If you live in Washington and if a car accident is your fault, you may be wondering what happens next. Auto accidents are incredibly common and can be caused by a variety of things, even if you are a very responsible driver.
If an accident is your fault, what happens next can determine the potential consequences you may face, which is why you need to hire an auto accident attorney to help you with your case. At Henderson Taylor Law Firm, our team of auto accident attorneys has handled hundreds of auto accident cases in the state of Washington, including cases where our client was at fault.
Keep reading to find out what happens if a wreck is your fault and the possible repercussions of this.
Washington Car Accident Laws
In the state of Washington, there are certain laws you need to follow when you are operating a vehicle. What happens next if you’re at fault for an accident can often be dependent on whether or not you have been following these laws.
One example of this is Washington’s mandatory insurance requirements that every driver must follow. Failure to carry the mandatory insurance amount could result in you needing to pay for damages out-of-pocket or not having any coverage for your own damages.
Another example of Washington car accident laws involves reporting accidents to law enforcement. Drivers are required to promptly report any accidents that resulted in an injury, death, or significant property damage. Also, any driver who leaves the scene of an accident without providing assistance or exchanging contact information will be labeled as a hit-and-run driver.
There is a statute of limitations for filing car accident claims in the state of Washington as well. For personal injury claims, this statute of limitations is three years from the date of the accident. If you fail to file a car accident claim within these three years, your claim will most likely be dismissed, and you won’t have the ability to seek compensation.
Understanding Comparative Negligence
Every state may have different laws regarding how fault is split between drivers involved in a car accident. In Washington, there is a comparative negligence rule that assigns each party a degree of fault for the accident. Because of this, even if you contributed to the cause of the accident, you may not be held entirely liable.
For example, you may have 80% of the fault, while the other driver has 20% of the fault. In these types of instances, the compensation you could receive will be reduced by your percentage of fault as well as the compensation the other party could receive.
This comparative negligence law also means that more than two people could be held responsible for a car accident if multiple vehicles were involved, which could lower your percentage of fault even more.
How Fault is Determined in Washington
Now that you know what it means if a car accident is your fault, the next part of this process will be evaluating each party’s percentage of fault. Before doing this, you need to hire an auto accident attorney to represent you, as they can help you protect your rights and potentially prove that you were not entirely at fault.
There are certain potential causal factors that will be looked at when determining who was at fault in an auto accident, which include:
- Human error
- Environmental factors
- Vehicle defects
- Reckless endangerment
There are additional tools that can be used to determine who is at fault more specifically, such as through:
- Eyewitness statements
- Surveillance camera footage
- Dashcam footage
- Police report
- Accident deconstructionist
- Photo evidence
It is essential that you take the necessary steps to protect yourself, even if you believe that you were primarily at fault in the accident. There are many situations that may seem straightforward when it comes to determining fault, but there are always variables that can impact the outcome of car accident cases. For instance, a rear-end collision may seem straightforward, but it may turn out that you aren’t entirely at fault if there are environmental factors or vehicle defects at play.
What Happens When You’re at Fault in an Accident in Washington?
Are you wondering what happens if you’re at fault for an accident? The answer isn’t always straightforward for every situation due to Washington’s comparative negligence law. Although this may not necessarily be a good thing if someone else caused the accident, it can be a lifesaver if you are partially to blame.
The reality is that if you are at fault for an accident in Washington, your insurance claim will be negatively impacted if you are trying to receive compensation. Your insurance will most likely have to provide compensation for the other driver if they file a claim for damages or medical costs if you have a higher percentage of fault.
However, because of the comparative negligence law, it is still possible for you to claim damages if you are seriously injured and need help with medical expenses. Whether or not this is possible and how much compensation you could potentially claim will depend on how high your percentage of fault is.
To improve your chances of being able to file a claim to receive compensation, you need to hire an auto accident lawyer to represent you. An attorney can help you track down critical pieces of evidence that will establish your percentage of fault so that you aren’t entirely blamed for the accident. Your attorney can also help to protect your best interest and your rights so that you aren’t pushed around by insurance companies.
Hire an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney at Henderson Taylor Law Firm
If a car accident is your fault, what happens next usually involves reporting the accident and hiring legal representation to protect your rights. Washington has a comparative negligence law, which means that you may not be entirely at fault for the accident, which could help you when it comes to receiving compensation.
At Henderson Taylor Law Firm, our auto accident lawyers in Washington are committed to defending the downtrodden and helping our clients navigate the complexities of car accident cases. For expert legal representation from one of our attorneys, contact us today at 360-737-1478 or fill out our online form.
