Difference Between Car Crash and Car Accident
cartwrightlaw - November 21, 2023 -
Every driver dreads any collision resulting in property damage or bodily injury. Most people categorize these incidents as “accidents,” but a lawyer understands there’s a distinction between an accident and a crash.
There’s a distinction between a crash and an accident. If you’re involved in a car accident, determining whether it is a “crash” or an “accident” could make a difference in your claim.
Knowing the correct terminology for what happened can influence your injury case with insurers.
If you got injured in your car, bike, or any other incident, consider hiring an attorney who knows how to assess and discuss accident cases.
A highly experienced San Francisco injury attorney uses consistent language when dealing with the insurance company to avoid losing out based on technicalities.
Difference Between Car Crash and Car Accident
The dictionary meaning of an accident is an unexpected happening that causes loss or injury that is not due to fault or misconduct of a person. On the contrary, a crash is a collision due to the fault of one or more parties. Interestingly, insurance companies love using the word “accident” because the word implies your injury or property damage was no one’s fault.
However, the truth is that most accidents arise because of someone’s fault— another party, including a driver, did something wrong, and they should be held liable by paying damages through their insurance company.
The likelihood of being involved in a crash highlights the need to acquire auto insurance. In the unfortunate event a crash occurs, money is available to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, property damages, and losses related to accidents.
Although a car accident lawyer can use the word “accident” in casual conversation, their choice of words in a jury can make a difference to the eventual settlement. Using the words “crash,” “wreck,” or “collision” is more accurate because these words imply fault.
The word “crash” paints a better understanding of the actual events. A car accident could mean many things, including spilling coffee inside the car. Technically, a car accident has little implications.
A car crash or wreck means one vehicle came into contact with another, and a specific person is liable for damages. While proving liability in a car crash might be difficult, using the correct language can help everyone involved understand the implications of fault in an auto collision.
Preventable Collision
The difference between a car crash and an accident determines who’s responsible for the car crash. If someone is responsible for a car crash, it becomes a preventable collision.
The National Safety Council defines a preventable collision as an incident where a driver fails to do everything logically to avoid it. In a nutshell, the car crash could not have occurred if the driver had done the right thing.
Ultimately, there’s someone responsible for a preventable collision or a car crash and should be held liable for it.
What to Do After a Car Crash?
There are millions of car and light truck crashes that occur each year. Even so, being involved in a minor crash is stressful enough, so it is important to know the proper steps to take.
Here are a few steps to take to protect everyone involved:
Protect the Scene
First, remain calm, which is a critical aspect of dealing with the accident and its aftermath. Then, you can protect the scene by setting up flares or keeping your flashing lights on.
If it is dark and your lights are not working, use a flashlight to notify other oncoming vehicles. If possible, pull the vehicle to the side of the road to avoid further damage from oncoming vehicles.
Inform the Police
Before you call the police, check yourself and your passengers (if any) for visible injuries. Call 911 or ask someone to do so if someone appears injured in your vehicle or the other vehicle involved in the accident.
Even if there are no severe injuries, it is a good idea to call the police. You may need the police report to file an insurance claim for the damages sustained by your vehicle.
Make an Accurate Record of the Accident
Different state laws stipulate the type of information you can exchange with the other driver involved in a crash. Restrict your exchange to insurance and contact information to prevent saying anything that may work against your claim.
Here’s a list of information that may be helpful for your insurance claim:
- Name and contact information
- Location of the accident
- The insurance policy number and the company
- Color, type, and model of the vehicle
- Vehicle’s license plate number
- Driver’s license
If you’re equipped with a camera, take pictures of the vehicle if there’s visible damage. However, avoid interfering with an ongoing police investigation. If you cannot take pictures at the scene of the accident, take them as soon as possible after the incident.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Inform the insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. Most states require vehicle owners to have minimum bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. Your policy’s collision coverage will cater to the damages in your vehicle.
On the other hand, medical coverage and personal injury coverage will cater to the cost of injuries that you sustain.
Protect Your Rights
Another significant thing you should do after an accident is to consult an attorney. An attorney will protect your rights by making sure valuable evidence is preserved. Your attorney can also advise you on different things including how to make sure you’re fully compensated and to get the best treatment plan.
Speak to an Experienced San Francisco Car Crash Attorney
While the effects of a car crash are apparent, it is not automatic to get fair compensation from an insurance firm. It is a complex and time-consuming process that involves drafting, submitting, and negotiating with the insurer.
That said, consider working with an experienced car crash attorney like The Cartwright Law Firm to boost your chances of getting fair compensation.
Contact us online or call us at (415) 851-6486 for a free case review.
