General Negligence

Our complicated modern world is able to function based on an expectation that individuals and businesses will behave in a reasonable matter. When individuals and business interests fail to exercise the degree of care and caution that is expected and cause injuries or property damage, a legal action for negligence may arise. In such claims, an injured person must prove that a negligent party’s action or lack of action was beyond what a reasonable person in the same position would have done.

In general negligence lawsuits, an injured party must prove that an injury or damages were caused when the defendant’s actions or inactions violated a duty to the plaintiff, and that the injury or damages were a foreseeable consequence of those actions. For example, a truck driver or motorist has a duty to other motorists on the road to follow laws and drive responsibly. The driver would violate that duty by running a red light or driving recklessly, and it would be foreseeable that a crash could result from such actions. If a motorist were injured in such a crash, the driver would be liable for the negligent actions that caused the wreck.

Other scenarios involving negligence include:

An injured person is eligible to receive compensation for injuries and property damage if the damages were caused by negligence. Compensation can be awarded for the injury but also for property, pain and suffering and loss of income.

Gross negligence occurs when a party’s actions or inactions are so egregious that it demonstrates a substantial lack of concern for whether an injury will result. The negligence lawyers at Farrar & Ball have experience proving gross negligence and obtaining punitive damages beyond compensation for medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering and other damages. Such punitive or exemplary damages are meant to punish the responsible party for their grossly negligent behavior and to set an example. Our trial team knows from experience that punitive damages for gross negligence are sometimes the only way to get the attention of negligent corporate interests.

To learn more about our experience with negligence lawsuits, contact Farrar & Ball.

Video & Visuals

Tire Demo without Nylon Wedge

This video animation demonstrates how steel belts inside a tire without a nylon wedge can generate dangerous amounts of friction. Learn More

Michelin Tire Recommendations

Corporate tire industry video documents safety concerns when two new tires are mounted on back of vehicle. Learn More

Tire Demo with Belt Wedge

This demonstrative evidence video animation is used to show jurors the components of a tire and illustrates how tires without “belt wedges” can generate dangerous friction between the steel belts. Learn More

Modern Tire Diagram

This demonstrative evidence image shows a cross section of a modern tire with liners, belts, nylon overlay and undertread. Learn More

Replacing Tires Guidelines

Corporate tire industry video explains safety and performance issues when only two tires are replaced on a vehicle, and how vehicle handling is affected by placement of tires. Learn More

Tread Separation Test

Video created by Carr Engineering Inc. to document a tread separation test with a Ford Explorer. Test shows that even an expert driver with knowledge that a tread separation event is imminent still cannot maintain control of the vehicle. Learn More

Tire Demo with Nylon Over Wrap

A video animation used as demonstrative evidence to illustrate for jurors the components of a tire, including belts, liners and tread base. This animation demonstrates how two belt liners rubbing together can create friction that leads to tire failure. Learn More

Ford Explorer Crash Testing

Short video documenting an SUV on a test track flipping and rolling, then crashing into a guard rail. Learn More

Nylon Safety Strips

Demonstrative evidence illustration used to explain to jurors the components of a tire designed with nylon safety strips in addition to steel belts. Learn More

Nylon Safety Belt

Side-by-side demonstrative evidence used to explain to jurors the differences between a cap ply tire with a nylon safety belt compared to a traditional steel-belted tire. Learn More

Mercury Mountaineer Tire Testing

Demonstrative evidence showing three different camera angles of a 2001 Mercury Moutaineer performing a controlled maneuver with a defective tire. Learn More

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