At Dudley DeBosier, our lawyers help injury victims with car accident claims every day. Many of those car accidents fall into categories such as rear-end collisions, intersectional accidents, or lane-change crashes. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, determining which driver caused the crash is not always clear—and in some cases, both parties share the blame.

So, what happens if you are partially at fault for a car crash?

Let’s say you’re involved in a lane-change crash with another driver who was speeding. You changed lanes without signaling, and the speeding driver struck your vehicle. In this scenario, Louisiana’s modified comparative fault rule comes into play when determining your compensation. Each driver is assigned a percentage of blame for the crash, and your total financial recovery depends directly on where your assigned percentage falls.

Under this rule, determining each party’s percentage of fault requires a thorough investigation of the crash, but two key principles apply when liability is split:

  1. You can still recover compensation as long as your fault is 50% or less. Your final payout will simply be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, Louisiana law completely bars you from recovering any compensation.
  2. An experienced attorney can fight to keep your fault below that critical threshold. Your lawyer will gather crucial evidence to minimize your assigned blame, ensuring the facts are interpreted fairly so you receive the maximum compensation possible.

Get a Free, No-Obligation Consultation Today

If you have questions about your rights after a car accident, even if you believe you may be partially at fault, contact Dudley DeBosier today. Our attorneys can review your claim and help determine your rights to compensation—dial 866-971-5201 now to get started. The call is free, and because we offer the No Fee Guarantee®, you won’t pay us anything unless we win money for you.