The last thing anyone wants is to be involved in a car accident. It throws a wrench into your day, comes with a host of associated headaches, and inevitably makes your life more difficult even if you’re not the one at fault. What’s even worse, though, is being locked in a situation where neither party wants to claim fault for the accident. In these situations, it’s important to know how fault can be determined.

One Drive Obviously Disobeyed Traffic Laws

There are certainly situations in which one driver clearly caused the accident through negligence. For example, if someone is rear-ended while waiting to make a turn, the driver who ran into them would have a hard time denying fault. Of course, this is anything but ironclad if the driver who appears to be at fault still denies it, which is why witnesses are also a critical part of establishing fault after an accident.

Witness Accounts

Since roadways are generally crowded places, there are usually other drivers who witness accidents. Often times, witness accounts fill in the blank spots and give a clearer picture of what exactly happened, helping to assign fault. Sometimes car accidents occur so quickly that those involved genuinely aren’t sure who is at fault; witnesses are especially useful in these situations.

The Result of Investigation

If you’re involved in an accident and feel that you’re not at fault, be sure that you take as many pictures as possible in addition to filing a police report. Photograph the damage to your car and the other car, as well as the surrounding area that was involved in the accident. It might not look like much to you, but a trained eye may be able to pick something out that proves you’re not at fault for the accident. In a perfect world, everyone would accept responsibility for their hand in traffic accidents, but it doesn’t usually work out that way. Whether it’s because they don’t want to incur the associated costs or because they simply don’t understand their responsibility, the party at fault will often deny culpability after a car accident. If you’re having a hard time navigating these muddy waters on your own, it’s time to seek out a legal team who can help you establish fault from your car accident, so you can get back to living your life.