Who is liable and what is the ruling if a road accident occurs due to negligence?

Summary

Road users must obey traffic rules, and any use of the road that causes harm is forbidden. A negligent driver is responsible for loss of life or property, and where a life is lost may be subject to diyat and kafarah. Diyat goes to the victim's heirs unless they grant forgiveness, while kafarah is freeing a believing slave or, failing that, fasting two consecutive months. A driver who is not negligent is not at fault, a third party at fault bears responsibility, and owners of domestic animals bear losses caused by their failure to control them.

Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.