Determining fault in an accident is often clear-cut, but the waters can get a little muddy when the accident involves multiple vehicles. That is even more apparent when other factors add to the crash, like missing road signs, adverse weather, or government negligence. Cases in which multiple vehicles are involved are tough for attorneys, so it pays to understand the process of determining fault.

Last year, a driver suffered a medical emergency and slammed into a pickup truck, whose driver then slammed into another car, causing a chain reaction that left one person dead and eleven injured. The driver of the first car was charged with “failure to reduce speed and avoid a collision.” In most cases, if there is a multi-car accident, the first car’s driver at the back is usually at fault.

Finding fault is a bit more difficult in multi-car pileups in which fog or icy roads are to blame. Nevertheless, people have successfully sued government agencies for failing to adequately warn the public about inclement weather and sued municipalities for not posting warning signs in heavy fog areas.

Finding Fault in Rear-End Crashes

In almost every case, the car at the back of a chain reaction accident is at fault. However, there are cases in which a car farther up the chain is at fault. For example, if a driver slams on the brakes at a green light and the car behind them hits them, they can be held liable for damages. Likewise, if you are driving down the highway and miss your exit and decide to hit the brakes and back up, causing the car behind you to rear-end you and another car to swerve and hit two more cars, you can be found at fault.

Finding Fault in Accidents Involving Semi Trucks

Accidents that involve multiple cars and semi-trucks are even harder to litigate. In some cases, you will have to sue the driver, the driver’s company, the manufacturer of the driver’s truck, or the licensing board. For example, if the truck driver fell asleep at the wheel because he was allowed to drive beyond the maximum time allotment or caused a crash because his brakes failed, you may have to decide who to bring a suit against.

Factors to Consider When Finding Fault in an Accident

The wisest thing to do is to lawyer up and let your legal representative deal with everything, from investigating the accident to negotiating a settlement on your behalf. Here are the avenues that your attorney will pursue when building a compelling case for you:

• Whether the driver violates traffic laws
• Where the accident occurred
• Road conditions at the time of the accident
• Whether the driver was making a left-hand turn at the time
• The driver’s speed relative to road conditions
• Eyewitness statements
• Police reports
• Whether drivers were issued citations for their involvement
• Video surveillance available at the time
• The state of the scene of an accident
• The extent of the vehicle damage

How Your Attorney Can Help

If you have been involved in a crash, you will need an attorney to protect you and get you the compensation you need or protect you in a lawsuit if you caused the accident. When you need strong representation from an experienced firm, contact a Cohen & Jaffe car accident lawyer to review your case.

If you were the victim of an accident that involved multiple vehicles, you might be at a loss of where to start to get the compensation you need. You may be suffering from severe injuries, property damage, and loss of income. In addition, you will likely have to deal with multiple insurance companies, police officers, and eyewitnesses, which can become overwhelming while trying to recover. Your attorney can help you to navigate through this process with ease.

If you have caused a multi-car accident, you will need to take steps to protect yourself and your assets in a lawsuit. There are ways that your attorney can help to minimize your fault in the accident. Many people who think they were at fault find out that they may only share part (or even none) of the blame.

Just remember that it is crucial to hire an attorney in your state with proven experience in litigating car accidents and personal injury cases.

Author:

With a BA in communications and paralegal experience, Irma Dengler decided to make the best of her writing skills. She decided to turn complicated legal matters into something more

palatable for the masses. Therefore, Irma became a law communicator who writes about everyday problems so everyone can understand them and take the appropriate action. She specialized in personal injury cases, as they are more common than anyone thinks, but her areas of expertise also include civil law, criminal law, insurance-related issues, and more.