What To Know About Fault In Auto Accident Claims

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If you have been the victim of a careless driver, you are entitled to several types of compensation from the other driver's insurance company. Medical expenses, vehicle damage and more could be coming your way once your claim is settled. You should understand, however, that the issue of fault could play a part in how much compensation you can expect, and that sometimes this issue is more complicated than at first may appear. Read on for what you need to know about determining fault in auto accidents and how it could affect your claim.

Rear End Collisions

In some cases, fault is obvious and the insurance company will likely settle any claims quickly. For example, rear end collisions are normally the sole fault of the driver who collided with the car in front of them. Insurance adjusters will view the damage to the vehicles, particularly the location of the damage on each vehicle, and access fault. Protestations by the at-fault driver that the vehicle stopped too suddenly are irrelevant; it's every driver's responsibility to follow at a safe distance and pay attention to traffic and road conditions.

That being said, if the vehicle in front did not have properly functioning brake lights, some fault may end up being shared between both drivers. The amount of liability (fault) is equated to percentages, with your compensation being reduced by your percentage of fault. In situations of shared fault, the negotiation skills of a personal injury attorney will be vital to ensure that you get a fair claim settlement.

Left Turn Collisions

Normally, drivers who cross in front of you are at-fault when a collision occurs. However, if the other driver can show that they had a green turn light (proving right-of-way) or that you were speeding through the intersection, fault may be shared, thus reducing your compensation.

Accident Reports

If your accident was serious enough for a police officer to respond, you can be assured that there will be a police or accident report filed. You can access this report by contacting the responding agency, such as the highway patrol (State Troopers) for accidents on interstates, toll roads and freeways, local municipalities for town and city accidents and the county sheriff's office for rural areas. These reports can contain valuable information including witnesses' contact information and most importantly, the officer's opinion of who was at fault and why.

A consultation with a personal injury attorney, such as Bulluck Law Group,could make the difference in your insurance claim, even if you are certain that the other party was 100% at fault. Contact a lawyer and have a skilled advocate and settlement negotiator on your side during this stressful time.

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31 December 2015

Learning How To Heal

After you have endured a traumatic, life-changing car accident, it can be hard to transition back into your everyday routine. As friends and family members chat about upcoming outlet mall sales or holiday plans, you might be secretly worried about how to pay your medical bills or forget about that wreck. Fortunately, dealing with your car accident case proactively by working with an attorney can really help. After I was involved in a car accident a few years back, my attorney stood by my side and helped me to argue for what was rightfully mine. I made this website to teach others what to do if they are involved in an accident.