How to Prove Liability in a Multi-Vehicle Car Accident
What Should You Do in the Aftermath of a Motor Vehicle Accident?
Unfortunately, auto accidents are common occurrences on the roads of the United States of America. If you have been in a motor vehicle accident, whether that crash involved one, two, or several vehicles, it is important that you take certain steps to safeguard your well-being and defend the strength of your personal injury claim.
Immediately following an auto accident, you must seek medical attention for any potential injuries, whether they are life-threatening or not. Failure to get medical care from professionals following a motor vehicle collision could result in your injuries worsening and insurance companies denying or devaluing your personal injury claims.
Contact law enforcement and first responders, and summon them to the scene of the accident. Depending on the severity of the crash, not only may law enforcement involvement be legally required, but any accident reports or police reports can prove to be valuable as evidence for your personal injury attorneys when it comes time to seek compensation.
Be guarded with whom you speak and where. Anything you say at the accident scene to the other motorists or insurance adjusters could be used against your personal injury case. Additionally, you should stay off social media and avoid speaking openly about the accident. Instead of speaking with the insurance company, other motorists, or the public about the accident case, we recommend that you seek out professional legal guidance from experienced attorneys.
Contact our law offices to schedule your free initial consultation with our legal team today. We proudly serve clients across many cities and multiple states, making us uniquely qualified to represent your interests in pursuing a fair settlement.
What Are Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents?
Tragically, multi-car accidents are common in various areas, including intersections and highways. Wherever there is a lot of traffic or in major arteries on the roadways, there is the potential for auto accidents and multiple vehicle crashes. Factors that may increase the likelihood of auto accidents include high speed rates, adverse weather conditions, poor visibility, heavy traffic, large trucks, and aggressive driving.
Behaviors and elements that can impact driver safety and influence the likelihood of multi-vehicle car accidents include the following:
· Tailgating or following too closely behind other drivers
· Dangerous lane changes and improper passing procedures
· Failure to yield to the right-of-way
· Distracted driving, including texting while driving or talking on a cell phone while driving
· Failing to obey traffic signs and signals
· Speeding, particularly in dangerous conditions
· Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
· Road rage and aggressive driving
· Driver fatigue and drowsy driving
· Slick roads, including roads impacted by rain, ice, and debris
· The inability to stop in time when driving at high speeds
· Human error
· Road conditions
· Vehicle defects
How is Fault Determined in Multi-Vehicle Crashes?
Determining liability and fault in auto accidents involving one or two vehicles can be complicated. It is even more complicated when an auto accident involves multiple vehicles, including multiple vehicle pileups on highways, several vehicles colliding at intersections, and more. In most car wrecks, one at-fault party may initiate the crash. However, that does not necessarily mean that they were the only at-fault party or that other drivers’ behavior didn’t contribute in some way to the cause of the accident.
To prove negligence and establish liability in a multi-car auto accident, there are several steps you can take that can help streamline the process and make things easier for you and any other injured passengers involved.
Firstly, you should retain the legal representation of an experienced car accident attorney in your area. The sooner you seek the legal advice of a lawyer, the more time they will have to perform a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash and help determine liability in the accident.
When you are at the accident scene, attempt to take as much photographic and video evidence of the crash, its cause, and its aftermath as possible. Cell phone footage of the vehicles involved, personal injuries, road conditions, weather conditions, debris, skid marks, and anything related to the crash could help establish how the accident unfolded.
If there were any witnesses to the auto accident, attempt to obtain their contact information for a later date. Your lawyers will be able to reach out to any eyewitnesses to get their testimonies, which can prove invaluable to your case.
By utilizing accident reports and the assistance of expert witnesses such as car accident reconstructionists, you and your motor vehicle accident attorneys will use all available evidence to establish the cause of the accident and, therefore, determine who is liable.
Is it Possible for More Than One Party to Be Held Liable?
Depending on the state where the accident occurred, one or more parties may be held at fault for the auto accident. For example, in comparative negligence states, it is possible for multiple parties to hold some level of blame for causing the crash, and their percentage of liability will impact their total compensation.
In states with comparative negligence understandings of personal injury law, the amount of negligence you are found responsible for will directly correlate to your financial compensation. For example, let’s say you were determined to be 20% at fault for the cause of the accident, in which case you would see your settlement reduced by 20%.
To learn more about comparative negligence and whether these laws apply to your case, please contact our law office to schedule a free case review with our legal staff.
What Sort of Financial Compensation Could Be Available in a Multiple-Car Accident Case?
Depending on the severity of the crash, who holds liability, and other various factors, injured motorists and pedestrians can potentially recover compensation for their injuries and other losses following a car crash. A car accident attorney can help maximize the compensation you stand to recover for your personal injury claims. If successful in seeking financial recovery, your compensation will be awarded in economic damages, non-economic damages, or both.
Potential financial recovery may include the following:
· Past medical bills and future medical expenses
· Lost wages and lost income-earning capacity if unable to return to work
· Disability, dismemberment, or disfigurement compensation
· Emotional distress and mental anguish compensation
· Physical pain and suffering compensation
· Out-of-pocket expenses related to the car accident
· Wrongful death damages
· And, in some extreme cases, punitive damages may also be recovered
Schedule a Free Consultation with Compassionate Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you are involved in a multi-vehicle car wreck, various pieces of evidence can prove extremely useful to you and your legal representatives. Photos and videos from the accident scene, vehicle damage, paint scrapes, data from an electronic data recorder, collision reports, medical records, and eyewitness testimonies can all prove invaluable.
When seeking justice and fair financial recovery following an auto accident, it is often necessary to retain the professional legal guidance of an experienced legal team. Our law firm proudly provides legal services to injured clients and their family members in various regions who need legal support. To learn more about the advantages of retaining our legal representation, please contact us to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Call us today at (888) 884-7337.