How Can You Tell Who Hit Who in a Car Accident?

How Can You Tell Who Hit Who in a Car Accident?

The minutes and hours after a car accident are a blur of adrenaline, shock, and confusion. Now that you are home, away from the flashing lights and the immediate chaos on a Seattle street, a different kind of stress begins to set in.

You replay the crash over and over in your mind, and one question echoes louder than any other: how do you prove what happened? Figuring out who hit who in a car accident is the first step toward putting the pieces of your life back together.

This process relies on gathering facts and evidence to build a clear picture of the moments leading up to the collision.

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Your Own Documentation: Photos and Notes

The information you collect is powerful. Even if you were only able to take a few photos at the scene, that visual evidence is incredibly valuable. If you were unable to take pictures then, it is still a good idea to photograph the damage to your car in detail now that you are home.

Think about the details of your surroundings. Were you on a narrow street in a neighborhood like Ballard with cars parked on both sides? Were you at a complex intersection, like the five-point Mercer Mess in South Lake Union? These specifics matter.

• Photograph all vehicle damage: Take close-up shots of the damage to your car and the other vehicle, if possible. Also take wider shots to show the location of the damage on each car.
• Document the scene: If you have photos of the location, they can show things like traffic signals, stop signs, road conditions, and any skid marks on the pavement.
• Write your own account: Write down everything you remember. Include the time of day, the weather, what you were doing right before the crash, the sequence of the impact, and anything the other driver said to you afterward.

Analyzing Vehicle Damage and Scene Clues to See Who Hit Who

The cars themselves often tell the most honest story of the collision. Physics does not lie. The location and severity of the damage to the involved vehicles provide objective clues about how the crash occurred.

This physical evidence is a cornerstone for accident reconstructionists and insurance adjusters when determining who hit who in a car accident. The "point of impact," which is the exact spot where the cars first touched, is a critical piece of information derived from analyzing the damage.

Beyond the vehicles, the roadway holds clues. A debris field, which is the scatter of broken glass and plastic from the cars, can pinpoint where the collision happened on the road.

Long, dark skid marks show that a driver slammed on their brakes to avoid the crash, while a lack of skid marks may suggest a driver was distracted or unaware of the impending danger.

For instance, a crash on the SR 520 floating bridge has different environmental factors than one in a dense urban area.

1. Rear-End Collisions: In a typical rear-end crash, there is a general presumption that the driver of the back car is at fault. The law requires drivers to maintain a safe following distance. However, exceptions exist, such as if the front driver suddenly slammed on their brakes for no reason or had non-working brake lights.
2. T-Bone (Side-Impact) Crashes: This type of accident, common at intersections, usually happens when one driver fails to yield the right-of-way. For example, if someone runs a red light at an intersection in Fremont and hits the side of a vehicle proceeding on a green light, the damage pattern clearly shows a side impact, and the fault generally lies with the driver who disregarded the traffic signal.
3. Head-On Collisions: These are among the most severe types of accidents. The evidence here often focuses on which vehicle crossed the center line of the road. Scrapes on the road surface, tire marks, and the final resting position of the cars help establish which driver veered into oncoming traffic.

The Power of Witness Statements

An independent witness is a powerful ally in establishing the truth. A witness is a neutral, third-party observer who saw what happened but has no personal or financial stake in the outcome.

Their account of the events is often viewed as highly credible because they have no reason to be biased toward either driver. If you or someone else at the scene was able to get the contact information for any witnesses, their testimony adds a vital layer of evidence.

A good witness provides a perspective that you, as a driver involved in the crash, simply cannot have. They might have been standing on a corner waiting to cross the street or sitting in a nearby cafe, giving them a clear and unobstructed view of the entire sequence of events.

• Confirming traffic signals: A witness is often in the best position to state definitively who had the green light or who rolled through a stop sign.
• Observing driver behavior: They may have noticed a driver looking down at their phone or driving erratically in the moments before the collision.
• Providing a different vantage point: A witness across the street saw the accident from a different angle than you did, and their description helps to create a more complete, three-dimensional understanding of the crash.

Using Traffic Laws to Establish Fault

All of the evidence collected—the police report, photos, and witness statements—is compared against Washington's traffic laws, also known as the "Rules of the Road."

Proving that the other driver violated a specific traffic law is a very direct way to show they were negligent and therefore at fault for the accident.

In legal terms, this is sometimes called "negligence per se." This concept means that an action is considered negligent simply because it violates a law that was designed to protect public safety.

If a driver was issued a ticket for a traffic violation, that is a strong piece of evidence supporting a finding of negligence per se.

Common traffic violations that lead to accidents in the Seattle area include:

• Failure to yield the right-of-way at intersections or while merging.
• Following too closely on major highways like I-90 or Aurora Avenue.
• Making an improper lane change without signaling or checking blind spots.

What Happens When Both Drivers Share Blame?

In some crashes, the situation is not black and white. It is possible for an investigation to show that both drivers made mistakes that contributed to the accident. Washington state law has a specific rule for handling the situation when this happens. This rule is called "pure comparative fault."

Pure comparative fault is a system that allows you to recover damages from the other driver even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your total compensation award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

This is different from the law in some other states, where being even 1% at fault prevents you from recovering anything. Laws change regularly and the general public is not made aware.

Going forward with a legal claim without current knowledge of laws and statutes is a sure way to lose. The best way to ensure you have the correct information is to hire an experienced local attorney.

Charting Your Path Forward After a Crash

Trying to piece together the events of a car accident is a difficult and draining task. The evidence, from the police report to the location of the vehicle damage, tells a story.

How these pieces fit together is the key to determining fault and moving forward. If you feel lost in this process, remember that you do not have to figure it out without the proper guidance.

Speaking with a legal professional can bring clarity to your situation. The team at Pendergast Law is here to listen to your story and discuss your options.

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