7,500 pounds. This excludes panel delivery trucks as well as pickup trucks. This is any vehicle or combination that is designed to carry passengers or property within its own structure. This includes manufactured homes and trailers.
A wheel chair is a device with wheels, used primarily by those who have physical disabilities that make them are unable to walk as pedestrians. motor vehicle accident lawyer st cloud moped is a motor vehicle with not more than three wheels in contact with the ground. It travels at speeds of no more than 35 miles per hour.
A pedicab vehicle is one that is propelled by an operator sitting on it. The owner of an automobile is the person who is the legal owner.
Traffic Laws
Typically, each state has its own set of motor vehicle laws that cover everything from the registration process to the insurance requirements. The statutes also cover the kinds of vehicles subject to the law. While certain laws are fairly similar across states, others vary significantly. For instance, there are laws that restrict the number of people one can carry in a pedicab. There are laws that prohibit reckless driving on certain kinds of roads, for instance, a parking lot.
If you violate these laws, you may be punished with a fine and/or a penalty. The penalties vary from being able to have your driver's license suspended to being required to attend traffic school.
The law that governs speed limits on roads is among the most important laws states have. In New York, for example, it states that the speed limit for a commercial vehicle is similar to that of an automobile.
It also defines the term "motor vehicle" as any vehicle, carriage, or any other device that moves mechanically and is used on the highway to transport property or people or for commercial uses. The law does not apply to trailers, coaches and semitrailers, all terrain and snowmobile vehicles motorized mobility assist systems used by disabled people, and self-propelled corn and harvesting machines for hay.
Insurance
A motor vehicle insurance policy is a contract which protects the insurer against financial loss from liability for bodily harm or death or property damage caused by a third-party due to the ownership, operation, maintenance or use of an insured vehicle. It may also protect against physical damage to the vehicle. It must include the name and address of the named insured as along with the coverage provided by the policy. It also includes the amount of the premium and the time for the duration of the policy in effect, and the maximum amount of responsibility. It must also contain an agreement or a statement that the insurance is provided in accordance with the coverage specified in the policy, in relation to injuries to the body, property damage, and is subject to all the provisions of this chapter.
The wording in the motor vehicle policy may be confusing to anyone, and Duncanville law firms typically recommend that a person read the sample policy to understand the terms. One of the biggest areas of confusion is the definition of "motor vehicle." The phrase is used often in statutes governing registration of vehicles as well as financial responsibility laws.
Examples of coverage under the motor vehicle policy are commercial auto insurance that covers vehicles used for commercial establishments, business activities, employment or occupations that are primarily for profit; automobile liability insurance which includes MP and PIP, and uninsured motorist and underinsured driver coverage (UM/UIM). This kind of insurance is required by several states.
Permissive Use
If someone other than a named insured or a family member drives your vehicle and is involved in getting involved in an accident, it is important to understand how insurance coverage works in these circumstances. This is referred to as permissive use. The specific terms of your insurance policy might vary, but most large insurance companies offer this type of coverage.
However, it is important to remember that the person driving your car must have your permission in order to be held accountable for any damages. Permission may be expressed or implied, and it typically does not need to be written down.
In determining if there is implied consent, courts will look at the relationship of the parties, their prior conduct and use of the vehicle as well as the circumstances surrounding a specific driving event. A court will also look at whether any restrictions were imposed on the scope of permissive use, and if even one minor deviation from time, place, and usage restrictions of the original permission would violate the restrictions.
Keep in mind that adding a driver to your insurance could result in your premium going up since it makes the vehicle more risky to insure. It is important to think about your options before giving your vehicle over to someone else. Contact Jerry for a no-cost insurance quote and discuss the policy's terms.