Determining car accident fault isn’t always easy. Drivers know there’s a wide array of factors involved in accidents, and it’s important to know when you’re being taken advantage of.
With over six million car accidents annually, and nearly 200,000 occurring in Milwaukee, there’s a fair chance you’ll find yourself in an accident at some point in time.
Knowing how to determine who’s at-fault can save you a headache and a significant financial burden. Here’s a guide to help.
Why Does ‘Fault’ Matter?
First and foremost, if you’re in an accident and are unsure who is at fault, do not identify yourself as the one causing the accident.
Why? Because the concept of ‘fault’ is critical in establishing a legal record for the incident. Identifying yourself as the culprit when you don’t have all the information is a tough hole to dig out of.
How to Determine Fault
Sometimes it’s easy to discern who is at-fault. If it’s a red light, someone rear-ends you and there’s a camera there recording it all, then it’s a done deal.
Or so you may think. Fault can be spread in multiple ways.
For example, say the person that rear-ended claims their brakes didn’t work. If they just had it in the auto-shop and a line was snapped, then the auto-shop would be at fault.
Or perhaps there was a recall on a specific part in their car. It failed and they hit you. Now the manufacturer is partly to blame.
Suddenly you have multiple parties that are responsible for paying for your repairs. And if no one accepts full fault, you may be stuck with a portion of the bill despite you doing nothing wrong.
If this is the case, you’ll likely need legal advice.
When in an accident, take note of everything. Is there video evidence? Are there additional witnesses, such as passengers in either vehicle?
Was another driver under the influence? Or did something extreme happen, such as heavy winds blowing a telephone pole into the road, causing them to swerve?
These details are essential in determining fault.
Driver Negligence
A terrible, common occurrence, is when one driver acts with negligence and causes another to get into an accident.
Imagine you’re on the highway, in the right lane, and a driver in the left lane suddenly swerves into your lane. You brake and spin the wheel hitting the barrier.
The other driver keeps going, but now you’re in an accident. If you can collect as much information from the scene, as well as eyewitness testimony confirming the situation, you’ll likely find yourself with fewer consequences.
Collecting this information can be difficult, so hire an experienced lawyer who can investigate for you.
Determine Car Accident Fault
Hopefully, you have a better understanding of car accident fault. It’s not always easy to discern, but the more information you take in at the scene of an accident, the better you’ll be at protecting yourself.
Even with all the precautions, accidents can still occur. If you find yourself needing an experienced Milwaukee auto accident lawyer for a free case review call us today at (414) 409-0114.
We want to help you get justice. Reach out today.