Who’s At Fault for Multi-Vehicle Accidents?

A multi-vehicle accident is a collision involving three or more vehicles. If you ever find yourself in one of these accidents, you may be confused about who exactly is at fault and should pay for the damages. While multi-vehicle accident cases can be a lot more difficult and complex than a two-vehicle accident case, a Maryland car accident lawyer has the experience and skills needed to help you navigate the process and determine liability.

Who is typically at fault for a multi-vehicle accident in Maryland?

The party who is generally at fault for multi-vehicle accidents is the driver who acted negligently. However, it is not unusual to find out that the party who initiated the accident is only partially responsible for the accident, as more than one party can be at fault. All accident’s facts and circumstances are unique and different. If you are involved in a multi-vehicle pileup, your car accident attorney will conduct their own investigation to determine what events occurred, what caused the accident, and who should be held liable for any damages sustained as a result.

The at-fault parties are typically the individuals who failed to keep the drivers safe, which resulted in the multi-vehicle collision. Even though a driver may try to blame you or another driver, the truth is that these types of accidents are not clear-cut and require a lot of focus and concentration to determine who is responsible. Therefore, no matter how obvious fault may seem, an accurate decision cannot be made regarding fault until an investigation is complete.

Why do multi-vehicle accidents usually occur?

There are many different reasons why multi-vehicle car accidents occur. Here are six of the most common:

1. Driver mistakes and errors: Many times, a multi-vehicle accident occurs because a driver made a mistake or error. This can be something small such as failing to use a turn signal, or it can be something big such as cutting another vehicle off on the highway.
2. Distracted driving: Distracted driving is a very common factor in multi-vehicle pileups. This can include texting and driving, talking on the phone while driving, watching videos while driving, putting on makeup while driving, or any other task that takes your focus away from driving.
3. Drunk or intoxicated driving: Another common reason for multi-vehicle accidents is drunk or intoxicated driving. This is because any time that you decide to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, your reactions become severely delayed. When this happens, you may not stop or slow down in time, causing a multi-vehicle pileup within seconds.
4. Failing to obey traffic laws: Traffic laws are put in place to keep everyone safe while sharing the roads. Therefore, when a driver makes the decision not to follow the traffic laws, they are putting themselves and everyone around them at risk of a multi-vehicle collision. This typically happens when drivers speed, run a red light, or fail to yield the right of way.
5. Inclement weather: Another top contributor to multi-vehicle crashes is inclement weather. This is because rain, ice, and snow can lead to slippery roads, causing vehicles to slide into one another.
6. Poor road conditions: The way that roads are taken care of can also impact the potential of multi-vehicle accidents. For example, if a road is covered with debris, it may cause a vehicle to crash into another vehicle, resulting in a chain-reaction with multiple vehicles involved.

Types of multi-vehicle accidents and how fault may be determined

The type of multi-vehicle accident that you experience could play a significant role in how fault is determined. The reason for this is because different types of accidents come with different facts and circumstances that may contribute to who is liable. The following are a few examples of different types of multi-vehicle accidents and how fault may be determined:

• Multi-vehicle head-on collision: A multi-vehicle head-on collision may occur when a driver loses control of their vehicle and swerves into another lane, crashing into several cars head-on. When this type of multi-vehicle collision occurs, the individual who drifted into the lane of oncoming traffic is usually considered liable for the accident because their negligent actions caused the other drivers’ injuries or fatalities.
• Multi-vehicle rear-end accident: A multi-vehicle rear-end accident happens when a driver slams into the vehicle in front of them, causing that vehicle to hit the vehicle in front of them and so on. When this type of accident occurs, the first driver who struck a vehicle is typically considered at fault for the accident. However, a car accident lawyer will look at all factors involved in the accident to ensure that a driver did not hit their brakes or switch lanes suddenly, causing the driver to rear end them.
• Multi-vehicle intersection crash: Intersections are one of the most common areas for multi-vehicle accidents. This is because there are multiple people making several different moves at different times. Multi-vehicle crashes usually occur at an intersection when a driver fails to yield the right of way or use a turn signal, leading to confusion and disruption among other drivers. Liability is determined for this type of accident by analyzing the behaviors of each driver involved.

If you have been injured in a multi-vehicle accident in Maryland, the car accident lawyers from Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. are ready and available to assist you. We are committed to standing up and fighting for your right to the compensation you need and deserve to rebuild your life after the accident. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your free case review at one of our multiple office locations across Maryland today.