DCPD Accident Examples

Use these examples to understand when a driver is considered at-fault.

On this page

Vehicles travelling in the same direction and lane

These accidents occur when vehicle A is struck from the rear by vehicle B while both vehicles are travelling in the same direction and in the same lane.

Scenario 1

If vehicle A stops or is moving forward, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100 per cent at fault for the accident.

On an undivided two‑lane road at an uncontrolled intersection, Car A slows/stops before proceeding and Car B rear‑ends Car A.

Scenario 2

If vehicle A turns right or left to enter a side road, private road, or driveway, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100 per cent at fault for the accident.

Red Car A turns left across double yellow lines and collides with the front-left side of blue Car B traveling straight on a two-way road.

Scenario 3

If vehicle A enters a parking place on the right or left side of a highway moving forward, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100 per cent at fault for the accident.

Red Car A crosses a dashed white lane line and collides with the front-left side of blue Car B traveling straight in an adjacent lane.

Vehicles travelling in the same direction and adjacent lanes

These accidents occur when vehicles A and B collide while travelling on a highway in the same direction, side by side, and neither overtakes nor passes the other.

Scenario 1

If neither vehicle A nor vehicle B are changing lanes when the accident occurs, and both vehicles are on or over the centre line, then the driver of each vehicle is 50 per cent at fault for the accident.

On an undivided four‑lane highway, Car A crosses a dotted white line into Car B’s lane and strikes Car B’s front passenger side.

Scenario 2

If the accident location cannot be determined, the driver of each vehicle is 50 per cent at fault for the accident.

A circle split vertically into a red left half and a blue right half, with the text “undetermined 50/50” centered over it.

Scenario 3

If vehicle B changes lanes when the accident occurs, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100 per cent at fault for the accident.

On an undivided four‑lane highway, Car B crosses a dotted white line into Car A’s lane and strikes Car A’s rear passenger side.

Vehicle travelling in the same direction and adjacent lanes – overtaking or passing

These accidents occur when vehicles A and B collide while travelling on a highway in adjacent lanes and vehicle A overtakes or passes vehicle B.

Scenario 1

If vehicle A is turning left at an intersection and vehicle B is overtaking or passing vehicle A, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

On a two‑lane road with double solid yellow lines at an uncontrolled intersection, Car A veers left in front of Car B (going straight) and strikes Car B’s front right.

Scenario 2

If vehicle A is turning left to enter a parking place, private road, or driveway and vehicle B is overtaking or passing vehicle A, the driver of vehicle A is 75% at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 25% at fault for the accident.

On a two‑lane road with double solid yellow lines, Car B moves from the right lane to the left lane; Car A then moves in front of Car B and strikes Car B’s front right side.

Scenario 3

If vehicle A is turning left to enter a parking place, private road, or driveway and vehicle B is overtaking or passing one or more vehicles stopped behind vehicle A, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

On a two‑lane road divided by double solid yellow lines, Car A enters Car B’s lane ahead and collides with Car B’s front passenger side while Car B travels straight.

Vehicles travelling in opposite directions

These accidents occur when vehicles A and B collide while travelling in opposite directions and adjacent lanes.

Scenario 1

If neither vehicle A nor vehicle B are changing lanes, and both vehicles are on or over the centre line when the accident occurs, the driver of each vehicle is 50% at fault for the accident.

On a two‑lane road in each direction with a double solid yellow center line and a dotted white lane line, Car A and Car B drift toward the center and collide.

Scenario 2

If the location of where the accident occurred cannot be determined, the driver of each vehicle is 50% at fault for the accident.

A circle split vertically into a red left half and a blue right half, with the text “undetermined 50/50” centered over it.

Scenario 3

If only vehicle B is over the centre line when the accident occurs, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

On a two‑lane road in each direction with a double solid yellow center line and a dotted white lane line, Car B crosses into Car A’s lane and collides with Car A’s front left.

Scenario 4

If vehicle B turns left into the path of vehicle A, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

Two vehicles traveling in opposite directions on a road with a double solid yellow line; Car B crosses into Car A’s lane and collides with Car A’s front left.

Scenario 5

If vehicle B is entering the highway from a parking place, private road, or driveway, and vehicle A is overtaking or passing another vehicle, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

On a one‑way road with a double solid yellow line on its right, Car A travels straight and is struck on its right side by Car B, which is hit on its front left.

Vehicle entering highway from a parking place, private road, or driveway

These accidents occur when vehicles A and B collide while vehicle A is travelling on a highway and vehicle B is entering the highway from a parking place, private road, or driveway.

