Should You Accept Split Liability In A Vehicular Accident?

Accidents on the road are one of the most financially, physically, and mentally taxing events in our lives.

The most difficult and bewildering aspect of any accident is that both parties see themselves as innocent. It doesn’t matter whose fault it was; everyone feels they were right, and this can pose a huge problem for the person who is not at fault and wanting to be compensated for the incurred damages. Moreover, just like most things in life aren’t black and white, events like these aren’t either. This is where split liability springs into action, and knowing about it can help you reach an amicable solution that’s agreeable for both parties.

However, many people feel that the legal terms involved are too difficult to understand and don’t even try to understand them. If you can understand what split liability entails and when you should settle for one, you’ll have a much easier time handling the processes. So without any further delay, let’s find out whether or not you should accept split liability.

1. Understand It

The term “Split Liability” should be abundantly clear, but there are many hidden implications behind it, too. It is best to properly understand what a split liability agreement contains before you agree to it. The gist of it is that both the parties agree to accept responsibility for the accident, and neither is entirely at fault. It is a very common occurrence in vehicle accidents as there are a lot of rules that leave space for interpretation. If you don’t understand the impacts a split liability claim can have on other aspects, you might end up in a scenario you won’t particularly like. 

2. The Cascading Effects

When you’re at the junction where most people get stuck or make the wrong decision, you might try to cut your losses by agreeing to a split liability agreement. However, it will have far-reaching consequences for many things like your personal injury claim, insurance claim, and much more. Deciding on a split liability agreement means that you agree to be at fault, no matter how small your part in it was, and this qualifies your insurance policy provider to give you only limited support. Every car accident lawyer believes that this can’t be contested, and you need to be cautious. You might end up having to pay the excess due on your policy, so it is something that should be carefully considered beforehand. Even in the case of a personal injury, you won’t be able to get 100% of the claimed amount because you’re admitting that you were at fault. So, think wisely about all of these domino effects before you make any critical decisions. 

3. Last Resort

Needless to say, accepting a split liability should be your last resort. Other than that, never agree to split the liability if you are confident you have the advantage. People who believe that they are at fault and that there is a great possibility that they might lose the lawsuit will settle for a split liability. If you have built up a strong case, you have witnesses who’ll testify in your favor, and if you’re confident about winning, then you shouldn’t under any circumstances settle to split the liability. It only makes sense to do so when you are on the backfoot and can’t afford to bear the full costs. In all the other scenarios,  and you know you’ll win the lawsuit if it goes to court, it doesn’t make sense to accept split liability. At all times, think about the cards in your hand, and only then will you be able to make the right decision.

These are just some of the things that one should ponder before accepting the split liability in a road accident. Even though there are many other factors to consider, these are the most important, and you must, at least, give some thought to them. If you truly believe that you control the direction of the case, you shouldn’t settle for split liability. However, if you have even a sliver of doubt regarding your claims, it might be the right choice. No one ever wants to be involved in a road accident. The stress becomes unbearable, and making wrong decisions on a whim or due to lack of knowledge compounds your uncertainty. Ultimately, the choice rests with you, and you should be the only one determining how to proceed in such a complex scenario, so be sure to always be well informed before making any decisions.