Motor Vehicle Accident Resource Links

Federal Trade Commission
Provides consumer education materials on automobiles.

Federal Citizen Information Center
Features consumer information on cars.

Insurance Information Institute
Includes information on auto safety, auto insurance, teen drivers and more.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety / Highway Loss Data Institute
Features vehicle ratings, safety facts, publications and more.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Provides crash statistics and articles about automobile accidents, product safety, and child passenger safety.

National Safety Council (NSC)
Driving information. Features articles on car maintenance safety, air bag and seat belt safety, and more.

NSC Fact Sheet Library
Features fact sheets on tire blowouts, pedestrian safety, car phones, car breakdowns, car crashes, car fires, defensive driving and more.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Features consumer publications, product recalls, reports on unsafe products, statistics and more.

U.S. Department of Transportation
Features automobile statistics, dockets, rules and references.

Frequently Asked Questions about Motor Vehicle Accidents

Q: Can I recover even if the accident was my fault?

A: Whether you can recover if the accident was your fault depends on the laws of your state. Some states do not consider fault with regards to some damages, and in those states some of your economic losses may be paid by your own no-fault policy. Other states consider fault, but you may still be able to recover for your injuries, even if the accident was partially your fault. However, in that case, you may be required to prove that the other party's fault was greater than yours or to reduce the amount of your compensation by your percentage of fault.

Q: Who can I sue to recover my damages?

A: In some cases, an accident victim may be able to sue parties other than the at-fault driver. For example, if the at-fault driver did not own the car, the car's owner may also be liable for your damages. If the at-fault driver was impaired from consuming too much alcohol, you may be able to bring a "dram shop" complaint against a business that served alcohol to the driver even though he was visibly impaired. In some cases, you may be able to bring an action against another party, such as an automobile manufacturer or construction company, if a defect in the vehicle or the roadway caused the accident. If the accident involved a tractor-trailer, the driver's violation of rules and regulations may be the basis for a lawsuit against the driver or his or her employer.

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