How to Determine Fault in a Traffic Accident

Proving fault in a traffic accident requires precise thought.

When you are involved in an accident, emotions run high and shock can take away your reasoning skills. Since the determination of fault is necessary when insurance agencies are involved, learning how to find fault in an accident is an excellent way to preserve insurance payouts.

Instructions

1. Write down every detail that is seen or heard at the traffic accident. If emotions have gotten the best of you, have a neutral person record the details for later viewing. Find witnesses, and take notes on their observations.

2. Look for road tracks. The tracks indicate the path of one or both vehicles. If one driver purposely failed to avoid an impending accident, that driver would be at fault.

3. Secure a police traffic report. Police agencies have investigators who are trained to reconstruct and determine fault in traffic accidents.

4. Look for instances where the driver failed to follow normal driver protocol. If one driver absent-mindedly pulled their vehicle into the path of another driver without signaling, the driver who didn't signal would most likely be at fault.

References

• Cars Direct: How to Determine Car Accident Fault
• Free Advice: Car Accidents - Who is at Fault?
• Nolo: Who's at Fault for an Accident FAQ