How to Tell Who is At Fault in a Car Accident

Following a car accident, one of the most difficult things to understand for many individuals is who can be considered at fault. For someone who isn’t aware of the laws, knowing how to tell who is at fault does not come easy. However, there are many things to consider.

For instance, it can all come down to the exact cause of the accident. This may be all it needs to determine fault in a car accident and can be found in the car accident crash report. There are some situations, though, in which it can be more complicated than that. Here are some ways to tell who may be at fault in a car accident.

In a drunk driving accident, most people are quick to assume the driver is the only person at fault. While that is commonly the case, there are other parties who may have played a role in causing the accident. For instance, Pennsylvania has a dram shop law.

This means that the bar, restaurant, social host, or other establishments may have some accountability if they serve alcohol to an already visibly intoxicated individual or to a minor, allows that party to leave, and that party causes an accident.

In distracted driving cases, if the driver texts and drives and crashes, they’re responsible. However, when there are passengers in the vehicle whose actions directly result in the driver causing a crash, the party who causes the distraction may hold some liability in a crash.

What happens when the parts on a vehicle thought to be safe, fail and causes an accident? Unfortunately, situations like this do happen. For instance, if brakes fail, it may prevent the vehicle from stopping. This may make the manufacturer at fault.

In some instances, there are road hazards that can cause someone to crash. This includes potholes, missing or broken traffic signals, and more. When this happens, the party responsible for maintaining road safety can be held accountable.

At Marcus & Mack, our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys are dedicated to helping injured parties when negligence plays a role in their pain. We put the needs of our clients first and work to hold all responsible parties accountable.

If you’ve been harmed in a car accident, we are here to protect your best interests and help you seek maximum compensation for the damages you have sustained.