Because an accident involving multiple cars can yield such significant amounts of damage, determining who is liable is crucial. Work with a San Mateo County, California car accident lawyer to file an effective claim and identify the responsible party in your accident.
Are Accidents With Multiple Cars More Dangerous?
Any type of auto accident can result in extensive property damage, serious injury, and even death. It is generally true, however, that accidents involving multiple cars tend to be more severe than accidents involving only one or two cars.
When three or more vehicles are involved in a collision there is a higher chance chance that drivers and passengers will sustain injuries. If a car gets rear-ended, the people inside the vehicle may be injured due to the impact from behind. However, if a car gets rear-ended and veers off course, hitting another vehicle head-on, the passengers will face double the impact and become even more susceptible to injury.
The more cars that are involved in a crash the more damage and debris that will result. Passengers are more likely to become trapped in their vehicle when multiple cars are involved in an accident.
How Can Liability Be Determined in an Accident Involving Multiple Cars?
Liability in any car accident can be determined by collecting various information and piecing together a clear picture of what happened. All of the attorneys involved as well as insurance adjusters will examine the following evidence to determine who is at fault.
- Police reports
- Photographs
- Videos
- Surveillance footage
- Dashcam footage
- Interviews with the drivers and passengers involved
- Eyewitness testimony from people present at the scene
Comparative Negligence
Comparative negligence can be assigned to any party involved in the accident. Instead of one person receiving the entirety of the blame for the accident, two or more people can be held responsible. After reviewing all relevant information a judge can assign percentages of blame to each party depending on if and how they contributed to the accident.
Why is Liability Important in an Accident With Multiple Cars?
While some states are no-fault states for car accidents, meaning that an individual’s own insurance will cover them regardless of who is found liable, California is what is known as an at-fault or tort state. The person or people who are deemed liable in an accident will be responsible for paying for the other parties’ medical expenses, property damage, and more.
Liability is important to establish regardless of where you are but it is even more imperative in an at-fault state. If you were seriously injured and incurred extensive debts due to the accident, it is only right that the responsible party pays for you to cover your bills.
Even if you are partially responsible you can still collect compensation. Through comparative negligence as long as you are found liable for 50% or less of the damages, you can be awarded compensation to cover certain costs. Speak with an attorney to learn more about the process of filing a claim or lawsuit.
