Car is wrecked!
These are common sights on America’s roadways. After all, there are about 16,000 car crashes every day in the United States.
When you drive by a road crash, you probably feel sorry for the people involved in the accident and hope they made out of it alive. Do you ever imaging that your car could also be in a wreck?
The fear is always there, as is the risk.
What if your car is wrecked, not by you, but by someone else? Who is to blame? Who will pay for the damages? Are you liable?
Continue reading for expert insight.
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Who Wrecked Your Car?
When someone wrecks your car, there are two possible scenarios.
One, you were driving your car, maybe rolling down the highway, then someone rams into your rear of T-bones you.
Two, someone else was driving your car and they happened to get into an accident.
The nature of the accident dictates how things will play out. In scenario one, it’s possible that the driver who rammed into you will be liable for the damage. We say possible because you have to prove that they are the at-fault driver.
Many a time, the police report will indicate who was at fault, but it’s not uncommon for at-fault drivers to dispute these reports and deny liability. In this case, you’ll have to sue the driver and let the courts decide who is at fault.
In scenario two, you’ll likely be the one to blame if another person is driving your car and they cause an accident. However, if the other driver caused the accident, they’ll be liable.
It’s important to note than an accident involving another driver isn’t easy to resolve, especially if it’s a ghastly one. In this case, identifying who was at-fault can take a long time and findings can be disputed by the at-fault party. To be prepared for the worse case scenarios, consult your Atlanta Car Accident Attorney to help you deal with the case.
The Case of a No-Fault State
Many American states are fault states. This means the laws require the at-fault driver to be held liable for the accident.
However, 12 states and Puerto Rico have no-fault laws.
In a no-fault state, no one is held liable for a car wreck. If you’re involved in an accident, your insurance company will take care of your losses while the other driver’s insurer will do the same.
That’s pretty straightforward. But what if you’re a resident of a fault state but get involved in an accident when driving in a no-fault state?
In this case, the other driver won’t be liable. Instead, your insurance coverage will take care of your injuries and car damage.
Know How to Handle Car Wrecks
In a country where thousands of accidents happen every day, car wrecks are a part of life. Although most are avoidable, you have no control over the actions of other drivers. With this guide, you now know who will be held liable in the event that you’re in a car wreck.