Every driver dreads any collision resulting in property damage or bodily injury. Most people categorize these incidents as “accidents,” but a lawyer understands there’s a distinction between an accident and a crash.
There’s a distinction between a crash and an accident. If you’re involved in a car accident, determining whether it is a “crash” or an “accident” could make a difference in your claim.
Knowing the correct terminology for what happened can influence your injury case with insurers.
If you got injured in your car, bike, or any other incident, consider hiring an attorney who knows how to assess and discuss accident cases.
A highly experienced San Francisco injury attorney uses consistent language when dealing with the insurance company to avoid losing out based on technicalities.
Difference Between Car Crash and Car Accident
The dictionary meaning of an accident is an unexpected happening that causes loss or injury that is not due to fault or misconduct of a person. On the contrary, a crash is a collision due to the fault of one or more parties. Interestingly, insurance companies love using the word “accident” because the word implies your injury or property damage was no one’s fault.
However, the truth is that most accidents arise because of someone’s fault— another party, including a driver, did something wrong, and they should be held liable by paying damages through their insurance company.
The likelihood of being involved in a crash highlights the need to acquire auto insurance. In the unfortunate event a crash occurs, money is available to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, property damages, and losses related to accidents.
Although a car accident lawyer can use the word “accident” in casual conversation, their choice of words in a jury can make a difference to the eventual settlement. Using the words “crash,” “wreck,” or “collision” is more accurate because these words imply fault.
The word “crash” paints a better understanding of the actual events. A car accident could mean many things, including spilling coffee inside the car. Technically, a car accident has little implications.
A car crash or wreck means one vehicle came into contact with another, and a specific person is liable for damages. While proving liability in a car crash might be difficult, using the correct language can help everyone involved understand the implications of fault in an auto collision.
Preventable Collision
The difference between a car crash and an accident determines who’s responsible for the car crash. If someone is responsible for a car crash, it becomes a preventable collision.
The National Safety Council defines a preventable collision as an incident where a driver fails to do everything logically to avoid it. In a nutshell, the car crash could not have occurred if the driver had done the right thing.
Ultimately, there’s someone responsible for a preventable collision or a car crash and should be held liable for it.
What to Do After a Car Crash?
There are millions of car and light truck crashes that occur each year. Even so, being involved in a minor crash is stressful enough, so it is important to know the proper steps to take.
Here are a few steps to take to protect everyone involved:
Protect the Scene
First, remain calm, which is a critical aspect of dealing with the accident and its aftermath. Then, you can protect the scene by setting up flares or keeping your flashing lights on.
If it is dark and your lights are not working, use a flashlight to notify other oncoming vehicles. If possible, pull the vehicle to the side of the road to avoid further damage from oncoming vehicles.
Inform the Police
Before you call the police, check yourself and your passengers (if any) for visible injuries. Call 911 or ask someone to do so if someone appears injured in your vehicle or the other vehicle involved in the accident.
Even if there are no severe injuries, it is a good idea to call the police. You may need the police report to file an insurance claim for the damages sustained by your vehicle.
Make an Accurate Record of the Accident
Different state laws stipulate the type of information you can exchange with the other driver involved in a crash. Restrict your exchange to insurance and contact information to prevent saying anything that may work against your claim.
Here’s a list of information that may be helpful for your insurance claim:
- Name and contact information
- Location of the accident
- The insurance policy number and the company
- Color, type, and model of the vehicle
- Vehicle’s license plate number
- Driver’s license
If you’re equipped with a camera, take pictures of the vehicle if there’s visible damage. However, avoid interfering with an ongoing police investigation. If you cannot take pictures at the scene of the accident, take them as soon as possible after the incident.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Inform the insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. Most states require vehicle owners to have minimum bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. Your policy’s collision coverage will cater to the damages in your vehicle.
On the other hand, medical coverage and personal injury coverage will cater to the cost of injuries that you sustain.
Protect Your Rights
Another significant thing you should do after an accident is to consult an attorney. An attorney will protect your rights by making sure valuable evidence is preserved. Your attorney can also advise you on different things including how to make sure you’re fully compensated and to get the best treatment plan.
Speak to an Experienced San Francisco Car Crash Attorney
While the effects of a car crash are apparent, it is not automatic to get fair compensation from an insurance firm. It is a complex and time-consuming process that involves drafting, submitting, and negotiating with the insurer.
That said, consider working with an experienced car crash attorney like The Cartwright Law Firm to boost your chances of getting fair compensation.
Contact us online or call us at (415) 851-6486 for a free case review.
“Our successful case results are a reflection of the values and virtues we believe in and uphold at Cartwright Law Firm. Nothing stops us from pursuing justice on behalf of those who need it.
Robert E. Cartwright Jr.
Founder and Managing Partner