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Proving Fault in A Vehicle Accident

Steven R. Andrade March 7, 2016

Drivers in California are responsible for paying for the accidents that they cause. If you have been in a car accident caused by another driver in Santa Barbara or anywhere in Southern California, contact Stephen R. Andrade and the experienced California car accident legal team at Andrade Law Offices to learn more about proving fault in a car accident. A consultation with our team is always free.

Understanding California's Fault Laws

When a car accident occurs in California, the car insurance of the at-fault driver is responsible for paying for harm caused to the other party. All drivers are required to carry liability insurance and proof of financial responsibility. The minimum liability insurance requirements in the state, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, are $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $30,000 in bodily injury liability per accident, and $5,000 in property damage liability.

In order to recover any compensation in a crash, you will have to prove that the crash was the fault of the other driver.

How to Prove Fault

Proving fault is a complicated process, and often requires an intensive investigation into the contributing factors and identification of the potentially responsible parties. This may require talking to witnesses, tracking down video footage of the accident, obtaining police reports and hiring accident reconstruction experts. To prove fault, it is important to start gathering evidence as soon as possible after an accident before it is lost. An auto accident victim may feel burdened with doing these tasks himself or herself and may feel pressure from an insurance adjuster to admit fault or accept a lower settlement offer.

One of the best things that an auto accident victim can do after a car crash is to call an experienced car accident attorney. This is because an attorney has the resources and experience that your case demands, including access to reconstructive and other experts. An attorney can work on your behalf to determine how a car accident happened and prove it to an insurance adjuster and, if necessary a court.

Attorney Stephen R. Andrade has decades of experience handling car accident cases and is a noted trial attorney.

The Importance of Proving Fault

If you do not establish that your car accident was the fault of the other driver, you cannot recover compensation for your injuries. What is more, if you are found to be even slightly at fault for your accident, your recoverable compensation amount may be reduced. Per California's comparative fault laws, a plaintiff's damages can be reduced by their proportion of negligence. We develop a strategy to minimize your degree fault if that is an issue in your accident.

Contact a Skilled Car Accident Attorney Today

To help you to prove fault after a car crash and improve your chances of recovering your full compensation amount, you need to contact a skilled car accident attorney today. Serving Santa Barbara, Southern California, and surrounding areas, the legal team at Andrade Law Offices is ready to assist you. Contact us now for more information!