Who is Liable in a Multi-Vehicle Accident?
Car accidents sometimes involve more than two vehicles and determining liability afterwards depends on the type of crash it was.
Most car accidents involve only one or two vehicles. Even after these collisions, it is difficult to determine who is liable for the crash. There are some instances though when a crash will involve three or more vehicles. In these cases, determining who was at fault for the crash is even more challenging. If you have been involved in a multi-vehicle accident, our Murrieta car accident lawyer explains how to determine which party is liable below.
Determining Liability After a Three-Vehicle Accident
Sometimes, one driver will cause a crash that affects multiple vehicles on the road. For example, a driver may not see that a vehicle in front of them has stopped because they were texting and driving. They may rear-end the vehicle in front of them, and that starts a chain reaction. The vehicle that was initially hit may be pushed into the vehicle in front of them. This may even cause the third vehicle to hit a fourth vehicle. When only one driver causes a crash, they can be held liable for all injuries, even when multiple vehicles were involved.
When More Than One Party is At Fault
There are, of course, times when a crash can involve multiple vehicles, but more than one driver is at fault. For example, one driver may be speeding while another may drive recklessly. These two vehicles may crash into each other and hit other vehicles as a result.
When more than one party is at fault for a crash, all negligent parties can be held responsible for paying damages. California is governed by comparative fault law. This law divides liability after an accident when more than one person is at fault. California follows a pure model of comparative fault. This means that even when an accident victim was 99% at fault for an accident, they can still claim damages.
Although accident victims can claim compensation even if they contributed to the crash, the amount of compensation they will receive will be reduced by the same percentage of blame they carry for the crash. For instance, if a driver is found 20% at fault for an accident, any damages they receive will be reduced by the same 20%.
After most car crashes, a full investigation must be done to determine who was liable. A Murrieta car accident lawyer will know how to perform this investigation and will even have experts they can rely on to help determine the cause of the crash. During the investigation, a lawyer will also collect evidence to prove the accident victim’s claim so they can recover the full amount of compensation they deserve.
Our Car Accident Lawyer in Murrieta Can Determine Liability After a Crash
If you have been hurt during a multi-vehicle accident, our Murrieta car accident lawyer at Gibbs & Fuerst, LLP can determine who is liable for paying damages. Call us today at 951-816-3435 or fill out our online form to request a free consultation and to obtain the sound legal advice you need.