Who is at Fault in a Multi-Car Accident

Liability when there is a multiple vehicle car accident.

Because several parties are involved in a multi-vehicle auto accident, determining liability can be difficult. It is possible that several parties involved share some degree of fault in the accident. In order to recover financial damages that you deserve, it is important to identify which parties were negligent for the accident. Multi-party liability can significantly complicate a lawsuit and claim for compensation for injury or property damage.

To learn more about how our personal injury law firm can file your claim and investigate liability, call and schedule a free consultation with an attorney.

An attorney can review the accident, determine if you have a case, and provide some understanding to negligence concerning your particular accident.

A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states there is a car accident every minute in the United States. Approximately 1/3 of these crashes are multiple vehicle accidents — also known as pileups.

Common multiple-vehicle auto accidents include:

  • Rear-end Accidents
  • Head-on Accidents
  • T-bone Accidents

Each of these types of crashes have a high risk of serious injury or wrongful death.

Proving fault in a Multi-vehicle accident

In these personal injury cases, more than one driver may have contributed to the accident. The police report at the scene may state which party is at fault. By nature, these types of accidents result in property destruction and injury. The process of determining which party is at fault can be complex. Insurance companies typically investigate claims of multiple vehicle accidents.

An investigation to prove liability involves

  • A review of the police reports
  • An interview with officers or other investigators
  • An inquiry about the drivers involved
  • An investigation to determine if any of the drivers
    • were driving while under the influence
    • Have any outstanding warrants
    • Were in possession of narcotics
    • Hold a driver’s license
    • Were speeding
    • Were using a cell phone during the accident
    • Were distracted driving
    • Were driving recklessly or aggressively
    • Were uninsured
  • An interview with witnesses, passengers, and drivers
  • An examination of the vehicles and property damage involved in the accident
  • A review of driving records (citations, accidents, history of reckless driving) of the parties involved