Car accidents have always been very common, unfortunately, and they are one of the leading causes of severe injuries and even death. When it comes to them, there is always someone who is the culprit, meaning the person who caused them.
But does it mean that it’s always easy to figure out who is liable? Well, it depends on the circumstances. In some instances, the answer is pretty crystal clear and obvious, yet then there will be situations that won’t make things that evident.
If you want to be one hundred percent sure that you have the person you can blame for the accident, then you need to pay attention to the clues below because they will help you easily determine that.
Drivers Who Were Involved Get To “Decide”
Drivers who were involved in a car accident typically think that they are the ones who get to decide which one should be held accountable. Initially, both of them will start pointing fingers at each other while discussing the aftermath of it all.
Usually, in these types of situations, both parties are so frustrated, angry, and generally shaken up, that they may even end up blaming themselves for this incident, which definitely isn’t a good thing.
Just imagine saying something like this, and then, at some point (once you cool off and realize that it wasn’t your fault after all) you decide to file a claim against the other driver, it’s going to drastically decrease your chances of winning because you stated that you were responsible for the car crash in the first place. So what’s supposed to be done then?
- You should take pictures and videos before the cars are moved, and make sure to write down the contact information of everyone involved, including witnesses.
- Ask the responsible party to show you their insurance ID cards and license
- Jot down the make and model of the vehicles that were involved
- Document the time of day and location of the collision, along with the weather conditions
- If you’ve been in a serious car accident, then you need to wait for the police to come
Car Accident Attorney Can Help Too!
Car collisions can be extremely traumatizing and scary, which is why you need to have someone by your side who’s going to provide you with the necessary support and guidance. This refers to car accident lawyers
Since you already have lots of things on your plate now, you need to rely on somebody who’s going to handle various aspects of your case, such as contacting your insurance company, talking to the police, and many other things.
Besides that, don’t forget the fact that a legal expert is here to perform an investigation and gather evidence that will support your case. But where can you find a reliable advocate? According to a couple of online reviews, many people these days, resort to a Car Accident Lawyer in Atlanta because they’ve heard numerous times that solicitors in this city have an excellent success rate. Therefore, if you reside in or near this city, then be sure to contact one as soon as you can.
Can Police Help?
If you reported the crash, then you can expect the police to come very quickly. They will try to determine fault by thoroughly analyzing the entire scene of the collision and trying to find any piece of evidence that will lead them to the culprit.
Apart from that if there are any witnesses, or security footage, they will use them too because they can potentially provide them with some crucial information. In these instances, the police are going to interview anyone involved, along with the passengers so they can piece together everything the right way.
If the police officer concludes that they have enough information concerning the accident, then the next thing they will do is to make a police report, that they will submit later on to their department.
The police report generally consists of statements that showcase who was at fault based on their judgment and the pieces of evidence they were provided with. Even though a police report may be of huge importance when it comes to this overall situation, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to determine who’s an at-fault party and who isn’t unless someone already admitted that they are guilty.
What you need to remember is the fact that even if you see in the police report that they think that someone is liable for the accident and damages in general, it doesn’t mean that they are going to be held accountable.
As previously concluded, that’s something that may happen only if the driver admits that they were the one who caused the crash.
What About Insurance Companies?
How an insurance company can determine who’s fault and who isn’t when it comes to the car accident, depends on whether the state it all occurred has a conventional car insurance liability system, or if it has a no-fault insurance system.
Drivers who have no-fault insurance coverage, do not need to contact an insurance company to determine who is responsible and who isn’t. That’s because the insurance company is going to cover all the medical expenses, lost wages, or any other costs related to this incident.
However, what’s worth mentioning is the fact that they will still be obligated to determine who caused property damages and serious injuries whose medical expenses exceed PIP coverage. In these instances, they will most likely send their insurance adjuster to properly investigate everything and any potential settlement of an insurance claim.
You can expect insurance companies from both parties to appoint an adjuster. Furthermore, they may also talk to the drivers and witnesses, go through medical records, assess the damage, and many other things that may be of huge importance in proving fault.
As you can see, these situations can be very tricky and complex to navigate, however, if the right steps are being taken, then it’s going to be relatively easy to determine who is responsible for the car accident.
