In simple car accidents, only two vehicles are involved. Assigning fault is easier in those situations, because one of the two drivers is usually to blame. When multiple vehicles are involved in a crash, however, identifying fault is much harder. At The Stano Law Firm, our experienced car accident lawyer has handled all types of motor vehicle collisions. Call our office if you were involved in a multi-car pileup on the freeway and need help obtaining compensation. We can listen to your story in a free consultation and work toward identifying fault.
How Multi-Car Accidents Happen
Each accident is unique, but there are some common scenarios with multi-car accidents:
1. A driver behind causes a crash. The driver of Car A might rear end Car B, which forces Car B to slam into the rear of Car C. And on and on. In this scenario, the driver at the end of the chain is to blame for the pileup. We often see this type of accident in work zones, where there is one lane and cars are congested.
2. A driver in front causes a wreck. Suppose a motorist suddenly changes their lane and crashes into the car beside it. Once two cars collide, they lose all momentum and slow down. The vehicles coming up behind probably cannot brake in time, so they also crash. Or the drivers try to swerve, only to collide with other motorists. Suddenly, a chain reaction occurs, and cars collide with each other all over the place. Anyone who has watched a NASCAR race has seen this type of accident where one car up ahead spins out, triggering a pileup.
3.Other accidents. Not every multi-car crash conforms to the examples above. That is why an investigation is critical for determining fault. Some insurance companies assume the driver of the car in the rear is to blame or the car at the front of the line is at-fault. But a thorough canvassing of the evidence is critical.
What Evidence is Useful in these Cases
Multi-vehicle accidents tend to generate a large amount of evidence. Dozens of vehicles could be involved in the crash. Some of the most useful evidence is:
- Police reports. A responding police officer should document the location of the vehicles and the identity of the drivers.
- Witness statements. Eyewitnesses can help us piece together how the accident unfolded. Obviously, a witness’s perspective is shaped by where they are located. A driver near the back of the wreckage won’t see what happened up ahead. Still, each witness’s testimony is like a puzzle piece which we fit together.
- Physical evidence. Dents on the cars can illustrate the speed of the vehicles at the time of impact, and skid marks on the road will show a driver tried to hit the brakes.
- Video. A dashcam might have recorded the accident.
Who Determines Fault
Ultimately, fault will be determined by one of the following:
- Insurance adjusters. Multi-car pileups involve dozens of insurance companies. Each company should assign an adjuster to investigate the crash. Their job is to identify fault by talking to witnesses, reviewing photographs of the accident, and possibly inspecting vehicles. The adjusters can then debate between themselves and reach an agreement on who is at fault. Insurance adjusters can assign fault to more than one driver.
- Lawyers. A driver can hire a lawyer to handle negotiations for them. There are many benefits, including the experience and time a lawyer can dedicate to the case.
- Drivers. The drivers involved in the crash could all agree on who is at fault for the wreck. This often happens when only two vehicles are involved. The odds are lower that all will agree when dozens of cars crashed.
- Jury. If your case heads to trial, then the jury hearing the case will determine fault after receiving all evidence, including eyewitness testimony under oath. The jury may even apportion fault between multiple drivers, if they believe the evidence supports that conclusion.
We should mention that the police officers responding to the crash can also assign fault in their police report. But their opinion is just that—an opinion. It does not have binding force, either in court or when negotiating with an insurance company. Nonetheless, no one should ignore the officer’s findings.
Were You Involved in a Multi-Car Pileup?
Contact The Stano Law Firm today to speak with a Houston car accident lawyer in our office. We can negotiate a settlement for your injuries. Our legal team leaves no stone unturned in trying to understand how a multiple-vehicle accident happened. We can talk with witnesses and even visit the scene of the accident, if there is critical evidence there. Contact us to schedule a free consultation at 832-777-0390 or submit your details online.