Understanding Fault in Oklahoma Car Accidents
If you’ve recently been in a car accident in Oklahoma and are wondering about fault, you’re not alone. It’s a common question, especially when accidents involve rear-end collisions. Many people believe that if they hit someone from behind, they are automatically at fault. However, that’s not always the case.
As an experienced lawyer in Tulsa, I’ve seen many cases where fault is not as clear-cut as it may seem. In this article, I’ll explain how fault is determined in Oklahoma car accidents and provide some examples of situations where you may not be at 100% fault, even if you hit someone from behind.
Comparative Fault in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, we follow a system of comparative fault, which means that more than one party can be at fault for an accident. When determining fault, a judge or jury will consider each party’s degree of fault and assign a percentage of fault to each party.
If you were involved in an accident and are found to be partially at fault, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 30% at fault for an accident and are awarded $10,000 in damages, your compensation will be reduced by $3,000 to account for your percentage of fault.
Examples of Situations Where You May Not Be at 100% Fault
Now that you understand how fault is determined in Oklahoma, let’s look at some examples of situations where you may not be at 100% fault, even if you hit someone from behind.
One example is if the car ahead of you suddenly stops or slows down without warning, such as if they are turning left and you don’t see their signal in time. In this situation, the other driver may be partially at fault for not signaling or braking in a timely manner.
Another example is if the road conditions are poor, such as if there is ice on the road. If you hit someone from behind because you couldn’t stop in time due to the icy road conditions, you may not be at 100% fault. Instead, a third party, such as the city or property owner responsible for maintaining the road, may share some of the fault for the accident due to negligence in maintaining safe road conditions.
Contact Our Experienced Car Accident Attorney
If you want more information or need an attorney, contact us. I’m Oklahoma car accident lawyer Michael S. Ashworth, TulsaPersonalInjuryLawyer.Pro, Call Us First.
