I was driving my car this past weekend on a four-lane road. I was riding in the right eastbound lane when another vehicle in the left eastbound lane attempted to change lanes and ran into the driver’s side of my car. Apparently, the driver of the other vehicle did not see my car. The driver of the other vehicle was not ticketed. I was taken to the hospital and will need more treatment. I have been told that I may not be able to bring a case against the other driver because he was not ticketed. Is this true?
No. Generally, the issuance or non-issuance of a traffic ticket is not admissible in a civil action. Michigan courts have held that the issuance or non-issuance of a traffic ticket is not relevant to whether or not the other driver was negligent. Thus, you can still bring a case against the other driver. And you can show that the other driver was negligent, whether or not he received a ticket.
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