If another driver causes a car accident, they may immediately get out of their vehicle and give an excuse. Maybe they say that it is the fault of their GPS unit. The GPS told them to turn, so they were just following those instructions, and they never meant to cause the car accident.
But is this a viable excuse? Can someone actually blame their GPS for the car accident, or is that driver still responsible? What does this mean for you if you were injured in the crash?
Liability stays with the driver
As a general rule, yes, the driver is still responsible and is liable for the car accident. The GPS is a tool that they can use, just like a paper map would have been 30 years ago. But the driver has to use that tool safely and responsibly, and they are still in charge of the decisions that they make behind the wheel.
For example, the GPS may be outdated. It could tell the driver to turn in the wrong direction down a one-way street, simply because that particular street was a two-way road when the GPS software was written. But it is up to the driver to realize that they are getting inaccurate instructions from their GPS device, to read the appropriate road signs and to avoid causing a wrong-way accident.
Seeking financial compensation
Have you been injured by a driver who made a significant error behind the wheel and struck your car? You may deserve financial compensation for lost wages, medical bills and other related costs.
