Who is Responsible in a Multi-Vehicle Accident?
Life is unpredictable, especially while driving. There are hundreds or even thousands of other motorists on the same road as you are, some of whom may be a distracted driver. People are not always paying attention to the road, someone could run a red light, or a simple miscalculation can all lead to car accidents.
There is always a high risk of car crashes happening on the road. Machines that weigh thousands of pounds are moving at high speeds very close to one another, which is, unfortunately, a recipe for disaster. Even if you have a history of safe driving, accidents will occur and are one of the most common causes of injuries and death in the United States.
Multi-Car Accidents
In some cases, one collision can lead to a chain reaction car accident that results in more than two cars being involved. These multi-car wrecks happen most frequently in areas of heavy traffic, high speeds, or slippery road conditions.
When many drivers are involved, the issue of fault in a multi-car accident becomes complicated.
When two vehicles get into an accident on the road, determining liability is usually a fairly straightforward process. However, who is responsible for a multi-car accident, where a chain reaction causes damage and injuries to people in multiple vehicles?
What Matters For Your Claim?
Determining liability in these cases can become complicated very quickly, which is why you need a lawyer by your side with experience representing clients involved in multi-car accident cases.
At Mitch Grissim & Associates, our knowledgeable car accident attorneys are prepared to zealously advocate for your right to compensation and defend against claims of fault. To learn more, call or contact the office today to schedule a free consultation.
How to Determine Liability in a Multi-Car Accident
After a multi-car crash, it can be a difficult task to determine who is at fault. State traffic laws say that fault is typically assigned to one driver who starts the chain reaction that results in multiple damaged vehicles, but that driver may not be the only one who can be held liable.
What an Insurance Company Looks For
Insurers will look for any other reason why the multiple car accident occurred. Was one car following another too closely? Did part of the accident occur because someone was speeding or failed to signal?
Insurers will look for any reason to spread out the blame for the totality of the accident, and you risk being accused of causing part of the crash without an experienced attorney handling your case.
When other drivers involved in multi-car accidents are to blame, these companies prioritize proving fault lies with other vehicles.
Modified Comparative Fault in Tennessee
Tennessee uses a modified comparative fault rule when determining fault and compensation in personal injury cases, including those involving multi-vehicle accidents. Comparative negligence also plays a role in potential damages that will be paid.
Based on the evidence presented, the court determines the degree of fault for every driver involved in the accident and reduces their overall compensation for their injuries by that percentage. However, under the modified rule, if a party to the accident is found to be more than forty-nine percent at fault for the crash they are barred from collecting any compensation for their claims.
Let’s say, for example, that one car swerves into oncoming traffic and many cars collide as a result. If this driver is found to be at least 50% or more at fault, (very likely in this case), then they can receive no compensation for being hit by other cars. The most negligent party is the liable party a majority of the time.
Finding Multi-Car Accident Fault
When you have been involved in a multi-car collision, you should not attempt to navigate the claim process or insurance company negotiations on your own. Fault in a multi-vehicle accident is complicated, and you may become overwhelmed trying to prove fault lies with other drivers.
That is why you should get in touch with a car accident lawyer from our legal firm to have the best chance of successfully defending yourself. This expert will work toward establishing fault with the other driver, whether the accident began with a rear-end collision or a head-on crash with the other car.
How a Lawyer Can Help After a Multiple Car Accident
A lawyer can be the critical difference between collecting the compensation you deserve after a multi-car accident or being accused of causing the crash. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers prepared to fight any claims of injuries and use duplicitous tactics to try and trick victims involved in the accident into admitting fault for the crash.
This is why having the right lawyer on your side is so important after multi-car accidents. Various parties are trying to determine fault and deflect blame from themselves and their clients, and a lawyer can help guide you through the legal process in several ways.
Acting as a Shield Against Accusations
An experienced attorney serves as a shield against insurers and protects you from accusations of fault. One of the keys to winning your case and pursuing compensation is proving that you are not the at-fault driver when there are multiple vehicles involved.
Insurance companies are out to protect their bottom line by avoiding a large payout, so they will do whatever it takes to assign fault in a multi-vehicle collision elsewhere during their client’s insurance claim. They will look for ways to use the police report against you, even if biased opinions affected the official statements given after the car accident.
Investigating the Initial Collision
A lawyer will do an independent investigation of the accident and utilize that evidence to argue against any accusations of wrongdoing. This evidence could include the police report, eyewitness accounts from multiple parties, images of the cars involved, and other relevant evidence. By analyzing the crash report and taking other facts into account, they can help determine when driver A hits driver B’s car and how that led to driver C being involved.
This investigation will answer questions such as; Which was the first car involved? How many cars were in the car accident? Who is the most at-fault driver? Is more than one driver primarily responsible? Did one car start the chain reaction or were two cars to blame? Determining the at-fault party or parties is the top priority of the investigation.
Assessing Damages
A lawyer knows what your claim is worth and will not settle for anything less than the full and fair value of your case. Accident victims may have serious injuries, property damage, lost wages, or emotional distress as a result of multiple car accidents. A passionate lawyer from our law firm can help you pursue exactly how much compensation you deserve.
Bodily injury, property damage, and pain and suffering can be difficult circumstances to navigate after being in an accident with other cars, so let us provide peace of mind by helping you win fair compensation. We will offer a free case review before signing a contract so that you know what you are getting into.
Defending You During the Legal Process
Insurance companies and other drivers may come after you if you were a part of the collision, even if you had very little involvement. Our team of lawyers is equipped to defend you from all parties that are hoping to deflect blame and avoid the financial repercussions of causing the pileup.
We know what your rights are under Tennessee law, and will work hard to ensure that you are protected from unfair accusations and shady tactics by other parties. Our expertise will also guarantee that you are following the claims process legally and ethically, preventing your case from being disregarded due to procedural issues.
Call or Contact Us Today
Multi-vehicle incidents are extremely dangerous. The more vehicles that get involved, the more likely injuries and damages are to pile up. Multiple drivers may be at fault or it could be just one.
No matter how the car accident began, whether it was with an initial rear-end or a T-bone collision, determining fault in a multi-vehicle crash is far more complicated than it is with just two cars.
Ask Us About Filing a Claim
When you want to know if you can file a claim and win fair compensation after a multi-vehicle car accident, you have a big decision to make. Who will you trust to protect your interests and fight on your behalf against the shady tactics of the insurance companies?
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a multi-vehicle accident, let the knowledgeable Nashville car accident attorneys at Mitch Grissim & Associates protect and defend your legal right to compensation in the case. Call the office or contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Don’t let the insurance companies determine what kind of payout you deserve or who is at fault. Let one of our attorneys be a part of the process to give you a better chance of success.
