Car accidents are very common all over the world, but the US has the dubious honor of having four times as many as other countries. Accident statistics vary according to state; states with larger populations tend to have a higher number of car accidents per year.
For example, California’s population is around 39,500 and it recorded 3,847 fatal crashes in 2020. Delaware only has a population of just under one million, so there were far fewer fatal car accidents, only 104 to be exact.
There are various causes of car accidents, but distracted driving remains one of the most common. People using cell phones while driving accounted for just under 30,000 car crashes that resulted in injuries in 2020. If you were one of these drivers, then your behavior means you were partially or fully at fault.
Common Causes Of Car Accidents
There are other reasons why you may be at fault when blame is apportioned after an accident. There are over 1,000 crashes resulting in injuries at intersections each day in the US. Speeding is another factor in car accidents, with more than 25% of accident fatalities attributed to speeding drivers. Other accidents are caused by drivers not adhering to traffic laws or running a stop sign. In all of these cases, the driver of the vehicle is partially or fully responsible for the accident.
If you run a red light and crash into another car, arguably the accident is 100% your fault. But what if you are speeding and hit another car, but that driver was texting at the time and veered into your lane, thus causing the crash?
This is where a good car accident lawyer can help you.
Looking At The Facts Of An Accident
After a car accident, insurance companies and lawyers look closely at who was to blame for the accident. Each insurance company will be keen to minimize its financial losses, so they will look at the evidence to see who is at fault. This is usually done on a percentage-based scale. The outcome of this investigation will determine how much compensation you receive (if any).
For example, if the insurance companies decide you are only 10% to blame, perhaps because you pulled out of an intersection without looking properly, and were hit by a speeding driver, you’ll receive 10% less compensation. The same applies if a driver slams into the back of your SUV when traffic slows down on the highway, but if your brake lights were faulty, you are partially to blame for the accident.
Assessing Liability
Insurance companies and accident lawyers will examine all the evidence when deciding how much blame to apportion to each person involved in the accident. This includes cell phone footage, witness statements, the police report, surveillance footage from street cameras, and anything else that sheds light on what happened. Even weather reports are pertinent.
The only way to be sure you don’t end up shouldering more of the blame than you deserve is to work with an experienced lawyer.
