Getting into a traffic crash can mean a long journey to recovery. Getting into a multi-vehicle crash can make things even more complicated. You deserve a full financial recovery after a three-car accident. The first step is determining liability. So, who is at fault for causing the accident, and who pays your bills?
Contact a car accident attorney to discuss the details of your claim. Your lawyer is your partner in financial recovery after a three-car accident. Do not delay, call a lawyer today to begin your journey to recovery.
Potential Defendants In a 3-Car Accident
The more vehicles involved in the crash, the larger the number of potential defendants. You deserve to recover from your losses and to keep blame where blame belongs, and it starts by holding everyone accountable. Working with an attorney is important as you try to find and name each potentially responsible defendant.
Some of the potential defendants in your case can include:
Drivers
Of course, the other drivers involved in the accident might share some liability for causing the accident. It is important to identify all drivers that were involved in the accident.
Vehicle Owners
Sometimes, the driver involved in the accident does not own the vehicle. It is important to carefully review the evidence to ensure that you name the vehicle owner. The vehicle owner might share liability if they knew the driver had a history of driving irresponsibly.
Manufacturers
Some accidents happen when a part of the vehicle is defective. If a defective part caused the accident, you might have a legal claim against the product manufacturer.
Commercial Drivers And The Companies That Employ Them
A commercial truck driver might have caused the accident. Both the truck driver and the trucking company that employs them might share liability for the crash if the driver was working at the time of the accident.
Maintenance Providers
Maintenance providers are responsible for correctly performing their services. Failure to properly fix or maintain a vehicle might mean they have legal liability. For example, if a driver hires a mechanic to fix their brakes, the mechanic might be responsible for the accident if the faulty brakes caused or contributed to the crash.
Pedestrians And Bystanders
Motorists also share the road with pedestrians. Pedestrians might contribute to the cause of the multi car accident. For example, suppose the pedestrian jaywalks instead of using the crosswalk and causes a car to swerve suddenly, causing an accident. In that case, the pedestrian might be legally responsible for causing the accident.
Government Entities
Some traffic accidents, including multi-vehicle accidents, happen because of poorly maintained roads. Government entities are responsible for ensuring that roads are in good enough condition to avoid traffic accidents. Work with an attorney to learn more about your legal rights and options if you believe the accident happened because of a governmental entity.
Any of the above people or entities can be responsible for causing the accident. If the facts show that they caused the crash, then they will be responsible for paying compensation. Working with an attorney will help you hold every potentially responsible defendant accountable for the damages that they caused.
Different Types of 3-Car Accidents
Many types of car accidents can involve multiple cars. Common examples of three-car accidents include:
Lane Change Accidents
An improper lane change can cause a three-car accident. A driver’s failure to check their blind spot, traveling too closely, or failing to signal can all lead to a multi-car pile-up accident.
Red Light Accidents
Running a red light and driving through an intersection can lead to a devastating accident. A multi-car accident can happen when a driver blows through the intersection or stops abruptly to avoid running the red light.
Left Turn Accidents
Left turn accidents happen when a driver makes a left turn at an intersection. A multi-car accident can happen because drivers misjudge the speed or distance of oncoming traffic, leading to premature or unsafe turns.
Rear End Accidents
No matter the type of collision, you need an attorney after a three-car accident. Contact a lawyer immediately after the crash to start pursuing the financial compensation that you deserve after an accident.
How Do 3-Car Traffic Accidents Happen?
Three-car accidents happen, typically, because of at least one party’s negligence. While there are many different reasons that three-car accidents occur, here are some of the most common causes:
Chain Reaction
Three-car accidents typically happen because of a chain reaction in traffic. A chain reaction happens when the initial crash between two cars triggers a secondary accident that involves a third car.
Three-car accidents can cause serious injuries and even death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 9,000 multi-car traffic fatalities happened in a recent year.
Other reasons that three-car accidents happen include the following:
- Defective Headlights
- Defective Brakes
- Failure to Use Turn Signals
- Improper Lane Changes
- Failure to Slow Down When Entering a Construction Zone
- Distracted Driving
- Speeding
Contact an attorney to learn more about what you can do to financially recover after a three-car accident. Do not hesitate to get legal representation.
Common Injuries In 3-Car Accidents
Three-car accidents can result in a variety of injuries ranging from minor to severe. Common injuries can include:
- Knee injuries
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuries
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Chest injuries
- Psychological harm
Discuss the harm you suffered from the accident with your attorney. An experienced lawyer can recover full and fair compensation.
How Much Is My 3-Car Accident Worth?
Determining the overall value of a three-car accident can depend on several factors. Factors that influence the final value of a multi-car crash can include:
- Severity of injury
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Liability determination
- Insurance coverage
- State laws
The availability of compensation for certain damages depends on the facts surrounding the case. Discuss your losses with an attorney to learn more about the availability of compensation after a multi-car accident.
