Installer liable for accident?

no... cuz the driver chose to watch video when hes driving. and it is his request for the install.

This question is same as "he was talking on the phone and crashed, can he sue the telephone company for the distraction?"

If the installer bypassed a built-in safety lockout they certainly share in the liability. Having a video device visible to the driver is against the law in my state and I am sure many states also, if not all. As a professional installer, they would have violated the law and therefor should face charges.

The Car Audio Shop should be held accountable for their mistake and either re-install the equipment the correct way or give a refund. The driver should be held responsible for the accident - they are the one who was watching tv, not the road as they should have been.

The audio shop is not responsible for how someone uses their equipment. It's the driver's fault for turning on the idiot box while driving. Just because it's there doesn't mean you HAVE to use it. Just like many cars have a limit of 85-140 mph...that doesn't give you the right to go that fast.

Should they be liable? Hell no. The real question is whether a runaway jury or activist judge will find liability on the part of the installer, and the unfortunate answer is that it's not unlikely these days. It seems people would rather blame inanimate objects than the individual who was truly at fault.

certainly the guy who installed the gear should be made to answer some questions and possibly held accountable for his part, but the driver is ultimately responsible for his own actions. I would be really sad to hear that the installer was held criminally responsible and the stupid A** driver walks away with a mega settlement.

It depends on the state laws. If what he did was against any state DMV laws about placing a video unit in drivers view then yes. In the day of neglegence law suits every one is sued even if they are not guilty of doing anything wrong. The local Bar association usually offers free legal advice to people who call with questions like this.

I know stereo shops that have you sign a waiver of liability if they install monitors in your vehicle if they are within view of the driver. This is a distraction and that is why it is illegal in some states.

If he illegally bypassed a safety lock, he might be in trouble. BUT, was HE driving the car?????

But if the driver clearly was at fault, how the f)*&%)*%) can he pass the blame onto the installer???

No. People need to be responsible for their own actions. The same people that would sue for such a thing would probably riot if the government took away their right to have video players in their cars.