The concept of negligence is a doctrine that serves as the basis for determining whether a defendant is liable for the plaintiff’s injuries. When a person is deemed negligent, it means that he or she was behaving in a reckless or careless way. The standard definition of negligence in the context of car accidents is failing to drive a motor vehicle with the same level of reasonable care and skill that a prudent driver would use when faced with the same roadway conditions. This standard takes into account factors like weather, roadway hazards, and heavy traffic. A driver can be negligent in many different ways when operating a motor vehicle. Some of the most obvious examples are situations in which the defendant violates a traffic law at the time of the crash. This can involve speeding, running a red light, or driving while intoxicated. Evidence of a traffic law violation can be used to help show that the defendant was driving negligently. Other common examples of negligence include texting or talking on the phone while driving, driving while excessively fatigued, or engaging with passengers in a distracting manner. It can be difficult to find evidence of the defendant’s negligent conduct, especially if it did not involve a traffic violation, so you should entrust an experienced attorney with this task. Prompt investigation is also a key to proving negligence claims. Traffic cameras and security cameras often record accidents, but these recordings will be erased if they are not collected quickly. Our firm has, on several occasions, even recovered videos from MBTA busses. Accident scenes may include construction projects or road defects, and these should be documented as quickly as possible. Witnesses need to be interviewed while their memories are fresh. Our Massachusetts personal injury firm focuses on rapid investigation to preserve vital evidence.