Scenario 1

If vehicle B is entering the highway from a parking place and vehicle A is travelling past the parking place on the highway, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

Car B entering a highway from a parking place, private road, or driveway while Car A, traveling on the highway, collides with Car B.

Scenario 2

If vehicle B is entering the highway from a private road or a driveway, and vehicle A is travelling past the private road or driveway on the highway where there are no traffic signs at the intersection, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

A vehicle entering a highway from a parking area, private road, or driveway, as shown in figure 2.

Vehicle entering a controlled highway

Vehicles A and B collide while vehicle A is travelling on a controlled highway, and vehicle B enters the controlled highway from an entrance lane.

In this scenario, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

Car B entering a controlled highway collides with Car A; impact is between Car B’s front left and Car A’s front right.

Chain reaction accidents

These accidents happen when one or more vehicles are stopped or slowing down, and the back vehicle is struck from behind, leading it to strike the vehicle in front as a result.

The degree of fault for each accident between two vehicles involved in a chain reaction must be determined without reference to any other accidents in the chain reaction.

If all vehicles involved in a chain reaction accident are in forward motion or vehicles A and B are stopped when the accident occurs:

  1. With respect to the accident between vehicles A and B, neither driver is at fault.
  2. With respect to the accident between vehicles B and C, the driver of vehicle C is 100% at fault.

In this diagram, vehicles A and B are stopped or slowing down when vehicle B is rear-ended by vehicle C. Vehicle B is then pushed forward and rear-ends vehicle A. Drivers must be far enough behind another vehicle to be able to stop safely, even in an emergency. Therefore, the driver of vehicle C would be 100% at fault.

A chain‑reaction collision where Car C strikes Car B, causing Car B to hit Car A; Car C is shown as 100% at fault.

Pile-ups

If multiple vehicles are involved in a pile-up, each driver is 50% at fault in each accident between two vehicles.

On a four‑lane highway with all lanes traveling the same direction and separated by dotted white lines, multiple vehicles are involved in a pileup collision.

Intersections without traffic signs or traffic control signs

These accidents occur at an uncontrolled intersection (one without traffic signs or traffic control signs) when a vehicle is driving through the intersection and collides with an approaching vehicle, whose driver has failed to yield.

Scenario 1

If vehicle A enters the uncontrolled intersection before vehicle B, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

At an uncontrolled intersection (no traffic signs or signals), Car B rear‑ends Car A, striking its back.

Scenario 2

If both vehicles A and B enter the intersection simultaneously, and vehicle A is on the right of vehicle B in the intersection, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

At an uncontrolled intersection (no traffic or control signs), Car B collides with Car A.

Scenario 3

If it cannot be determined whether vehicle A or B entered the intersection first, the driver of each vehicle is 50% at fault for the accident.

A circle split vertically into a red left half and a blue right half, with the text “undetermined 50/50” centered over it.

Intersections with traffic signs

These accidents occur when vehicles A and B collide at a controlled intersection (one with traffic signs or traffic control signs).

Scenario 1

If the driver of vehicle B fails to obey a traffic sign, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

Car A (no stop/yield sign) and Car B (with a stop or yield sign) colliding at an intersection while both travel straight through.

Scenario 2

If the drivers of vehicles A and B both fail to obey a stop sign, the driver of each vehicle is 50% at fault for the accident.

Car B colliding with Car A at an intersection, with both vehicles traveling straight through the crossing. Both having stop signs.

Scenario 3

If it cannot be determined whether the drivers of vehicle A, B, or both, failed to obey a stop sign when the accident occurred, the driver of each vehicle is 50% at fault for the accident.

A circle split vertically into a red left half and a blue right half, with the text “undetermined 50/50” centered over it.

Scenario 4

If vehicle A stops first at an all-way stop intersection, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

A street intersection showing vehicles and a visible traffic sign (e.g., stop or yield) controlling the crossing.
Car B colliding with Car A at an intersection, with both vehicles traveling straight through the crossing. Both having stop signs.

Scenario 5

If both vehicles A and B arrive simultaneously at an intersection with an all-way stop sign, and vehicle A is stopped to the right of vehicle B, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

At a four‑way stop intersection, Car A and Car B are both stopped at the stop line.
At an all‑way stop intersection, Car B collides with the front of Car A.

Scenario 6

If it cannot be determined whether vehicle A or B arrived first at an intersection with an all-way stop sign, the driver of each vehicle is 50% at fault for the accident.

