Partial Fault in NYC Car Crashes

Updated on January 22, 2020

In most car accidents, it’s rare that one party is solely to blame for the injuries. Often, these crashes involve negligence or distraction or other factors on both or many sides. However, admitting to that could hurt your car accident claim and the amount of compensation you’re due. Accepting fault could even leave you paying out of your pocket for your losses. 

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident and you’re afraid you were partly at fault for the crash, you may need to consider your defense before you head to the courtroom. Protecting yourself from accusations of guilt are important, even if you think you were partly to blame for the car accident. 

Comparative Negligence in NYC Car Accident Claims

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you could be held accountable for your part in the crash, even if you weren’t the sole cause of the crash. For example, you may have been driving late at night, so you were sleepy. You stayed in your lane and were driving safely, but because you were drowsy, you were unable to act in time when another driver swerved and hit you. 

While you didn’t cause the crash, you weren’t focused enough to avoid the car accident. In these cases, you may be found, say, ten percent at fault for the accident. That may not sound like much, but if you don’t fight back, you may only receive ninety percent of the compensation that you could have received. 

Avoiding Fault after a Crash

Losing part of your compensation in court could make a difference in whether you’re able to pay your bills. Because of this, it’s important to avoid accepting fault for the car accident whenever possible. 

Often, finding the best defense requires a New York City car accident lawyer. Your attorney can help you defend your claim for your maximum compensation. 

To start, you may focus on proving you weren’t at fault. For example, if they accuse you of using your cell phone behind the wheel, you may bring evidence that your phone wasn’t in use. Data usage and phone records can help your claim. 

Your lawyer can also focus on pinning all the blame on the responsible party. Others may try to claim that they were being more careful than they actually were, so your lawyer may focus on finding evidence that shows they were at fault. 

Seek Compensation for Your New York Car Accident Claim

When you’re hurt in a car crash, getting compensated for your injuries and losses could make a difference in your physical and financial recovery time. The losses following a car accident can be expensive, and if you don’t fight for the full compensation you’re due, you could be left paying for expenses from an accident you didn’t cause. 

Because of this, it’s important to act now to prove you weren’t at fault. Rather than letting the liable party get away with the harm they caused, you may need to act now to get compensated and recover from your injuries. 

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The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.