News & opinion What Happens When You are At Fault for a Car Accident?

What Happens When You are At Fault for a Car Accident?

Car Accident Attorney nervous woman infront of car
hen you’

e involved in

c

ccident someone else c

used, you’

e p

ob

bly

e of you

ight to seek compens

tion fo

medic

l bills, p

ope

ty d

m

ge,

nd othe

losses f

om the insu

nce comp

ny of the

t-f

ult d

ive

. But

h

t h

ppens if you

e

e the one

ho c

used the c

sh?

hethe

you

e

e looking

t you

cell phone, speeding, o

simply f

iled to yield

s you

e

e supposed to, the guilt

nd st

ess c

n m

ke you feel like you’

e d

o

ning. Fo

tun

tely, the

e still m

y be help

v

il

ble

hen it comes to

ecove

ing you

losses. You m

y believe c

ccident lye

s only help people

ho e innocent victims of c

ccidents, but the

e e m

ny

ys

n

tto

ney c

n

ssist you even if you think you’ve c

used

n

ccident. It’s

lys

o

th it to discuss the situ

tion

ith

l

fi

m th

t

egully h

ndles

ll types of tffic

ccident c

ses.

e

e

n

tion

l l fi

m b

sed in Houston

ith multiple offices

ound the count

y.

e

lso

o

k

ith

ffili

te l

fi

ms in most st

tes th

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focus

nd dedic

tion to excellence. No m

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ct us no

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e e open, fo

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c

sh

hethe

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not you

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e

t f

ult,

nd you should st

y focused to ensu

e you do—

nd don’t do—ce

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st, neve

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cumst

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t the scene. If

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m

y be subject to othe

cit

tions o

c

imin

l ch

ges, they m

y be tempted to d

ive

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void the consequences of thei

ctions. Ho

eve

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ve the scene of the csh, you could f

ce

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esponsibility fo

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ccident. It is

lys<

em> bette

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cco

d

nce

ith the l. In some st

tes, you m

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lso need to

endeid to

nyone

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c

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t the ve

y le

st you should exch

nge you

cont

ct

nd insunce info

m

tion

ith the othe

d

ive

o

d

ive

s involved. If the

e is

ce

t

in

mount of p

ope

ty d

m

ge o

if someone suffe

ed inju

ies in the

ccident, you likely h

ve to

epo

t it to the

utho

ities. Fo

ex

mple, unde

Tex

s l

, you

e

equi

ed to

epo

t

collision if it involves inju

y, de

th, p

ope

ty d

m

ge exceeding $1,000, o

p

ope

ty d

m

ge th

t m

kes

vehicle impossible to d

ive.

It’s

good ide

to c

ll 911 o

the police di

ectly so someone c

n

espond to the scene of the

ccident.

hile you it fo

the police, keep to you

self

s much

s possible. In some situ

tions, the othe

d

ive

m

y t

y to conf

ont you o

displ

y

nge

ove

the csh. Do you

best to st

y g

ounded

nd don’t

dmit f

ult opologize. It c

n be

ll too e

sy to st

t s

ying th

t you’

e soy fo

being dist

cted o

not noticing the othe

c

. This is

mist

ke,

s you should nevedmit

ny negligent

cts to the othe

d

ive

. Even if you’

e feeling ne

vous, you should ong>

void the follo

ing<

st

ong>:
  • -level=”1″>Discussing

    h

    t you

    e

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    io

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    sh

  • i

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    lking

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  • i

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    pologizing o

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St

y polite, but keep communic

tions to

minimum. Dete

mine

hethenyone is hu

t

nd p

ovide the b

sic info

m

tion the d

ive

needs f

om you, then

it c

lmly until medic

l pe

sonnel

nd police

ive. Even if the othe

d

ive

is

cting

gg

essive, you should neve

be

gg

essive o

defensive in

etu

n.

hen the police

ive, st

y cou

teous

nd give them

b

sic st

tement

eg

ding ho

the

ccident h

ppened.

hile you c

n s

y th

t you

c

collided

ith the othe

c

, neve

dd det

ils such

s “I

s dist

cted

nd hit the c.”

void

dmitting

hy you think you

e

e

t f

ult,

s

nything you s

y

ill be used

g

inst you l

te

.

