How Is Fault Determined in a Car Accident?

Feeling shaken is a typical response to any car accident, even the smallest fender-bender. And that’s okay. Figuring out what to do after a car accident that’s not your fault can be confusing. Before you try to determine what happened or who’s responsible for the accident, take a deep breath and focus on what’s most important: the health and safety of all involved.

Let's explore how at-fault laws work across the US and dive into how the right auto coverage can make a real difference to your personal finances in the wake of an at-fault accident.

What is an at-fault accident?

Exactly how does car insurance work when you are at-fault for an accident? At-fault accidents only occur in states that do not require personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for vehicles, also known as “tort states.” Insurance groups will operate in accordance with the state laws where the accident happened. In at-fault accident insurance states, the driver found responsible for causing the accident will be required to pay for all damages — including medical costs and property damage expenses.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the majority of US states operate under this so-called “tort liability” insurance system. In tort states, it’s the at-fault driver’s auto insurance that covers injury expenses. It’s worth noting that PIP coverage doesn't extend to accident-related personal property costs, which are still the at-fault driver's responsibility.

What is a no-fault accident?

In states with no-fault insurance laws, drivers are required to purchase car insurance with personal injury protection (PIP). It’s coverage that helps to pay for medical costs regardless of who’s at-fault in an accident.

In PIP states, you may be wondering how car insurance works when you’re at fault and, conversely, who pays for car damage in a no-fault state. Typically, all parties involved in the accident pay for ambulance expenses, emergency room costs and medical bills with PIP coverage. But the named at-fault driver is responsible for property damages. Because PIP coverages vary by state, it’s key to check in with your American Family Insurance agent to understand your state’s coverage requirements.

No-fault accident insurance is mandated only in some states. In addition to Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. There are 16 states in the U.S. that use some type of the no-fault system and require the purchase of PIP insurance coverage:

If You’re the At-Fault Driver in a Car Accident

Your job at the scene of an accident is not to point fingers, accuse others of wrongdoing or admit fault. But once you know everyone is safe, you have some responsibilities and a role to play. So, what should you do after an accident?

Stay Put

You might need to move your car out of an intersection or heavy traffic for safety, but don’t leave the scene. If you’re worried about an injury or someone else in the other vehicles involved, let 911 come and handle it. And never pursue a vehicle that flees the scene of the accident — wait for the authorities to arrive in that case and let them know what happened.

Contact the Proper Authorities

If you or others need medical attention, call 911 before doing anything else. Obtaining a police report can also help insurance companies determine fault after a car accident.

Gather Evidence

It’s helpful if you can safely take photos of the accident as-is, before the cars are moved out of traffic. Begin documenting the car damage from the accident and any other facts. Gather license plate numbers, the time of day, traffic conditions, and any road hazards that might have impacted the accident.

If there are witnesses, try to get names and contact information. And, of course, you’ll want the other driver’s name and contact information along with their insurance information.

Avoid Admitting Fault After the Accident

You might find it difficult, but try to avoid admitting fault. Don’t lie. Simply report the facts as you saw them without saying, “It’s my fault.”

The police and the insurance companies will come to their own conclusions about who is at fault in an accident based on the facts and reports from everyone involved and any witnesses. Your insurance group may also seek legal advice to help identify the faulty party.

Contact Your Insurance Company

You'll want to let your insurance carrier know about the accident right away. Not only will your agent help you start processing your claim, but they can also help you understand your car insurance coverage and walk you through gathering evidence at the scene.

Tell them the basics about the accident, including the location, and then ask for the next steps. Ask how to start the process of filing a claim. You can begin the process through the MyAmFam app, or you can go online and use our Report a Claim form.

How to Work with Your Insurance Company After an Accident

It can be difficult to prioritize your actions and figure out what to do after a car accident that’s not your fault. And even if you are found at fault for an accident, it’s best to keep things simple and focus on the details you’ll need to resolve your claim.

