Facts are required to determine who is at fault in a multi-car accident. One or more parties can be responsible, and there are many different scenarios under which a multi-vehicle collision can occur. For instance, if a driver strikes another driver in the rear, and the hit vehicle then strikes the vehicle in front, the driver who first made contact may be liable for both collisions.
It’s difficult to determine fault for one collision. Multi-vehicle accidents are considerably more complex. Allow a car accident lawyer to lead your case, as they will definitively determine fault and seek fair compensation from liable parties.
Some Common Examples of Multi-Vehicle Collisions (and Explanation of Who Is at Fault)
Multi-car accidents can happen in an infinite number of ways, and each little detail of an accident can affect fault and liability. That said, there are some common and repeated types of multi-vehicle accidents, which include:
A Pileup on a Busy Roadway
The faster vehicles are traveling, the longer it takes them to stop. When one or more vehicles stop on a busy roadway, such as a highway, there is a significant likelihood of a collision and a possible pileup.
The reason why a vehicle is stopped is relevant when diagnosing fault, and such a reason may include:
- Debris in the roadway
- A vehicle stopped because of a defect (like a dead engine or blown tire)
- A driver who stops because they are impaired or tired
- A traffic jam
If debris is in the roadway, the owner of that debris (or the vehicle that the debris came from) may be liable for resulting collisions. If any motorist was following too closely (which is always a possibility when vehicles don’t stop before a collision), those parties may share fault for the accident.
Your attorney may review police reports, video footage, and other evidence to identify why one or more vehicles were stopped. Then, they can deduce who is liable based on all other relevant facts.
Multi-Vehicle Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end accidents are among the most common, as they can result from:
- Distracted driving, a motorist may not see one or more vehicles (or other hazards) ahead of them when they’re not paying attention
- Drunk and drugged driving, making drivers inattentive, slowing their reaction times, and making them prone to reckless behavior like speeding
- Tailgating, as failing to maintain a safe distance from a vehicle in front, is arguably the greatest risk factor for a rear-end collision
- Motor vehicle defects like faulty brakes
Common knowledge is that the motorist who rear-ends another vehicle is generally at fault for the accident. However, is that the case when multiple vehicles are involved in a rear-end accident?
Your attorney will pinpoint the causes of the accident(s) and determine who is at fault for each collision.
Intersection Accidents
Intersections are particularly likely to be the site of accidents in general. A multi-vehicle collision may also be more likely at an intersection because:
- Large numbers of vehicles converge at busy intersections, and a higher volume of vehicles presents a higher likelihood of accidents
- Vehicles are often traveling in close proximity at intersections (think of vehicles moving bumper-to-bumper through a green light or passing in opposite directions)
- Intersections can be confusing, particularly for inexperienced drivers, which can lead to erratic behaviors that catch other motorists off guard
For example, if a motorist has a green light but stops suddenly (perhaps because they’re unsure who has the right of way), a motorist behind them can easily strike their vehicle. Then, another motorist may strike the two vehicles that have already collided.
As you might guess, a lawyer can determine fault for an intersection accident. They will need to analyze all relevant evidence and information to confidently establish fault and liability.
Pedestrian-Related Multi-Vehicle Collisions
Pedestrians can trigger multi-vehicle accidents. A motorist may swerve, stop, or make other evasive maneuvers that cause multiple vehicles to sustain damage.
If a pedestrian jaywalks or engages in any other action that causes a multi-vehicle accident, the pedestrian may be at fault for the collision (and liable for resulting damages).
Attorneys Diagnose Fault for Their Clients, Including After Multi-Car Accidents
It is difficult to speculate about who is at fault in a multi-car accident. There are merely too many possibilities for how such an accident might occur to take such a guess.
Rather than guessing, you should hire a car accident lawyer to determine fault for your collision. It is critically important to know who is at fault for the accident because:
- The at-fault party’s insurance company may owe you money: Usually, fault is a factor in which person’s insurance company pays for an accident. Therefore, your lawyer will likely need to prove a third party’s fault if you are going to obtain compensation from their insurance provider.
- You may sue the at-fault party: If someone is at fault for your car accident, you may be eligible to sue them. This fact can become even more important if insurance companies can’t or won’t cover the cost of your losses.
- You may be accused of being at fault (exposing you to financial liability): Disproving accusations of fault may be just as important as proving that someone else is at fault. Insurance companies or those who directly caused the accident may accuse you of causing it, and your lawyer will disprove any such accusations.
The cost of motor vehicle accidents can reach six figures when serious injuries happen. Some accidents may even cause seven-figure harm. It is critical that you prove that you are not at fault and that someone else is.
You May Face an Unfair Accusation of Fault (and Face Other Bad-Faith Tactics)
Accusing you of causing an accident may be the most obvious way for at-fault motorists, insurance companies, and other liable parties to try to avoid a financial loss. This is just one of many bad-faith tactics you can encounter after a multi-vehicle collision.