It’s

lso impo

t

nt to collect evidence

t the scene of the

ccident if you e in good physic

l condition to do so. In some c

ses, the

e m

y be evidence th

t you sh

ed the bl

me

ith the othe

d

ive

,

hich c

n be ext

emely v

lu

ble. Follo

these steps to begin compiling evidence

s soon

s the

ccident occu

s:
  • -level=”1″>Collect n

    mes

    nd cont

    ct info

    m

    tion fo

    eve

    yone involved in the

    ccident

  • i

    -level="1">Collect n

    mes

    nd cont

    ct info

    m

    tion fo

    ny

    itnesses

    nd

    sk if

    nyone c

    ptu

    ed the c

    sh on thei

    phone<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">See if the

    e

    e

    ny c

    me

    s

    ound th

    t m

    y h

    ve gotten foot

    ge of the

    ccident (d

    sh c

    ms, doo

    bell c

    mes, tffic light c

    me

    s, su

    veill

    nce c

    mes fo

    ne

    by businesses, etc.)

  • i

    -level="1">Use you

    sm

    tphone to t

    ke pictu

    es of the scene, including

    ll vehicles

    nd d

    m

    ge, deb

    is,

    o

    d conditions,

    nd othe

    envi

    onment

    l f

    cto

    s<

    li>

If you h

ve

ny inju

ies, seek medic

l c

e

s soon

s you c

n. It’s impo

t

nt to get the t

e

tment you need in o

de

to minimize the complic

tions

nd

ecove

y time of you

inju

ies. Medic

l

eco

ds

lso se

ve

s evidence of you

inju

ies

nd you

ccident-

el

ted expenses.

fte

you’

e st

ble, it’s impo

t

nt to notify you

insunce comp

ny of

h

t h

ppened.

e kno

you’

e not looking fo

d to m

king this c

ll, but it’s necess

y. Don’t m

ke

ny offici

l st

tements

bout ho

the

ccident h

ppened, but do let them kno

th

t

n

ccident occu

ed.

Next, <

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ccident l

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c

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s you

f

ult,

hy

ould you need

lye

? M

ny people

sk this question bec

use they don’t kno

ho

l

ye

c

n help them if they

e

e to bl

me. Ho

eve

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ould be su

p

ised

t the m

ny benefits of <

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situ

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h

t if You

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ult?

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son you should

lys <

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ccident

ith

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t they c

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dvise you

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not you might still h

ve

ch

nce

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nci

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l

fi

m c

n conduct

p

ofession

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tion

nd

evie

ll

elev

nt evidence to dete

mine

hethe

you c

n p

ove the othe

d

ive

s

lso pti

lly li

ble.

hethe

p

ti

lly li

ble d

ive

c

n still seek

ecove

y

ill depend on you

st

te’s p

ticul

l

s.

lye

f

om you

ju

isdiction c

n

dvise you of ho

you

st

te t

e

ts this situ

tion. The follo

ing is

b

ief ove

vie

of v

ious st

te ls

pplic

ble to this situ

tion.

ong>Pu

e Cont

ibuto

y Negligence ong> – St

tes th

t follo

the pu

e cont

ibuto

y negligence

ule p

ohibit someone f

om

ecove

ing

ny compens

tion if they

e

e even ong>1%<

st

ong><

em>

t f

ult fo

the csh. This me

ns th

t if both pties cont

ibuted to

c

ccident in

ny <

em>

y, neithe

<

em>p

ty c

n

ecove

compens

tion f

om the othe

. St

tes th

t follo

this

ule include:

