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It is Rare but in Some Situations a Person Can Be Partially at Fault for Being Rear-Ended

You may have heard that the opposing driver is always at blame in a rear-end vehicle collision if you are driving the front car. While it is true that the opposite party is frequently at blame in these sorts of incidents due to their nature, there are a few exceptions. While it is improbable that you will be held totally to blame for the accident, you may be found partially to blame. Continue reading to discover more, and then call 909-982-0707 to schedule a free legal consultation with Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas.

Situations in which you may be held partially responsible

If your brake light or taillights were not functioning properly at the time of the collision, the motorist behind you would not have received the necessary warning that you were stopping. This might lead to you being held partially at blame, particularly if the collision occurred late at night.

If your car breaks down and you do not take the necessary precautions to safely drive it off the road or make it evident that it is broken down, and a car hits you from behind, you might be held partially responsible. Get your automobile off the road if possible. If you cannot, make sure your emergency flashers are turned on to let other drivers know there is a problem.

If you make an improper lane change in front of a car and it hits you, you might be held completely responsible. This is why you should always use your turn signal, avoid lane changes in congested areas, and check your blind spot to ensure no one is in the lane you are changing into.

Finally, if you come to an abrupt halt and are struck by a car behind you, or if you switch on your turn signal but do not complete the turn and are hit by a car behind you, you may be deemed partially at blame. Always be aware of the vehicles surrounding you and do not slam on your brakes unless absolutely essential.

What happens if you are found partially responsible?

The good news is that even if you are judged partially at blame, you may still be entitled to compensation for your injuries. In California, the legal system is based on comparative negligence, which means you can still obtain damages but they will be reduced by your degree of blame. For example, if you are determined to be 25% at blame, you will be entitled to collect 75% of your losses.

If you have been harmed in a car accident, call the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We may be able to get compensation for your losses even if you were partially at fault.