Are you trying to figure out how to tell who is at fault in a car accident? If yes, you should check out our guide by clicking here.

Have you recently been involved in a car accident?

If it’s any consolation, you’re not alone. Over four million people get injured in car crashes every year in the United Stands. An additional 38,000 perish in car accidents.

After a crash, the first step is to get treatment for your injuries and call the relevant emergency services. The very next step is to establish who is at fault for the accident, or at least take plenty of photos and try to speak with local police so that it is easy to do so later. The at-fault party must typically compensate the other driver for their injuries and losses.

But how do you know who caused the accident?

Continue reading to learn how to tell who is at fault in a car accident.

The Accident Report Will Make Conclusions

After being involved in an accident, there is a reason you should call the police to the scene. Traffic police are trained on road accident investigation and as such have the expertise to determine who’s at fault in an accident.

If the police came to the scene of your accident, you don’t have to worry about figuring out who was at fault. Just get a copy of the police report and you’ll find who was at fault for the accident.

However, it’s important to note that a police report isn’t cast in stone. Police officers can make mistakes, including drawing inaccurate conclusions as to who caused an accident. These reports can be challenged in a court of law, but this will involve hiring an independent investigator and a car accident lawyer.

A Clear Violation of Traffic Rules

Sometimes you can witness a driver breaking a traffic rule just before they cause an accident.

For example, if someone runs a red light and rams right into your rear, it’s clear they’ll be at fault. Running a red light is a traffic offense.

A driver can swerve into your lane without signaling or waiting for you to yield. If their actions result in an accident, they will be at fault ⁠— at least from your observation.

That being said, just because a driver has violated a traffic code doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll admit liability. It’s not uncommon for at-fault drivers to deny causing an accident even when everything points to them.

Location of Vehicle Damage

In most cases, the location of vehicle damage can be a major indicator of who’s at fault in a car crash.

For instance, if your car has sustained rear-end damage, almost always the driver behind you will be at fault. Either they weren’t keeping an appropriate distance behind you or they were speeding and couldn’t bring the car to a stop before they rammed into you.

Location of damage is one of the things police officers, insurance underwriters, and accident investigators look for when establishing fault.

You Know How to Tell Who Is at Fault in a Car Accident

With this guide, you now know how to tell who is at fault in a car accident. However, bear in mind that liability can vary depending on the nature and circumstance of an accident. Sometimes it’s impossible to identify who’s at fault unless you’re an auto accident investigator.

Stay safe on the road and keep reading our blog for more tips and insights.