No-Fault Accidents

Those who are familiar with California’s car insurance laws, they know that California is a fault-based state. How, then, does it work if you are involved in a single-vehicle accident or another collision where nobody is at fault? Although California is a no-fault state, that doesn’t mean that you are out of luck if you were involved in an accident without an at-fault driver. Instead, you can file a claim with your own insurance company, seeking financial compensation for your injuries. At Power Trial Lawyers, our experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyers have over a decade of experience helping our clients recover after suffering injuries in no-fault accidents.

No, technically, California is a fault-based state when it comes to car insurance. This means that, after an accident, each of the parties involved is responsible for the damages that were caused by their negligence. Of course, in most cases, drivers themselves don’t end up paying these damages awards because they have car insurance policies. Thus, it is the car insurance company that defends a case and ultimately pays out on an accident victim’s claim.

If you’ve been injured in what you think is a no-fault accident, it is important that you take the following steps to ensure that you recover the compensation you deserve.

As a driver, you have a pretty good idea of who was at fault in an accident. For example, if someone runs a red light and T-bones your car, it’s pretty clear that the other driver was at fault. However, not all accidents are this straightforward. And unless you have legal training, you may not know where to look for fault. For example, an accident might be caused by a piece of defective equipment, a malfunctioning traffic light, or even another driver who wasn’t involved in the collision.

Whenever possible, you want to identify all potentially liable parties because this will open up additional doors for pursuing financial compensation after an accident.

Reporting an accident is imperative, especially if you were in a no-fault accident. There are a few reasons for this. First, filing a report with the police will provide documentation that the accident occurred. Thus, when your insurance company calls to discuss the claim, it will be much harder for them to claim that your injuries or property damage were preexisting. Second, if you end up filing a claim with your own insurance company, you must provide notice within a certain period of time. While the exact amount of time you have to file largely depends on the language of your insurance policy, you should report the accident as soon as you can.

Just because there was no clear at-fault driver does not mean that recovering for your injuries will be easy. This is because insurance companies are loath to pay fair damages because it cuts into their bottom line. Even your own insurance company may deny your claim or offer you pennies on the dollar for your injuries in hopes of getting you to settle your case quickly. It is important not to fall for these tactics because it may mean leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table.

If you or a loved one was recently injured in a car accident, and you are not sure who was at fault, reach out to Power Trial Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We can answer all your questions and explain your options in clear, understandable terms, so you can make the best decision on how to proceed. And if you allow us to assist with bringing your claim, we will not bill you for any of our services unless we can recover compensation on your behalf. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today, call 844-844-POWER (7693). You can also connect with us through our online contact form. We proudly represent clients in Los Angeles County and Orange County and have conveniently located offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.