Everyone has seen those pileups on the freeway involving many vehicles. However, even adding one additional vehicle to an ordinary accident situation can make things more complex. Read on and find out more about dealing with a multi-vehicle accident situation.

The Issue of Fault

Car accident cases are deeply affected by fault. In some states, for instance, both drivers end up paying for their own expenses if they are both found to have contributed to how the accident happened. When it comes to accidents with two vehicles involved, fault can often be identified by observing the location of the damage. In a rear-end collision, it's seldom the fault of the car with damage to the back, for instance.

Multi-vehicle accidents can be more difficult to figure out. Vehicles can be hit by others and pushed into a car in the back. Chain-reaction crashes, for instance, will involve damage, in many cases, to both the front and back of vehicles.

Multiple Vehicle Accidents and Fault

When someone fails to follow traffic laws, they may be negligent and therefore at fault. Several types of bad driving behavior can be considered negligent. That includes:

  • Speeding
  • Failure to yield right of way
  • Driving while impaired (intoxicated, etc.)
  • Failure to maintain a safe vehicle
  • Distracted driving

And more.

Untangling a Multi-vehicle crash

In some ways, the investigation that follows a multi-vehicle accident follows a similar pathway as any accident investigation. At least one law enforcement officer responding to the scene will be tasked with the investigation. They will observe the damage to the vehicles, interview witnesses and drivers, photograph the vehicles before they are towed away to observe how they came to rest, and more.

More and more often, accident scenes are recreated. In the past, the expertise and software needed to recreate an accident scene meant that only certain accidents merited attention. However, it's increasingly viable to feed the evidence gathered into a program that provides an animation of what might have occurred.

Crashes begin with one driver, in most cases, and the identification of that driver is foremost when assigning fault. If you were involved in a multi-vehicle accident, chances are you know whether you are at fault. However, drivers that had nothing to do with the way the crash began may be targeted as the at-fault driver. Don't accept any assignments of fault if you know otherwise. When involved in a large, complex accident situation, it's more important than ever to speak to a motor accident lawyer and get help with your accident claim. You are probably owed money and they can help you get paid.

For more information, contact a local law office, like the Law Office Of Timothy M. O'Donovan.

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