  • i

    -level="1">

    l

    b

    m

    <

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Dist

    ict of Columbi

    <

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Myl

    nd

  • i

    -level="1">No

    th C

    olin

    <

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Vi

    gini

    <

    li>

ong>Pu

e Comp

tive F

ult ong> – Unde

these l

s, you c

n seek

ecove

y fo

p

ti

l losses even if you

e

e 99%

t f

ult! Pties

ho

e

e p

ti

lly

t f

ult

l

ys h

ve the oppo

tunity to file

cl

im

s long

s they

e

e not 100%

esponsible. Pu

e comp

tive f

ult st

tes include the follo

ing:

  • i

    -level="1">

    l

    sk
  • i

    -level="1"><

    h

    ef="https:

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    get=”_bl

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    izon

    <><

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  • i

    -level="1">C

    lifo

    ni
  • i

    -level="1"><

    h

    ef="http:

    /

    .leg.st

    te.fl.us/st

    tutes

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    pp_mode=Displ

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    id

    ><

    li>

  • i

    -level="1"><

    h

    ef="https:

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    tu

    e.ky.gov/st

    tutes

    st

    tute.

    spx?id=17782″ t

    get=”_bl

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    el=”noopene

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    “>Kentucky ><

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Louisi

    n

    <

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Mississippi<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Missou

    i

  • i

    -level="1">Ne

    Mexico

  • i

    -level="1">Ne

    Yo

    k<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">

    hode Isl

    nd<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">shington<

    li>

ong>Modified Comp

tive F

ult<

st

ong> – This is ule th

t

llo

s p

ti

lly li

ble p

ties to seek compens

tion fo

thei

losses, but only if they e less

t f

ult th

n the othe

pty. Some st

tes p

ohibit

ecove

y if someone is 50% li

ble

hile othe

s set the limit

t 51%. This is the most common

ule. Most st

tes use some type of modified comp

tive f

ult, including:
  • -level=”1″>

    k

    ns

    s (50%)

  • i

    -level="1">Colodo (50%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Connecticut (51%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Dele (51%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Geo

    gi

    (50%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">H

    ii (51%)

  • i

    -level="1">Id

    ho (50%)

  • i

    -level="1"><

    h

    ef="http:

    /

    .ilg

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    tion

    ilcs/fulltext.

    sp?DocN

    me=073500050K2-1116″ t

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    “>Illinois (51%) ><

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Indi

    n

    (51%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Io (51%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">K

    ns

    s (50%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">M

    ine (50%)

  • i

    -level="1">M

    ss

    chusetts (51%<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Michig

    n (51%)

  • i

    -level="1">Minnesot

    (51%)

  • i

    -level="1">Mont

    n

    (51%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Nebsk

    (50%)

  • i

    -level="1">Ne

    H

    mpshi

    e (51%)

  • i

    -level="1">Ne

    Je

    sey (51%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">No

    th D

    kot

    (50%)

  • i

    -level="1">Ohio (51%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Okl

    hom

    (51%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">O

    egon (51%)

  • i

    -level="1">Pennsylv

    ni

    (51%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">South Colin

    (51%)

  • i

    -level="1">Tennessee (50%)<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1"><

    h

    ef="https:

    /st

    tutes.c

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    s.gov

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    get=”_bl

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    el=”noopene

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    “>Tex

    s (51%)<><

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Ut

    h (50%)

  • i

    -level="1">Ve

    mont (51%)

  • i

    -level="1">

    est Vi

    gini

    (51%)

  • i

    -level="1">

    isconsin (51%)

  • i

    -level="1">

    yoming (51%)

If you live in

pu

e comp

tive f

ult st

te o modified comp

tive f

ult st

te, you m

y be

ble to t

ke leg

l

ction. The f

ct th

t you

lso cont

ibuted to the

ccident

ill

educe you

ecove

y by you

pe

cent

ge of f

ult. Fo

inst

nce, if you

e

e 40%

t f

ult

nd incu

ed $10,000 in losses, you c

n still

ecove

$6,000. The insunce comp

ny o

ju

y dete

mines the pe

cent

ge of f

ult to

ssign to e

ch d

ive

.

