Common Causes and Challenges in Multi-Vehicle Accidents
A multi-vehicle accident is when more than two vehicles are involved in the same car accident. In many cases, one driver crashes into a vehicle, which starts a chain reaction of crashes. It is also common for more than one person to be partially to blame for the accident. A multi-vehicle accident can end up in a huge car pile-up, blocking traffic for an extended period of time.
If you or a loved one was injured in a multi-vehicle accident, you may be wondering how to determine who was at fault and how you can recover a fair accident settlement. Contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to ensure that your legal rights are protected.
Common Causes and Challenges in Multi-Vehicle Accidents
There are several common causes of multi-vehicle accidents – all stemming from preventable, negligent driving behaviors. These behaviors are:
- Tailgating
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Distracted driving (texting, applying makeup, etc.)
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Driving too fast for weather conditions (ice, snow, rain)
- Failing to slow down on a curve
- Failing to follow traffic laws (running a red light, making an unsafe lane change, etc.)
Local rollover crash turns into multi-vehicle accident
As reported by Whatcom-News.com, about 5:15 p.m. on Monday, October 3rd, first responders were dispatched to the northbound lanes of I-5 at the Nooksack River bridge north of the Main Street interchange due to a report of a rollover crash.
Initial reports from the scene indicated that multiple cars were involved in the wreck and that both lanes were blocked. By the time both lanes were reopened at 6:35 p.m., the traffic backup had extended south about five miles to the W. Bakerview Road interchange.
The cause of this rollover crash has not been reported.
Challenges in multi-car accident claims
There are a few common challenges that come up in multi-car accident claims:
- Determining fault
It can be much harder to determine fault when more than two vehicles are involved in a crash. It is especially confusing to figure out what percentage of blame to assign to each driver in multi-vehicle accidents.
- Not enough insurance coverage for everyone’s damages
In a multi-vehicle accident, there’s a decent chance that even a well-insured driver’s policy will not cover damages for everyone they injured. This is because auto insurance policies come with liability coverage limits, depending on the limits the insured chose when they opened their policy. A liability coverage limit is the maximum amount the at-fault insurer will pay for bodily injuries and property damage caused by their customer.
- Fighting for your share of the accident maximum
When there are multiple people injured by one driver and the coverage isn’t enough for a reasonable settlement for each party, the at-fault insurance company won’t decide how to divide the available funds fairly. In most states, the insurance company will file a type of lawsuit called an “interpleader action” to force the injured parties to fight for their share in court. In this situation, you will need a personal injury attorney who can convince the court that your medical expenses were reasonable and necessary and that you deserve a larger portion of the insurance money than the other injured parties.
Do I need a car accident lawyer for a multi-car accident?
It is a good idea to work with a car accident lawyer for any accident where it is difficult to determine fault or there may not be enough liability coverage to pay for all your damages. Since these are common issues in multi-vehicle car accidents, you will want a car accident lawyer on your side to fight for a fair settlement on your behalf.
Seek the help of a car accident lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
