When traffic accidents happen, one of the steps on the road to recovery will be determining who was at fault for the collision and, consequently, who is liable for it. The liable parties will usually be responsible for compensating victims for their medical bills, injuries, damages, suffering and other losses.
These Things Can Affect Liability Determinations after Car Crashes
These three factors are good starting points when it’s time to determine liability after a car crash, a Denver car accident lawyer points out.
Although the process of determining liability can be complicated and challenging in some auto accident cases, in general, the following are among the primary factors that impact liability determinations:
- Whether any traffic laws were broken – Were any of the involved motorists drunk? Did a driver run a red light or fail to yield the right-of-way? Was speeding or reckless driving involved? If a car accident involved at least one party violating some traffic law, that party will usually be among those liable for the collision.Takeaway: Call the police after a car accident. Police citations and reports can be pivotal to documenting that one driver broke traffic laws and, in doing so, is at fault/liable for the collision.
- Whether anyone admitted fault or took some blame – Did any of the involved motorists say that (s)he was to blame for the collision? Or did anyone apologize for the accident? Straight admissions of liability are not uncommon, and they can hold up later when it’s compensation time (even if the admission was accidental or not intentional).Takeaway: Never admit fault following a collision, regardless of whether you may have been even partially to blame.
- The available evidence – Were photos of the damage and accident scene taken? Were there witnesses to the accident? Is there any other evidence you have that may back up your version of what occurred? The availability of evidence can also be critical to establishing liability after an accident – and the more available evidence there is, the better, as it could help a lawyer figure out whether there may be additional liable parties you have not considered.Takeaway: If and when possible take pictures after an accident, collect witnesses’ names/contact info and collect anything else that could serve as evidence later. Also, consult an attorney as soon as possible following a collision. This consult can reveal important information about your best options for financial recovery.
Contact a Denver Car Accident Lawyer at Bell & Pollock, P.C.
If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you can turn to a Denver car accident lawyer at Bell & Pollock, P.C. for experienced help advocating your rights and pursuing justice.
To find out more about how we can help you, call us at (720) 740-0125 or email our firm using the contact form on this page to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our lawyers. During this meeting, you will receive clear, honest legal advice about your case, your rights and your best options for moving forward.
From our offices conveniently located in Denver, Greenwood Village, and Steamboat Springs, our lawyers provide the highest quality legal services to injured people throughout the Denver metro area, Arapahoe County, Routt County and the state of Colorado.