A circle split vertically into a red left half and a blue right half, with the text “undetermined 50/50” centered over it.

Intersections with traffic control signals

These accidents occur when vehicles A and B collide in an intersection with traffic control signals.

Scenario 1

If the driver of vehicle B fails to obey a traffic control signal, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident, and the driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

Car B (green light) colliding with Car A (redlight) at a signalized intersection, both vehicles traveling straight through.

Scenario 2

If it cannot be determined whether the driver of vehicle A or B failed to obey a traffic control signal when the accident occurred, the driver of each vehicle is 50% at fault for the accident.

A circle split vertically into a red left half and a blue right half, with the text “undetermined 50/50” centered over it.

Scenario 3

If the traffic control signals at an intersection are inoperative or malfunctioning, the degree to which each driver is at fault for the accident must be determined as if the intersection were an intersection with an all-way stop sign.

Car A and Car B colliding at a signalized intersection with traffic lights visible; both vehicles are traveling straight through.

Parking lots

The fault for an accident occurring on a thoroughfare, like a parking lot, must be determined as if the thoroughfare were a highway.

Scenario 1

If the accident occurs when vehicle A is travelling on a thoroughfare, and vehicle B enters the thoroughfare from a feeder lane and fails to yield the right of way to vehicle A, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

In a parking lot, Car A and Car B travel straight toward an intersection and collide; the front center of Car B strikes the front-right area of Car A.

Scenario 2

If the accident occurs when vehicle A is travelling on a thoroughfare or feeder lane, and vehicle B is entering the thoroughfare or feeder lane from a parking space and fails to yield the right of way to vehicle A, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

In a parking lot, Car B backs or pulls out of a parking stall as Car A collides with it.

Scenario 3

If the accident occurs in an intersection in a parking lot with a traffic sign, the degree to which each driver is at fault must be determined following the section on intersections with traffic control signals.

In an unmarked parking-lot-style intersection, Car A and Car B travel straight through the crossing, and Car B strikes the front driver’s side of Car A.

Scenario 4

If the accident occurs in an intersection in a parking lot without a traffic sign, the degree to which each driver is at fault must be determined following the section on intersections without traffic signs if it cannot be determined whether the roads are thoroughfares or feeder lanes.

A red car labeled A collides with the front-left side of a blue car labeled B in the middle of a four-way intersection. Parked vehicles are visible along the surrounding roads.

Parked vehicles

Scenario 1

If vehicle B collides with vehicle A while vehicle A is parked, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

Car B collides with Car A, which is a parked vehicle.

Scenario 2

If vehicle A is illegally parked, stopped, or standing when the accident occurs, and the accident occurs outside of an urban area, the driver of vehicle A is 100% at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is not at fault for the accident.

Note: If the striking/moving vehicle is uninsured or unknown (hit and run), DCPD does not apply, and the parked vehicle can claim through their own all-perils or comprehensive coverage if they have purchased the coverage.

Car A is parked in a no‑parking zone; Car B strikes Car A from behind.

Driver fails to obey a sign or direction

If vehicles A and B collide when the driver of vehicle B fails to obey a direction given by a peace officer or a sign prohibiting entry, overtaking, passing, or turning, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

On a one‑way highway, Car B traveling the wrong direction collides with Car A due to failure to obey a sign or directional indicator.

Backing up or making u-turns

If vehicles A and B collide while vehicle B is backing up or making a U-turn, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

A diagram or photo illustrating a vehicle either backing up or executing a U‑turn

Open doors

Scenario 1

If vehicle A collides with vehicle B when the driver or passenger in vehicle B opens the vehicle door or leaves the vehicle door open, the driver of vehicle A is not at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is 100% at fault for the accident.

Car B is parked beside a road with a solid white edge line; Car A stays outside the line, but Car B’s passenger door extends into the lane and strikes Car A.
Car B is parked beside a road with a solid white edge line; Car A stays outside the line, but Car B’s passenger door extends into the lane and strikes Car A.

Scenario 2

If vehicle A collides with vehicle B when the driver or passenger in vehicle B opens the vehicle door or leaves the vehicle door open in a manner which is reasonably safe and does not constitute a hazard to moving traffic, the driver of vehicle A is 100% at fault for the accident. The driver of vehicle B is not at fault for the accident.

Car B is parked beside a road marked with a solid white edge line; Car A drifts toward the curb and is struck by Car B’s open passenger door.
Car B’s passenger door opens and strikes the front of Car A.