Your car accident lawyer will make attempts to undermine your case, which may include:
Lowballing You
Even if an insurance company does not deny your claim, it may undervalue it. An auto insurance provider might extend a lowball settlement offer because:
- It can do so without any real repercussion
- Some car accident victims assume that insurance companies only offer fair settlements, so they may accept (and let the insurance company off the hook)
- Some car accident victims are under immense financial pressure and are tempted to accept a lowball offer (even when they know it’s a lowball offer)
Insurance companies are in business to make money. When an auto insurer pays a claimant, they are losing money. Therefore, you should never be surprised if an insurance company engages in tactics like lowballing, clearly meant to limit its loss.
Stalling
An insurance company may be quick to offer a lowball settlement but slow to act after it offers the settlement. This may be a pressure tactic. Allowing a lowball offer to linger, in the insurer’s eyes, may tempt you to accept that offer, especially as the financial pressure of the accident is on you.
Stubborn Negotiation Tactics
Your car accident lawyer should make clear to insurance companies that you will not accept a lowball offer. Your lawyer may then negotiate a settlement with one or more liable insurers.
Insurance companies can make settlement negotiations difficult by:
- Misrepresenting the details of the policy
- Suggesting that certain medical treatments are not necessary
- Suggesting that one or more of your injuries did not occur during the accident (but perhaps occurred before or after)
- Challenging your lawyer’s valuation of your losses
- Refusing, at least initially, to increase their settlement offer
You should seek a skilled personal injury attorney who has recovered large settlements for car accident victims. Such an attorney will be familiar with and undaunted by hardball negotiation tactics.
Putting Off a Fair Settlement Offer Until the Last Minute
Insurance companies know that car accident victims may file lawsuits if they don’t receive a fair insurance settlement. Still, the insurer is often intent on paying as little as possible to the claimant.
Any insurance company that owes you compensation may bluff, delay, hold firm, and try to avoid paying you fairly—until the very last minute. They may even allow you to file a lawsuit before they extend the offer you deserve.
These are headaches that you don’t need. Allow a lawyer to deal with insurance companies, duck bad-faith tactics, and hold insurers accountable to their policies.
How Else Will a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me After the Multi-Car Collision?
Dealing with insurance companies is a critical responsibility for any car accident lawyer, however, it is far from the only way a lawyer will help you.
You should also expect your car accident attorney to:
- Detail the multi-car accident with evidence: Proving fault requires evidence. Your lawyer may interview witnesses, record your account, secure video footage, and obtain all other evidence that helps prove who caused the multi-vehicle accident.
- Prove the details of your damages: Your lawyer will pull all medical files, images of injuries, medical bills, and other documentation of your damages. They will also get copies of any invoices for vehicle repairs, expert testimony about your damages, and other relevant materials that prove your damages.
- Establish the cost of your damages: Your car accident attorney will use proven and accepted methods to calculate the cost of your damages. This may include pain and suffering, being one of the more difficult damages to calculate.
- Lead settlement talks on your behalf: Your lawyer will prepare all relevant case materials and negotiate with insurance companies. They may seek compensation from multiple insurers, especially if multiple parties contributed to your accident.
- Help you make all case-related decisions: You may need to make several important decisions as your case moves forward, including whether to accept settlement offers. Your lawyer will lend their advice and perspectives so you can make the right decisions at every point in your personal injury case.
- Represent you in court, if necessary: It’s possible that your case will require a lawsuit. If it does, it’s then possible that your case will require a trial. Your lawyer will lead each of these processes for you if they prove necessary.
Ask someone who has used a lawyer after a car accident. They will likely tell you that the services, advice, and peace of mind a lawyer provides are priceless.
Your recovery needs your undivided attention. Let your lawyer lend their undivided attention to any insurance claims or lawsuits related to the multi-vehicle accident.
Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Means Much More Than Just Hiring a Lawyer
When you hire a car accident lawyer, you get more than just a lawyer. You also get:
- The help of paralegals and other support staff that your law firm employs
- The services of any experts your lawyer hires to contribute to your case
- The full financial support of the law firm
- The experience that your attorney and other members at the firm bring to your case
When someone does a job day-in and day-out, typically they are much better at that job than someone less experienced. Therefore, why not let a lawyer fight to obtain fair compensation from the insurance company to cover all of your damages?
Damages That Your Car Accident Lawyer May Obtain Compensation For
Effective lawyers account for every single damage their client suffers, which often includes:
- Medical costs
- Rehabilitation costs
- Vehicle repairs
- Replacement of a totaled vehicle
- Temporary transportation
- Lost income
- Diminished earning power
- Pain and suffering
Each car accident victim faces unique damages and challenges, and conditions like disabling injuries are relevant. Your lawyer will compose settlement demands that reflect the unique harm you have suffered.
Can I Afford a Car Accident Attorney?
Expect your lawyer to accept your case on a contingency fee. This means that you’ll pay your law firm no out-of-pocket fee, they will cover all expenses, and your attorney will only receive a fee if they win for you.
An Experienced Car Accident Is Waiting To Take Your Call
Don’t wait to hire your personal injury attorney, as they must secure evidence, report injuries, and file all necessary legal documents as soon as possible.