Some common examples of crash situations

Below are some examples of motor vehicle crashes showing how liability is usually assessed in each case. Each example is illustrated in its own pop-up window, and provides a link to the Motor Vehicles Act. You might be able to find a situation similar to your collision. Remember, though, that every crash is unique. How liability is assessed will depend upon a number of different circumstances.

	Rear-end collision It's the law: See MVA 162
	Reversing vehicle on roadway It's the law: See MVA 193
	Moving past stop sign into thoroughfare It's the law: See MVA 175
	Who went through the red light? It's the law: See MVA 129
	Who made lane change before crash?
	Leaving curb parking It's the law: See MVA 169
	Vehicle leaving curb parking collides with left-turning vehicle at intersection It's the law: See MVA 165
	Overtaking vehicle collides with vehicle making right turn at intersection It's the law: See VA 151 and 165
	Left turn against oncoming traffic It's the law: See MVA 174
	Left-turning vehicle collides with vehicle leaving stop sign It's the law: See MVA165
	Vehicle leaving stop sign collides with vehicle in thoroughfare curb lane It's the law: See MVA 175
	Overtaking vehicle collides with vehicle making right turn at private driveway or parking lot It's the law: See MVA 167
	Which car was responsible for head-on collision? It's the law: See MVA 151 and 154
	Which car sideswiped the other? It's the law: See MVA 151 and 154
	Who entered the intersection first? It's the law: See MVA 175
	Opening vehicle door into traffic It's the law: See MVA 203
	Right of way at uncontrolled intersection It's the law: See MVA 173

As you will see, liability is usually assessed based on rules set out in the provincial Motor Vehicle Act. You may wish to check the Act for yourself. In the examples above, you'll find numbered sections of the Motor Vehicle Act (the "MVA") for your reference.

Based on the law, a vehicle that has the right-of-way [click for definition] over other vehicles is referred to as the "dominant" vehicle while the other vehicle is referred to as the "servient" vehicle. If a crash occurs, the driver of the dominant vehicle won't be found at fault unless it can be proven that the dominant driver did something wrong that contributed to the accident.

In the pictures, the "dominant" vehicle is always coloured blue, while the "servient" vehicle is coloured red. Where fault is shared equally, the vehicles are coloured blue and brown.

NOTE: In many cases, liability is not as clear-cut as shown in the illustrations. If it is not possible to establish, from all of the information and statements available, the degrees to which each person is at fault, then liability may be shared equally between those involved in the crash using the provincial Negligence Act as a guide.

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Some common examples of crash situations

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