Civil Liability towards Injuries Caused by Traffic Accidents

Damages and serious injuries caused by traffic accidents are increasing day by day. Therefore, it is perceived that there is a pressing need for concrete and specific laws on how to compensate for the loss most appropriately.In accordance with the 1347/1968 insurance law, the owner of a land vehicle is obligated to have insurance to take the responsibility to compensate for damages caused by traffic accidents. Consequently, the owner of the vehicle is, in principle, responsible for the damages caused by traffic accidents unless he/she proves the existence of a factor that separates the owner from direct responsibility towards injuries. According to the same law, the injured party need not prove the guilt of the owner of the vehicle. Furthermore, other provisions under the Islamic punishment law of Iran, related to the compensation for injuries caused by traffic accidents, exclusively take the driver into consideration, finding him responsible for compensation on the basis of the type of the vehicle.Ultimately, the responsibility of the driver of a motor vehicle can affect the responsibility of the vehicle owner.The present article analyzes the responsibility of the motor vehicle owner to compensate for damages caused by traffic accidents in accordance with the law of Iran. It also conducts a concise comparative study of the law of France, Egypt, and the common law in this respect.