Montanez Yu Law›
Liability -- Who is At Fault? What is liability? Who is liable? What impact does it have to me and my claim after a car crash? How does it affect my insurance rates and premiums? Liability essentially means fault. If someone is found liable, they are found to be at fault. So in a personal injury case such as a car accident, whoever is found liable is found to be at fault for the accident and will be responsible for paying "damages" (aka money) to the persons they hurt. The concept of "damages" is explained in another article here. Deciding who is at fault can be very easy or very difficult. A classic case of an easier liability case would be a person getting rear-ended at a red traffic light. A more difficult case of liability can involve lane changes, uncontrolled intersections, or any time there are more than two vehicles involved in the initial collision. Remember that what happens in real life is not necessarily what will be relayed by the other driver to claims adjusters, lawyers, juries, and judges. People who are at fault for car accidents may lie. Even in cases where drivers are clearly liable, they may lie to save themselves from an increasing insurance premium or the possibility of a lawsuit. If you are ever injured in a car accident or any other situation, you should seek the advice of competent legal counsel.
