ABA Family Legal Guide

Automobiles

Accidents and Insurance

Accidents

If I am in an car accident, do I have to worry about civil law? Criminal law? Both? Neither?

The annoying answer is "It depends." In some accidents, especially fender benders, no one will get a ticket or face any other criminal problem. If insurance handles any property damage and no lawsuit is filed, then you won't have to worry about civil law, either.

But let's say the accident is more serious and the police charge at least one of the drivers with an offense. That criminalcharge could mean a fine or jail time for the offender. But in the same case, a personal injury lawsuit for negligent driving could be filed, and this civillawsuit could lead to money damages being paid by one driver to the other (or others).