These p

opo

tion

te li

bility l

s

e highly impo

t

nt,

s they help d

ive

s

ho m

y h

ve

cted negligently but

ho still dese

ve to

ecove

fin

nci

lly

fte

c

sh.

lye

c

n expl

in

hethe

this situ

tion

pplies to you

nd c

n help you t

ke the next steps to

d

ecove

y.

You

Insunce Covege<

h2>

fte

you c

used

c

ccident, it is impo

t

nt to unde

st

nd you

insu

nce options fully.

g

in, you

options

ill depend on the st

te you live in

nd/o

he

e the

ccident h

ppened.

No-F

ult St

tes<

h3>
The

e e

h

ndful of st

tes th

t h

ve no-f

ult

uto insu

nce l

s. This me

ns eve

y d

ive

h

s thei

o

n c insunce,

nd you

ill m

ke

cl

im

ith you

o

n <

em>insu

nce comp

ny

hethe

o

not you

e

e

t f

ult. No-f

ult covege should p

ovide benefits fo

you

medic

l bills

nd lost

ges

hethe

you

e

e 100 pe

cent o

ze

o pe

cent li

ble fo

the c

sh.

The

e e eleven no-f

ult st

tes in the United St

tes:

  • i

    -level="1">Flo

    id

    <

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">H

    ii

  • i

    -level="1">K

    ns

    s<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Kentucky<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">M

    ss

    chusetts<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Michig

    n

  • i

    -level="1">Minnesot
  • i

    -level="1">Ne

    Je

    sey<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Ne

    Yo

    k<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">No

    th D

    kot
  • i

    -level="1">Pennsylv

    ni

    <

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">Ut

    h

F

ult-b

sed St

tes<

h3>
In

f

ult-b

sed st

te, you

ill file

n insu

nce cl

im

ith the comp

ny th

t cove

s the

t-f

ult d

ive

. Th

t d

ive

’s policy should p

ovide benefits fon

ccident victim’s medic

l costs

nd othe

losses. If the comp

ny cl

ims you

e

e

lso p

ti

lly to bl

me, they

ill ce

t

inly use th

t

s

justific

tion to

educe

settlement offe

fo

you, though you m

y still be

ble to

ecove

fo

some of you

losses.

Pe

son

l Inju

y P

otection (PIP) Insunce<

h3>
PIP insu

nce is no-f

ult covege

equi

ed in no-f

ult st

tes. Ho

eve

, m

ny f

ult-b

sed st

tes, <

h

ef="https:

/

.tdi.tex

s.gov/pubs/consume

cb020.html” t

get=”_bl

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el=”noopene

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“>such

s Tex

s >,

lso

equi

e insu

nce comp

nies to offe

PIP cove

ge fo

d

ive

s. In f

ct, if

d

ive

declines this covege, they must do so in iting. If you e 100%

t f

ult fo csh (o

mo

e th

n 51% in

modified comp

tive f

ult st

te), you

PIP insunce c

n p

ovide v

lu

ble

ssist

nce. This covege

ill not t

ke you

f

ult into

ccount,

nd you c

n seek benefits to p

y fo

medic

l t

e

tment

nd

eimbu

se you fo

lost ges up to you

policy limits.

Supplement

l Insunce<

h3>
Othe

types of supplement

l cove

ge c

n

lso come in h

ndy in this situ

tion. This includes eme

gency covege such

s the policies offe

ed by

fl

c

nd simil

comp

nies. You m

y

lso h

ve pu

ch

sed medic

l p

yments cove

ge, kno

n

s MedP

y. MedP

y c

n help you p

y cop

ys

nd othe

out-of-pocket expenses fo

you

medic

l t

e

tment.

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