You must still show how the other party was wrong, but your own fault will be considered. Many jurisdictions use “comparative negligence” rules. This means your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% responsible, your total damages award will be decreased by 20%. In some places, if you are more than 50% at fault, you may be barred from recovering anything.

This situation is called being “upside-down” or having negative equity. The insurance settlement pays the vehicle’s actual cash value. If your loan balance is higher, you remain responsible for the difference to your lender. Your own gap insurance (if purchased) would cover this shortfall. Without gap coverage, you must pay the remaining debt out-of-pocket, even though you no longer have the car. This is a critical financial risk in total loss scenarios.

You prove it by gathering and presenting clear evidence. This includes photographs of the hazard or accident scene, official reports (like police or incident reports), witness statements, expert testimony (e.g., from an accident reconstruction specialist), and maintenance records. This evidence must collectively tell a clear story: the defendant created an unreasonable risk or failed in a duty of care, and that specific failure directly caused your specific injuries.