If both parties of an auto collision fail to file an incident report, can the at fault party still be sued for damages?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If both parties of an auto collision fail to file an incident report, can the at fault party still be sued for damages?
I was involved in an auto accident where
both parties agreed to not go through
insurance and ‘handle it ourselves’.
Now, the at fault driver is refusing to
follow through with the agreed terms.
Are they still liable? And if so, for
how long?
Asked on October 25, 2017 under Accident Law, Alaska
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
Yes, they can be sued: if there was a written settlement agreement, she can be sued for "breach of contract" to enforce its terms. If the "agreement" was never put in writing, you would sue her for "tort"--for driving negligently and causing the damage and/or injuries.
In your state, a tort claim for personal injuries can be brought for 2 years after the accident; a claim for property damage for 6 years after the accident; a breach of contract claim for 3 years after she failed to honor the terms of the agreement.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.