Car accidents can leave drivers unsure about how to handle claims related to injuries or property damage. But when an accident occurs on private property, it can be even more difficult to determine who is responsible for damages.
There are many factors to consider when you’re involved in a car wreck on private property. Understanding how to determine liability helps you file a successful claim and recover any losses.
NEGLIGENCE IN CAR ACCIDENTS
The first step in determining liability is to identify negligence on the part of drivers involved in a car accident. Negligence in accidents that occur on private property will be the same as that which occurs on public property.
Understanding negligence is important in cases that involve personal injury. It’s defined as the failure of one or more individuals to exercise proper care resulting in injury to another party.
Courts often base negligence on the actions that a reasonable person would take in a given situation. This includes actions such as looking in both directions prior to crossing a street or using a turn signal to indicate their intended direction.
ACCIDENTS ON PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
Car accidents that occur on public streets don’t hold the state liable to the parties involved. But when it occurs on private property, the owner of the property may share some liability.
Lack of signs, poor visibility, and other factors may contribute to an accident and be a result of negligence on the part of the property’s owner.
In addition, the property owner may have security footage that can help drivers and their insurance providers determine who is at fault in a car accident. As a result, they may be obligated to provide any evidence.
Also, police officers may not issue tickets to drivers who are involved in a car accident on private property. This can make it difficult to prove negligence and should be considered when you’re involved in an accident.
Accidents that occur in parking areas often result in having drivers who refuse to acknowledge fault. The best option is to exchange information and provide it to your insurance company.
But once you have reported the accident to your insurance provider, you should take the steps to gather all of the evidence available to support your claim. This provides support for your position and ensure that you are not held at fault.
REPORTING THE ACCIDENT
You should report accidents to your insurance provider as soon as you can. This is true even in cases where minor damage has occurred, as incidents that may trigger your coverage must be reported according to your insurance agreement.
This can be helpful in cases where you may not be immediately injured. In some cases, pain can arise days or weeks after an accident has occurred. The earlier you report the incident, the more likely you are to receive compensation for your injuries.
Determining who is liable for a car accident on private property can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Understanding and identifying negligence is the first step in protecting yourself.
Gathering evidence and reporting it to your insurance provider protects you in the long run, and accidents on private property may differ than those that occur on public streets.
Protecting your best interests ensures that you receive any compensation for injuries or damages so that you can recover quickly.