Multi-Vehicle Car Accidents

When three or more vehicles collide, it’s known as a multi-vehicle accident. Most often, these types of accidents occur when one person rear-ends another causing a chain reaction. It is common for these accidents to happen if a line of vehicles is following each other too closely and the accident is unavoidable at the speeds they are traveling. When the number of vehicles increases so does the likelihood of bodily injury. These types of accidents can be one of the deadliest.

Causes

Several catalysts could result in a multi-vehicle accident:

• Distracted Driving: Diving while distracted by electronic devices, passengers, or trying to multitask is an easy way to get involved in a multi-vehicle accident.
• Intoxicated Driving: Under the influence of drugs and alcohol, drivers may lose control of their vehicles hitting multiple cars.
• Road Hazards: Unexpectedly having to swerve out of the way of road debris and potholes can cause a driver to enter other vehicles’ paths.
• Inclement Weather: Rain, ice, snow, and fog can make roads slippery and impair vision.
• Blocked Line of Sight: A driver’s line of sight being obstructed by other vehicles or the landscape can lead to unexpected hazards they aren’t prepared to avoid.
• Speeding: Driving at a high rate of speed can make stopping in time to avoid a collision difficult.

Fault

One of the most difficult parts of a personal injury case involving multiple drivers is deciding liability. Sometimes the fault lies with each driver due to careless driving and other times it can be the first driver’s negligence. To determine who is at fault all evidence must be taken into account.

Evidence

Generally, several pieces of evidence are used to determine the at-fault party/parties. If someone admits fault the case will be much less difficult to handle. However, if no one claims blame for the chain reaction all available evidence must be considered. For instance, camera footage, photos of the scene, witnesses, knowledge of weather conditions during the accident, and any manufacturer defects in circulation for all vehicles involved.

INJURY CLAIMS CAN BECOME DIFFICULT WHEN MULTIPLE INSURANCE COMPANIES BECOME INVOLVED. OFTEN ONE OR MORE PROVIDERS WILL CONTACT YOU TO OBTAIN A RECORDED STATEMENT OR ASK YOU TO ACCEPT A SETTLEMENT FOR LESS THAN YOU DESERVE. THAT IS WHY YOU SHOULD CALL JONES & SWANSON BEFORE YOU DO EITHER. WE ARE EXPERIENCED AND HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST IN MIND. WE WANT TO GET YOU THE COMPENSATION YOU DESERVE.