What to Know if you are At Fault in a Car Accident

Car accidents are never fun. In some instances, people are severely injured or die. Even when the damage is just to the vehicles involved, these accidents can still be traumatic.

Being at fault in a car accident may leave you feeling terrible and guilty.

If you are one of those people who would never consider telling a lie, your first instinct will be to immediately admit your fault and apologize to those affected by the accident.

However, you should avoid admitting fault for the accident.

Providing you are insured, this is a decision for the insurers of your car and those of the other vehicles involved.

You might feel like the fault was yours when in reality it was faulty road conditions or a mechanical fault in another driver’s car.

But if you are found to be at fault, what happens?

What is an ‘at-fault’ car accident?

This is where one driver caused the accident due to some action they did or did not take.

You will still be considered the ‘at fault’ diver if it is decided that you are 51% or more liable for the accident.

You will usually be at fault automatically if you are found to be undertaking any one of the top causes of car accidents, including rear-end another car, are found to be driving under the influence or while intoxicated, did not obey traffic lights or signage, were speeding, or were found to be using your cell phone while driving or distracted by something else.

What It Means if You’re in an At-Fault Accident

The best way to avoid being at fault is to remember you are driving on public roads and not participating in a Formula 1 racing event. Obey the law and drive safely. But you may still be found at fault sometimes. You might choose in a split second that ends up being the wrong one.

At the scene of the crash, take photos of all the damage, and exchange insurance information with other drivers. Wait for the police to show up if it is serious, then give a truthful account of what happened.

Your insurance company adjuster will review your side of the story, as well as the police report, the other party’s version of events, and any damage done. Then they’ll decide who was at fault.

The kind of insurance you have will play a big part in what happens next if you’re found to be at fault. Bodily injury liability coverage will help pay the medical expenses for you, any other people in your car, and the other driver. Collision coverage will pay to repair the car.

You will be required to pay your

insurance policy excess to your insurer.

Make sure you understand your state’s minimum car insurance requirements. You’ll want to have comprehensive coverage for personal liability and property damage liability if you’re found to be at fault. You can be sued for the additional costs if your insurance doesn’t cover the damage to people or property when you cause an accident.

Sometimes you can’t avoid an accident, but there are steps you can take to avoid being the cause of a crash. Put your phone away while driving. Avoid using alcohol or drugs that may impair how well you drive. Obey all the legal and safety rules of the road.

Summary

Car accidents can have serious consequences including death and major life-changing injuries. Every time you step into your car you should remind yourself that you are taking charge of a potentially deadly weapon. Then take the appropriate care and attention while driving that weapon.

In most instances though, you shouldn’t beat yourself over a car accident.

For most people, the longer your drive the more experience you have gained and the safer you become as a driver. If you do have accidents where you were at fault, take some time to consider what went wrong and how you could have taken different actions to avoid what happened.

In most cases, car accidents where you are at fault have three repercussions: