Most car accidents are generally straightforward when it comes to determining fault. If you got rear-ended, chances are that person will be held liable. When it comes to accidents that involve three or more cars, however, figuring out who is responsible for it can get a little trickier. Generally, it comes down to who caused the pile-up to begin with. Usually, this means looking to the driver who was at the rear of the accident, though this is not always the case.
Figuring out who did what in a multi-vehicle accident can become complicated. Law enforcement officers at the scene will have to take details down of each car, their positions, the drivers, and weather conditions. To conduct their investigation, two common questions law enforcement often asks are:
- Whose actions set off the chain reaction?
- Were the other drivers tailgating or speeding?
At the scene of the accident, a police report will be filed. This report will cite which car is at fault and explain how the accident occurred and, ultimately, be provided to the insurance companies. More often than not, one driver is responsible for starting the chain reaction in a pile-up, but that does not mean it is impossible for two or more cars to share the blame. The officers who write up the police report will determine fault and whether or not multiple drivers are to blame for the accident’s occurrence. This situation can become much more complicated when more people, cars, and details are involved and, as such, determining fault can become almost an insurmountable task.
Pertinent Information Regarding Multi-Vehicle Car Crashes
Here are some valuable facts you should know about multi-car crashes:
- These types of accidents often result in more extensive damages compared to two-car accidents.
- There is a greater likelihood of bodily injury due to the fact that vehicles are often hit repeatedly. In fact, both drivers and passengers are injured much more severely in these types of crashes.
- Multiple injured parties could sue the at-fault driver who caused the multi-vehicle accident.
Protecting Yourself in a Multi-Vehicle Car Crash
Pile-up accidents have the potential to be much more tragic than two-car accidents. Protect yourself and keep the following safety tips in mind:
- If you have passengers, make sure everyone else is okay and stay in your vehicle if it is safe to do so. Standing outside of your car on the road can be dangerous and you could end up getting hit again.
- Turn on your flashing hazard lights.
- Once law enforcement arrives at the scene and begins filing a police report, it would be wise to take a few minutes to provide a statement regarding your observations of the accident after you have taken a few moments to collect thoughts. You do not want to begin sharing your observations while you are still in a state of shock.
- Notify your insurance carrier or agent as soon as possible after the accident, preferably immediately.
Car Accident Attorneys in Milwaukee
If you were injured in a multi-vehicle accident, you need a skilled personal injury attorney on your side to secure maximum compensation. Our attorneys have a record of success in cases of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and more. Our team is skilled in personal injury cases and are available to hear your case. At Samster Konkel & Safran, our Milwaukee team of personal injury attorneys has over 100 years of collective legal experience and has successfully handled over 15,000 injury cases. We would be honored to do the same for you.
We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you will not pay for our services unless we win your case.
Contact our office today at (414) 404-5818 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
