We all give family members or friends a lift every now and then. Most of the time, these rides are safe and uneventful. Sometimes, however, passengers can become rowdy and distracting. This raises the question: could a passenger ever be held responsible for distracting a driver and causing an accident? Get the answer to this question below.
Who’s Responsible When a Rowdy Passenger Causes a Car Crash?
Driving requires all three forms of a driver’s attention: visual, manual, and cognitive. There are several activities, including using a smartphone, eating and drinking, and more, that can divert one or all forms of a driver’s attention and contribute to a car crash.
One specific situation is when a rowdy passenger distracts a driver and contributes to an accident. While it may seem reasonable that the distracting passenger could be held liable for the car accident, this is rarely the case. Virtually all of the time, the driver of the at-fault vehicle will be held liable for any car crash they are involved in.
This is because it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure the environment inside their vehicle is a safe one for driving. Drivers must ask their passengers to quiet down or remain calm in order to avoid potential distractions and crashes.
However, there may be specific situations in which a passenger could be held liable for a car accident. One such situation is if a passenger deliberately grabs the steering wheel and maneuvers the vehicle into an accident.
It’s important to note that such situations can be complicated and require the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney. If you have been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, our Mississippi personal injury attorneys are here to help. We have helped countless clients recover fair compensation after serious accidents, and we’re prepared to do the same for you.
