At-Fault Car Accident Lawyers
Accidents happen. In fact, over the past decade, car accidents have been steadily increasing each year in America. The NHTSA’s last tally counted more than 7 million crashes annually across America’s roadways. We know a crash can leave you shaken, confused, and scared. When you are, or could be, at-fault in an accident, what’s the best course? You may consider a car accident attorney only useful for victims, but there are many ways in which our attorneys can provide expert legal assistance even if you are fully or partly at fault in a car accident.
Rule number one: do not admit fault. The other driver’s insurance company will use this to try and vilify your driving at the time of the accident and pin all of the fault (and all of the bill) directly on you. Refrain from using phrases like, “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t even see you”. While you may be a really nice person and want to apologize to the other driver, these words can be twisted to place all the blame squarely on you. We have represented many drivers that were in at-fault accidents. We know the tactics the insurance company and other accident attorneys will use. By working with our experienced lawyers for at-fault car accidents, you can get the protection needed to face a personal injury lawsuit.
As of 2021, there are different rules for establishing fault for Florida or Georgia. We will talk about the difference between no-fault and at-fault states in the section titled “Getting Protection For An At-Fault Collision Case.”
When you have been involved in an at-fault car accident and are unsure what to do next, contact our team. We’ll go over your options and help you chart a path forward.
What to Do After You Think You Caused a Car Crash?
After an accident you may not know what to do next. You may feel dazed or shocked. All you were trying to do was change a lane or merge into traffic, and now you’re dealing with physical and emotional trauma. We’ve been there and we know it is always scary to be involved in a car accident.
Whether or not you were at-fault, you should always try to remain calm in the aftermath. Make sure you stay at the scene until cleared to leave by the police. Leaving a crash without reporting it leaves the door open for further citations or criminal charges.
Contact emergency services as soon as possible. While waiting for first responders, try not to interact with the other person. Sometimes the other driver may feel hostile and want to confront you about the accident. Do not admit fault or apologize. Even if you feel like you caused the crash, you may not realize all of the circumstances that led to that moment. Do not apologize, ask questions about blame, or indicate fault.
When the authorities arrive, make sure you stay courteous in your statements. Keep about the accident brief like “I was driving then our cars collided.” There is no need to add extra details like “I was texting, and then I hit the car.” These details can distract from getting a fair picture of the accident. Admitting fault is never a good idea. In many accidents, the other driver was also behaving dangerously. If there is evidence that you and the driver share the blame, that may prove useful for your case.
If you are able, it’s important to take steps towards gathering as much evidence as possible. At a minimum, you should do your best to:
- Call emergency services
- Take lots of pictures and videos of the vehicles, the roadway, weather – anything that can be used to help piece together exactly what happened
- Get names and contact information of witnesses and other parties
- Get a copy of the accident report
- Seek medical attention immediately and keep all records
After you’ve taken all of the appropriate steps in ensuring you have the evidence to support your case, make an appointment for a free consultation with us to discuss your case options.
What if You Were Only Partially At-Fault For A Car Accident?
An at-fault accident lawyer can help advise you on the best path forward. Both Florida or Georgia, follow models of comparative fault. Damages are awarded by calculating how much each person shares responsibility for the incident.
Florida adheres to a pure comparative fault model. That means that you can still seek recovery for partial losses. Even if the court rules you are 99% at fault, you are still allowed to petition for 1% of your losses. As long as you are not 100% responsible, you will generally be able to file a claim.
Georgia uses a modified comparative fault. Under modified comparative fault, you can seek compensation for an accident as long as you are less than 50% at-fault for an accident. If you are 51% or higher, you cannot seek financial recovery.
Every case is different. An at fault attorney that understands how comparative fault works in Georgia and Florida can help protect and fight for your best interests.
Getting Protection For An At-Fault Collision Case
Remember, Florida is a No-Fault State. If your car accident was relatively minor, you probably don’t have much to worry about. Each party will turn to their own insurance company to help cover the damages. However, there may be times where the driver who was not at fault (or who was less at fault) decides to file Minor Car Accident Lawyers a lawsuit alleging personal injury and/or damages were incurred above what their insurance pays out and they hold you liable for the remainder. This will be especially true when the car accident is more than a minor accident. For example, motorcycle accident victims may be liable for criminal charges in addition to civil charges.
Conversely, in neighboring Georgia, the state follows an “at-fault” doctrine. This means the injured parties have every right to sue for the full amount of damages – which includes things like their vehicle damage, medical bills, lost wages from missing work, and even pain and suffering. The at-fault driver’s insurance will be responsible for covering the costs of the injured party’s claims but if this is not enough to cover the costs, the injured party may file suit. When an accident occurs in Georgia, fault is determined. If a driver is found to be more than 50% responsible, they are not able to seek damages from the other driver(s).
Whether in Florida or Georgia, we have the resources and experience to provide expert legal protection for at-fault drivers. We have handled incredibly intricate cases and have come out victorious time and again for our clients. Our team can help you receive maximum protection against any and all losses. Let us deal with the insurance company, they know who we are and know if they don’t deal fairly, we’ll take them to court. We have before and will do so again if that’s what it takes.
Get in touch now to talk over the details of your case with an experienced car accident attorney.
You Can Trust our Lawyers For At-Fault Accidents
We live in the real world. We know accidents happen every day and sometimes there’s nothing you could have changed to prevent the accident from occurring. Our dedicated team of at fault accident attorneys is here to seek to provide at-fault drivers with the maximum protection available to you under the law. Avoid bankruptcy or worse with accident attorneys that can provide the expert legal guidance needed to navigate these troubled waters. Farah and Farah’s investigators are some of the best in the business. By examining all of the evidence, we’ll explore the opportunities for you to be protected and possibly even seek financial recovery.
Our at-fault car accident lawyers are entirely on your side. We do our work for you. We know this accident may not have been entirely your fault. If you need to know your options and what protections are available to you, we’ll help you get the answers you need.
Contact our team anytime day or night to discuss your options and see how we can help.
