Car accidents don’t happen in linear, clear, or planned circumstances. Car accidents are messy, and sometimes finding the person at fault in the accident is a long, painstaking process. An auto accident lawyer will be able to help you with your case and fight for you if you are wrongfully accused of being at fault in an accident.
Here are a few examples of different accidents, explaining who is at fault in each particular situation:
A Rear-End Accident
If you are involved in a rear-end accident, and you are the vehicle that has been hit from behind, you are usually not at fault in this situation. However, if you were driving and a car hit you from behind—causing you to hit the car in front of you—you would be 50 per cent at fault for hitting the car in front of you. You would also have 0% responsibility for the car striking you from behind.
Accidents in Parking Lots
Many people believe that when an accident occurs in a parking lot, there is 50/50 split when it comes to liability. This is a false statement, as normal traffic laws and rules apply. If your vehicle has been hit when you were parked, you are not at fault. If you are leaving the parking lot and hit a vehicle on the lane you were turning into, then you are at fault.
Passengers in the Vehicle
If you are the passenger in a vehicle, in most cases, you will not be liable for the car accident. However, if you were distracting the driver at the time of the accident, you may be charged. You can also hire an auto accident lawyer to sue for any damages you sustained in the car accident as a passenger.
These are three scenarios that prove that determining who is at fault in a car accident can be a confusing process. The decision does not always make sense to us, and this is why an auto accident lawyer is the best person to call after a car accident occurs. They will make sure the outcome is fair and that you receive the compensation you need for any injuries or damages sustained.
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/simmy-yu/car-accident-questions_b_8007150.html