When you are involved in a car accident, you may be wondering what legal terms and definitions will be used to describe the event. This can depend on the type of accident, your state of residency, and the specific facts of your case. However, some standard terms that drivers may use include: at-fault, negligence, contributory negligence, comparative negligence, assumption of risk, and breach of warranty.
At-fault means that the driver responsible for the accident is the one who is legally accountable for the damages that drivers caused. Negligence refers to both the amount of care exercised by the driver and the vehicle's physical condition. Contributory negligence is when one party (usually the driver) contributes to the accident by doing something that increases their risk of being involved in an accident. Comparative negligence is when two or more parties are involved in an accident, and each party is responsible for its share of the damages.