Who is Liable in a Multi-Vehicle Crash?

 Posted on September 20, 2021 in Uncategorized

Car crashes that involve multiple vehicles (often called pile-ups) can be particularly frightening and may result in serious injuries. These accidents are fairly common in Texas, and in fact, a February 2021 pile-up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area involved a whopping 133 vehicles, for which our law firm led the litigation efforts. If you have been injured in a multi-vehicle crash, you may be confused about who is at fault. The answer to this question can be complicated. Sometimes it is clear who is responsible. Other times, it can take quite a bit of investigation to determine who is at fault. Your best bet is to promptly contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you determine from whom you can recover damages

When is More Than One Driver Liable?

Any driver whose negligence contributed to the crash may be for injuries that happen as a result. In fact, multi-vehicle crashes are rarely the fault of just one driver. For example, if you were rear-ended because the vehicle behind you was rear-ended and pushed into your car, both drivers may be liable. Or, if two careless drivers strike each other before one loses control of their vehicle and strikes you, then both careless drivers could be responsible for the crash. Investigators will often try to determine the order in which individual collisions happened to determine which vehicle or vehicles were at fault. While the driver who “started it” may not be the only party at fault, they are oftentimes at least partially liable.

How Do I Find Out Who is Liable for My Injuries?

Determining liability in multi-vehicle crashes takes the work of a skilled investigator. The more vehicles involved, the more complex the investigation can become. To map out the chain of events of a pile-up accident, investigators will likely interview witnesses, look at physical evidence like tire tracks and property damage, download “black boxers,” and take statements from everyone involved in the crash. It is best to involve a skilled personal injury attorney as early in this process.

Who Can I Recover Damages From?

You can recover damages from anyone whose negligence caused your injuries. In Texas, if one driver was fully responsible, that driver could be liable for all your damages. If more than one driver was responsible, they may both be liable in proportion to their responsibility. If one of the at-fault parties is uninsured and indigent—or unidentified—you may still be able to recover some compensation from another party, or through your underinsured motorist coverage. It is important to talk to an attorney to find out who you can bring a claim against.

Contact a McKinney Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney Today

The attorneys at Burress Injury Law are experienced in handling car crash claims and ready to help you through the process of recovering damages after you were injured by a careless driver or drivers. Contact a McKinney car accident attorney by calling 214-726-0016 and request a free consultation. The sooner you reach out to us after an accident, the sooner we can begin the highly time-sensitive process of gathering evidence.

Sources:
6 People Die in Texas Crash Involving More Than 100 Vehicles
Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33