When most car accidents occur, there are only two vehicles involved. As such, it is often very easy to determine which driver was responsible for the accident. However, this all changes when a multi-car accident takes place on a highway. Suddenly, each driver is blaming the other for the accident. Even when police investigate, it can sometimes be difficult to determine who was at fault. If you are wondering who is responsible in these situations, here is what you need to know.
The Initial Driver
When most multi-car accidents are investigated, the police usually determine fault by finding out which driver involved in the accident initially acted in a negligent and careless manner while behind the wheel. For example, if a driver rear-ends another vehicle and sets a chain reaction into motion, they are determined to be the person responsible for the accident.
The Importance of Witnesses
When multiple vehicles are involved in an accident, determining who was at fault often comes down to the details provided by eyewitnesses. Since these people were not involved in the accident itself, they are seen as objective witnesses who can give an accurate description of what happened. If you were involved in a multi-car accident and hired the Ruiz Law Firm to handle your case, attorneys from the firm will be eager to interview any witnesses to your crash.
Multiple Drivers At Fault
In some accidents involving multiple vehicles, it is eventually determined that more than one driver was responsible for the accident. For example, an investigation may discover that more than one driver was driving distracted, exceeding the speed limit, or was perhaps impaired from alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. When this is the case, it will be crucial you hire an attorney who has extensive experience handling such cases, since other drivers and possibly insurance companies may try to blame you for the accident.
The Duty of Care
In the end, the driver who is blamed for causing a multi-car accident will be the one police believe failed to exercise their duty of care in order to keep drivers around them safe. Unfortunately, even with the best investigative techniques and technology, this is not always easy to prove in a court of law.
Since states differ in enforcing no-fault or at-fault policies regarding auto accidents, never take anything for granted in these situations. Instead, hire an experienced attorney you can trust, say little about the accident to others, and let your attorney deal with the police and insurance companies.