Can I get Compensation for a Car Accident Injury that was My Fault?

Car accident injuries can be expensive regardless of who was at fault.  People who are injured in car accidents often incur significant medical bills, lost time from work, and out of pocket expenses to take care of things that they were able to do before their accident such as child care, driving and household help.  If someone else is at fault for the accident then you have the legal right to sue that person for damages but what if the accident was your own fault? 

In many cases you can still collect damages if your car accident injuries were your own fault.  Many at fault car accident victims recover damages in one of the ways described below.

File a Counterclaim Against the Victim

Accidents happen quickly and you may believe that you are legally responsible for your car accident.  However, legal liability is often complicated and you may not bear the full responsibility, or any responsibility, for the accident which you think you caused.

If another party to the accident has already filed a claim against you alleging that you were at fault in the accident then you may be able to file a counterclaim against that party if the facts of your accident case support the premise that the other party was fully or partially responsible for the accident.  If you are successful in your counterclaim then the other party may be required to compensate you for your car accident injuries.

It is, therefore, important to share all of the details and documentation about your accident with your personal injury lawyer so that your lawyer can analyze the information and determine if you have a possible counterclaim against another party that may result in compensation for you.

Collect Compensation from your own Insurance Company

Even if you don’t have a counterclaim against another party and you are solely at fault for your own accident injuries then you may be able to collect compensation from your own insurance company.  It is important to look carefully at the terms of your policy in order to determine the amount of compensation to which you may be entitled.  As in any personal injury case, you will likely need a personal injury lawyer to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company.

Get Legal Help

A personal injury lawyer will analyze your case and pursue compensation on your behalf in the appropriate manner.  The other accident victims will likely be represented by counsel, as will your insurance company, and they will be looking to deny you compensation for your injuries.  Thus, it is important for you to hire a personal injury lawyer who’s ethical and professional obligations are to provide you with zealous representation and to try to get you the compensation to which you are legally entitled.