The process of determining a guilty party in a multi-vehicle accident can be a tough call, even for the most experienced accident experts. This means the case may drag for years before a final decision is made. Considering this, you are advised to seek the services of a car accident attorney in order to get a fair outcome.
Types of Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Any traffic accident can end up in a multiple vehicle accident. Common types of accidents involving multiple vehicles include:
- Head-on collisions
Head-on collisions occur when one car crashes into the front of another, especially on a two-lane road. As a result, other cars may end up crashing into the vehicles involved in the accident (from behind), hence causing multiple accidents.
- Side-impact crashes
A side-impact crash is a type of multi-vehicle accident that occurs when one motor vehicle slams into the side of another vehicle. This normally happens when the driver of one vehicle declines to yield the right of way to another driver, thus resulting in an accident. In some instances, the impact may push the hit vehicle to collide into oncoming traffic, resulting in another collision.
- Rear-end crashes
As the name implies, a rear-end crash occurs when a vehicle slams into another vehicle in front of it. Although this type of accident involves two vehicles, it could end up with several cars involved in the accident. The vehicle hit from the rear may end up slamming into the vehicle in front of it, subsequently causing a chain reaction.
- Large truck accidents
Large truck accidents are common on highways and interstates. They occur when large vehicles push smaller cars into other vehicles, causing multi-vehicle collisions.
Determining Which Driver Is At Fault
As mentioned earlier, establishing which driver or drivers at fault in a multi-vehicle crash can be a difficult task. In some instances, one driver could be solely responsible, while in other cases, multiple drivers might have played different roles in causing the accident. Considering this, accident experts may have to come in to reconstruct each step and identify each factor that could have caused the accident.
Apart from determining the guilty party, it is also crucial to establish the degree of responsibility for each driver. This is because several drivers could be at fault for multi-vehicle accidents, hence determining the percentage of responsibility for each driver will help hasten the case. After all, your compensation will depend on your percentage of liability.
So Why Should You Contact a Car Accident Attorney?
Insurance companies are notorious when it comes to placing the blame on other drivers. They often do this in order to find a way to mitigate the legal responsibility for the accident. If you feel that you were wrongfully blamed for a multi-vehicle accident, it is important to contact a reputable car accident attorney at the earliest opportunity. An experienced car accident lawyer will ensure that you do not bear responsibility for an accident that you did not cause.