Report the Facts

Admitting fault to your insurance company after a car accident is never a good idea. But make sure you detail what happened from your point of view. As the saying goes — just the facts.

Gather and Submit Evidence

If you took pictures and collected contact information from other drivers and/or witnesses, pull this data together. Your insurance agent will tell you how they want you to submit it in order to determine who is at fault.

Share the Police Report

If the police came to the scene of the accident and made a report, let your agent know. Find out if they want you to get the report or if they will get it for you.

File the Claim

Later, when you get a chance to talk to your agent in a safe location, ask how to start the process of filing a claim to repair damage after the accident. Or you can go online and use our Report a Claim form.

Does car insurance cover at-fault accidents?

The type of car insurance you have will play a big role in the coverage you get when you’re making an at-fault car accident insurance claim. Let’s look at some of the more common types of car insurance and how they come into play. Keep in mind, car insurance requirements by state can vary, so it’s best to check with your agent to understand the at-fault laws where you live.

Collision

If you’re in an accident, whether it’s your fault or not, your optional collision insurance may step in and help pay for damages to your vehicle. Typically, collision insurance has a deductible. When setting up your coverage, you'll pick the deductible amount that works for you and your budget. Usually the higher your deductible is, the lower your premiums are.

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance

When you’re determined to be at fault for an accident, bodily injury liability coverage may help cover the costs of injuries to your passengers, the driver and passengers of the other vehicle. It goes beyond just medical expenses and may help with pain and suffering, lost wages, legal fees and funeral costs. This is exactly the type of insurance you want in this situation.

Comprehensive

This is optional insurance helps cover you when there’s an accident that doesn’t involve another car. Comprehensive insurance helps cover you if you hit an animal, your car is vandalized or is damaged in a hailstorm. But comprehensive insurance isn’t what you'll use when you hit another vehicle.

How do insurance companies determine fault in a car accident?

Before we decide how insurance determines fault, it’s key to look at how the state views it. In most states, an accident is fault-based, meaning someone is at fault or negligent, even if the fault is shared between the drivers. A few states have no-fault insurance laws. In these states, each person’s insurance company pays for medical expenses up to a predefined amount. But even in no-fault states, the cost of repairs is still subject to fault.

Your insurer will determine fault by reviewing the accident details. They’ll review site-specific details, including photos and other physical evidence of damage. Adjusters take into account statements made by those involved in the accident and compare them against third-party eyewitness accounts, if available. They’ll also review the police report for details regarding the involved parties' negligent driving actions.

In states where no-fault accident insurance is required, insurance companies will adhere to applicable state laws that define negligence. This is important because the way a state interprets negligence will impact how claims are paid out and how fault is determined. Frequently, the fault for causing a car accident is shared.

When both drivers act negligently and an accident results, a percentage of fault will be assigned to each party involved in the collision. Suppose Car A is turning left through an intersection and hits Car B, traveling in the opposite direction and driving over the speed limit. The driver of Car A might be found 70% negligent, and Car B would be deemed 30% negligent.

That shared degree of negligence can define terms for claim settlements and payouts made by insurance companies. Because states define negligence differently, it’s important to understand the terms they use and where these laws apply:

Pure Negligence or Contributory Negligence

If you’re found negligent in any way and your actions contributed to a car accident, states that observe pure or contributory negligence do not allow you to receive insurance payouts from others. This applies even if your found to be responsible for a small percentage of the accident.

Comparative Negligence

States that use comparative negligence allow a weighted percentage of fault to be assigned to all parties involved in an accident when applicable. The degree of fault responsibility directly relates to the amount of compensation a given party will receive.

In the case above, Car A was found to be 70% negligent, which would result in Car A’s insurance company paying up to 70% of Car B’s repairs and medical costs.

Modified Comparative Negligence

In most states that apply modified comparative negligence, you may not be allowed to recover expenses from others in an accident if you’re found more than 50% or 51% at-fault. Additionally, each party must use their own insurance for repair expenses and medical bills — even in cases where fault is shared across multiple parties.