Determining Fault After a 3-Car Accident
Assigning fault is one of the most critical findings in a car accident case. However, it can be difficult to determine fault, especially if the accident involved multiple vehicles. A car accident lawyer can investigate to assign fault.
Factors That Can Influence Liability In a 3-Car Accident
Determining liability after a three-car accident can be challenging. Several factors help prove which driver is responsible for causing the accident. Important factors include:
Traffic Laws and Regulations
Drivers who violate traffic laws, like running a red light, speeding, or failing to yield, might cause an accident. Discovering any instances where drivers violated these regulations can help your legal team determine their fault.
Physical Evidence
Collecting relevant evidence is important to the success of your claim. Reviewing the evidence can help your legal team understand what caused the accident. Knowing how the accident happened, whether it was due to reckless driving, mechanical failure, distracted driving, or another reason, can help determine liability.
Witness Testimony
Eyewitness testimony can be helpful in determining fault. A witness might have observed the moment of impact and possibly different angles of the crash. An attorney can find witnesses and discuss their observations.
Accident Reconstruction
Evidence from an accident reconstructionist can help determine what caused the accident. An expert analyst can help your legal team reconstruct the accident, illustrating how it unfolded and clarifying the actions of each driver in a multi-car accident.
Insurance Policies
An insurance company will try to avoid liability. The terms and limits of each driver’s insurance policy can affect both the claims process and potential liability.
Vehicle Conditions
It is important to keep vehicles in safe and working condition. A mechanical failure, like a tire blowout or brake issue, can affect legal liability. A driver might be liable, especially if one of the drivers was aware of the problem and failed to address it.
Previous Incidents
A driver’s driving record might play a role in determining liability after an accident. Collecting evidence of each driver’s history of accidents or traffic violations can help your car accident lawyer understand who is likely at fault after a crash.
Driver Behavior
Examining each driver’s behavior during the crash can help to determine fault. Important driver behaviors to consider can include texting while driving, fatigued driving, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, among other behaviors.
Weather and Road Conditions
Bad weather and poor road conditions can contribute to a car accident. If the weather causes a pile-up accident, determining fault can be even more challenging. However, it is still important to assign fault. Contact an attorney to discuss the weather or road conditions that may have caused the accident.
Any of these factors can cause or contribute to the accident. It is important to understand how the accident happened to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve after a multi-car traffic accident. Speak to an accident attorney to discuss the details of the crash and help determine liability.
How Can An Attorney Help Prove Fault In a 3-Car Accident?
Proving fault is important to a successful outcome in your three-car accident case. In three-car accidents, liability might not be clear. A car accident attorney can prove your case in the following ways:
Establishing a Timeline
Having a good grasp of the details surrounding the accident can help prove fault in a multi-car crash. One way to gain a strong understanding of how the accident happened is by creating a timeline. Your lawyer can help by reviewing the evidence to determine what led to the impact.
Reviewing Medical Records
The injuries suffered in an accident might indicate liability. The amount of medical evidence can be overwhelming. Having an attorney help review the evidence can improve your odds of finding relevant proof of liability.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
Negotiating with insurance companies can be hard for individuals. An attorney will help you avoid being taken advantage of by insurance adjusters who want to protect the company’s profit margins at your expense.
Preparing For Trial
If negotiations do not end successfully, your attorney can file a lawsuit in court on your behalf. An accident attorney will also represent your interests in court in front of a judge or jury.
Investigating the Accident Scene
Insurance companies and defendants will work to avoid taking accountability for the crash. They will investigate and try to collect evidence against you. Your attorney will work on your behalf by investigating and collecting evidence to build your case.
Gathering Witness Statements
Witnesses can provide helpful information. An attorney may work to collect witness statements as a part of their investigation.
Reviewing Traffic Laws
Understanding applicable laws is important to the success of your case. Rely on your attorney to handle the legal process and how traffic laws apply to your case.
Analyzing Surveillance
Video evidence might be available in your accident case. Although this evidence is important, it might be difficult to obtain. A lawyer can access important evidence after a multi-car accident.
Consulting Experts
Expert evidence is often helpful to your case, but it can be hard to gather. Having a car accident lawyer can cut down on the difficulty of accessing expert testimony. They have medical and mental health experts along with car accident reconstruction specialists that they can use as witnesses.
Obtaining Police Reports
Getting a police report is important after an accident. The police report is often used by insurance companies during their investigation because the report is usually the first narrative regarding how the accident happened and why.
Using these methods helps your legal team build a strong case on your behalf. Collecting this proof helps demonstrate fault and secure appropriate compensation for the injuries sustained in the accident.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney Today
Having a car accident attorney working on your behalf places you in the best position to recover financially after a car accident. You deserve the support and guidance an experienced car accident attorney can provide. Contact a personal injury lawyer today to learn more about your legal rights and options after a car accident.