What to Know About Third-Party Liability Claims in Car Accidents

Car accidents are challenging for victims no matter what, but the presence of a third-party injury claim can make your lawsuit more complex. Hiring the right California personal injury lawyer to assist you with your legal claim can make your life easier during this difficult time. Knowing all of your legal rights is critical when preparing to file a third-party injury claim in California.

What is a Third-Party Liability Claim?

Third-party injury claims refer to situations where someone separate from your direct employer or at-fault party is responsible for your injuries. There are a few different situations in which this circumstance can arise, such as workplace injuries caused by equipment manufactured by another company, vehicle accidents involving a car driven by a contractor, or injuries on property that were under the management of a third-party entity. Third-party injury claims occur when someone is hurt due to the wrongdoing or negligence of someone who is not the primary respondent in a case. These can include non-employer entities, subcontractors, or product manufacturers.

Getting the contact details for anyone involved in the accident is important so your attorney can look into these key liability issues. Your lawyer can fully evaluate the accident to identify everyone involved and help you understand how they may be responsible.

How Do I Know Who is Responsible in a Third Party Liability Claim?

It can be challenging to figure out the responsible third party in your claim, but working with the right attorney can help you navigate this process. The most common situation in which this arises is an auto accident where multiple parties could be responsible, such as a vehicle maintenance provider or another driver.

Suppose you were involved in an accident with someone who was driving for work, for example. In that case, you may have a claim against their employer, and your personal injury attorney can help you identify the responsible parties and who all could be considered as accountable based on the specifics of your case.

This identification of responsible third parties is crucial for helping you secure maximum compensation. Defendants and third party claims will vary significantly based on the incident, so it’s important to gather this evidence and present it to your attorney as soon as possible.

Other Rules to Know When Filing an Injury Claim

You need to also be aware of California’s overall legal statutes that govern negligence, liability, and compensation, the comparative fault rules that allow an injured party to recover damages even if they are partially at fault, depending on the overall degree of negligence assigned to each party, and the statute of limitations. In California, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit, but this period may vary depending on the specific circumstances of your accident.

What Evidence Do I Need?

The kind of accident will determine what evidence you collect. If you were taken away from the accident scene due to severe injuries, you may have to do some extra work to get the police report, any photos, and any eyewitness contact details. Your lawyer may also be able to help you with this and to determine if any other evidence can be collected to show who was responsible.

As an accident victim, let your lawyer do the heavy lifting of pulling together materials, communicating with the insurance company, and handling trial preparation. This way you can be kept informed of what’s happening without having ton worry about all the details yourself. Especially with complex third-party liability claims, having a lawyer in your corner is key.

How to Find the Right Lawyer to Help with a Third Party Liability Claim

Finding an attorney who is familiar with third party claims and overall personal injury claims can give you a great deal of peace of mind and confidence about how you decide to move forward with your own injury claim. Our lawyers have ample experience investigating entire accidents and helping to identify third party claims. We are also familiar with guiding victims through the legal process of potential pitfalls that can occur if you have an injury claim with multiple possible responsible parties. Allow us to be your advocate and fight for you.