Many car accidents are obviously one party’s fault, making it easy to seek compensation with the right party. Other accidents aren’t so obvious and will require a deep investigation to figure out who was at fault. Did you know it’s possible for both parties to have partial fault in the accident? Can you receive compensation if you are partially at fault? The good news is you can, but it may only be partial compensation.
Partial Compensation from the Other Insurance Provider
If the other driver carries more than half of the fault for your accident, you would typically file a claim with his or her insurance provider. The compensation you receive would only be partial since you carry a portion of the fault. For example, if you are responsible for 25% of the accident, you would generally only be eligible to receive 75% of the compensation.
Personal Insurance Coverage
Chances are if you’re properly insured, you carry something called “personal injury protection.” PIP is a type of coverage that takes care of your medical bills up to a certain point when you are involved in an accident. Some insurance providers allow you to use this when you have partial fault in an accident, but it could be based on whether or not the state has no-fault laws.
Your own insurance coverage might also step in to help you cover bills if your accident is considered a collision. Collision coverage typically only covers car repair costs, however, so medical bills would still be something you’d need to figure out on your own.
Suing the Other Driver
You might also try suing the other driver if you feel the fault was incorrectly determined. Even if you do have partial fault, when it is only a small portion, you could end up with a large settlement, depending on the situation. For example, you may have been hit by a drunk driver who made an illegal left turn. If you were speeding at the time of the accident, you may be partially at fault. When you bring this type of situation to court, you may end up with a variety of damages, including punitive damages, which you usually wouldn’t receive from an insurance claim.
Having a Lawyer By Your Side
When you’re dealing with injuries sustained in a car accident, it can be helpful to have a lawyer by your side. Contact a lawyer, like a car accident lawyer from The Law Firm of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C., today for the support you need.