![]() ![]() I mean, they wanted people to be able to drive cars, and they wanted drivers to not have to bear an extraordinary burden of responsibility such that driving would become unattractive.Īt the same time, they didn't want reckless drivers creating a bad image for the entire industry, so the auto industry generally favored tough penalties for reckless drivers. ![]() NORTON: For the auto industry, it was a complicated thing. And when they got hurt, it was to the employer's advantage legally to call it an accident.ĬORNISH: So then the automobile comes along, and how does this industry embrace the concept? All kinds of machinery like that could be very dangerous, and people got hurt. A lot of them were heavy machinery, belts turning at high speeds, lathes. NORTON: Well, if you go back more than a hundred years ago, manufacturing was big, and manufacturing jobs were dangerous jobs. Who was behind it, and what were they trying to accomplish? And you've found that this preference for accident was actually pushed in a public awareness campaign or campaigns in the early 1900s. And I think they see it as absolving people of responsibility for their actions.ĬORNISH: And today we're very much used to hear and using the word accident. NORTON: Well, there's a lot of disagreement about that, but I think the advocates say that the word accident has a connotation that it's a chance event, something that's bound to happen it's inevitable it's not something that could ever be completely prevented. Welcome to the program.ĬORNISH: Before we get to this history, what's the distinction between an accident and a crash that these safety advocates feel needs to be made? He's a historian at the Department of Engineering and Society at the University of Virginia. The New York Times reports this reverses nearly a century of cultural thinking.Īnd to get some historical perspective on this clash of words, we've called Peter Norton. Already places like Nevada, New York City and San Francisco have swapped the word crash for accident in their laws and policies. Safety advocates want you to call it a car crash. If you elect to communicate with the firm, or any of its attorneys, through this web site, do not transmit any information about any matter (and particularly not any confidential information) that may involve you until the firm has agreed to represent you, and you have received confirmation of that fact in the form of a written engagement letter.When you see two cars collide, what do you call it? You might say it's a car accident. Transmission of information from this site is not intended to create, and its receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship with Bausch Law Group or any of its individual attorneys or personnel. We do not promise or guarantee, however, that the information is correct, complete or up-to-date, and Internet subscribers and online readers should not act based upon this information without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted to practice in your location. We intend to make every attempt to keep this information current. It is not intended to seek professional employment in any state where lawyers in the firm are not admitted to practice, or in any state where this web site would not comply with applicable requirements concerning advertisements and solicitations. It is not intended to create or promote an attorney-client relationship and does not constitute and should not be relied upon as legal advice. The information provided on this site is offered purely for informational purposes. While investigating the issue who caused the accident, insurances will pay attention to the following things: the credibility of each driver, the statements of the neutral witnesses (if there are any), the physical evidence (what kind of damages each car sustained and if the property damage is consistent with your side of the story), and the police report. So, most likely, this case will go 50% - 50% route, meaning, your insurance will take care of your damages, and the other driver's insurance will take care of her. Because your insurance has a fiduciary duty to trust your side of the story (unless all other evidence point at you being liable), they will not accept the blame for the accident. ![]() Both insurances will take their insureds statements and will do their investigation. It's hard to prove how the accident really happened when there is no independent eye witnesses. Unfortunately, word vs word car accidents happen all the time. ![]()
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