How Accident Fault is Determined in a Car Accident

When a car accident first occurs, you might be shaken by the accident. However, at the beginning is considered a good time to determine who is at fault in a car accident. You can determine accident fault in case you need to have your car repaired or will need to receive compensation from the other driver's insurance company.

1. Determine who the driver was and what his responsibilities were. In the same way a physician has a duty to provide safe care to patients, a driver has a duty to drive safely on the road. Determine if the driver was licensed and if he or she was operating the car in a safe manner, based on the rules of the road.

2. Make notes on the accident. This can include writing down the details of how the accident happened, what you or the driving were wearing, number of passengers or any injuries. This should be a detailed account of what happened during the accident. It is best to write these notes while the accident is still fresh in your head.

3. Take pictures of the accident scene, if you are able to. This can include immediately after the accident occurs or while waiting for the police to arrive. There is the option to use the camera on your cellular phone to take photos. You can also come back later and look for skid marks, which can show careless driving by the other driver.

4. Look for eye witnesses. Someone who lives near the accident and saw it would be ideal. An eye witness can provide a written or verbal testimony on what they saw. This can result in finding out who caused the car accident to take place.

5. Obtain a police report. This is a valuable way to determine who is at fault after an accident. The police are trained professionals and will be able to decide who caused the accident and if there are any legal charges to be made against this person. A copy of this police report can be used in court or sent to an insurance company.