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You may have many questions when you are involved in a car wreck, we are here to help! We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about 3-car accidents and related personal injury claims.
Car pileups happen due to a chain reaction. That is, the first car slams into the middle car, which in turn crashes into the car in front of it, and so on. A 3-car accident is one example, but some pileups can involve dozens of vehicles.
Pileup car accidents are incredibly common. In fact, between November 2014 and February 2015, there were 57 pile ups across the United States, according to a report by USA Today.
Many of these multiple-vehicle accidents occur due to dangerous weather conditions, particularly in states with harsh winters, such as Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.
It may be possible to sue more than one party in a 3-car accident or multiple vehicle accident — if more than one party was negligent and these negligent actions led to both the accident and your injuries.
This is why determining the at fault party is so important, a task which can be accomplished by reviewing crucial evidence from the accident, such as the police report and any photos. Your personal injury lawyer can help you determine the liable party or parties.
Whiplash is the most common injury in rear-end collisions, such as three-car pileups. The excessive force from the crash causes a person’s head to jerk forward while their neck remains in place. However, whiplash is not the only injury you may experience. Often, multiple-vehicle accidents lead to more catastrophic injuries.
Whether you can file a personal injury claim if you are at fault in an auto accident largely depends on the state you are located in and how they consider both fault and negligence in personal injury cases.
For example, some states bar claimants from recovering any damages if they are at fault at all. Most states, though, operate on a comparative fault principle, meaning you can still file a claim if you were partly at fault in the accident, but your damages may be reduced accordingly.
Who is considered at fault in a 3-car accident? The answer may be tricky. That is, while the rear car driver is often at fault in rear-end collisions, accidents that involve multiple vehicles may have different fault considerations. When you work with LegalFinders, you can find a top car accident attorney in your area who can help you understand your best options for getting compensated. A free consultation can give you more insight on how to get started. Contact us now!
When one driver collides with the car in front of them, especially on interstates or freeways with heavy traffic, this can lead to what’s known as a chain reaction. A chain reaction car accident occurs when the car that’s struck by the car behind it then crashes into the car in front of it, which crashes into the motor vehicle in front of it, and so on.
Chain-reaction collisions can result in sometimes dozens of cars piling up, leading to multiple injuries and even fatalities. In general, the driver at the end of the crash chain, who first crashed into the vehicle in front of them, is often at fault for a 3-car accident or pileup.
A car accident lawyer can help you better determine both who was at fault and whether you may file a personal injury claim against them to seek compensation for your injuries. When you’re ready to begin your claim, LegalFinders can connect you to top-rated car accident attorneys near you.
When it comes to personal injury claims, fault is determined by a number of factors. First, it’s important to understand that fault may be determined by a number of parties and in a number of ways — each of which may affect your case.
The on-scene law enforcement officers are likely to be the first to estimate the at-fault party in any car crash. This is why police reports are often so important to personal injury cases. However, this is not the only factor that affects how fault is determined.
Once an insurance claim is filed, insurance adjusters will make their own investigations as well. These determinations may be far more thorough and will involve looking at crash-related evidence, such as photos of the accident, photos of the motor vehicles involved, listening to the accounts of all accident victims, and more.
Finally, a personal injury lawyer — for both the person making the claim and the person the claim is being brought against — will also make their own considerations about fault. While lawyers cannot decide who was at fault, they can help ensure you are not assigned a higher percentage of fault than you deserve.
This is important, since courts determine how much your payout should be in a car accident injury claim based largely on your level of fault, or how much you contributed to the accident. For three-car accidents, and for many rear-end collisions, the rear driver is often at fault.
It’s important to note that, while rear drivers in 3-car vehicle accidents tend to be at fault for the accident, this is not always the case. The reason the rear driver tends to be at fault is simply because the front car is often not even moving when the rear vehicle strikes it. A driver could be stopped due to a backup in traffic, or a stop light ahead, and the rear driver may be unaware the front driver has stopped.
This could result from a number of causes, such as the rear driver not paying attention, lack of brake lights on the front driver’s vehicle, the rear driver tailgating, and others. If the rear driver was distracted, not paying attention, or following too closely, they are likely to be at fault for the accident.
But, if the front driver stops suddenly in a high-speed area of the highway because they were surprised by something in the vehicle, for example, not giving the rear driver ample time to stop for the rate of travel, the front driver may also be partially at fault.
This is why fault in car accident cases can be complex. Fortunately, a knowledgeable personal injury attorney with experience in vehicle accident cases can help you understand who was at fault for the 3-car accident, whether you may have any fault, and how you can file a claim for your injuries.
Many rear-end accidents are caused by an error made by driver A, who crashes into driver B, leading to the accident. But what causes a three-car crash? In this scenario, if driver B crashes into driver C in front of them after the initial collision, driver B may have been following too closely.
Or, they may have just been traveling in a high-speed, heavy traffic area, which does not allow for major driving errors, like slamming on the brakes. In any case, some common contributing factors to vehicle collisions involving three or more cars include:
Other factors may contribute to 3-car auto accidents which are common factors in all types of accidents:
Any number of factors may affect who is deemed at fault (and therefore who is liable) in a three-car accident, especially if the accident leads to injuries or fatalities. Some of these factors include the state where the accident occurs and how the state considers negligence for personal injury cases.
The reason that the state where the accident occurs matters for consideration of fault is simple — different states consider fault in car accidents differently. That is, a state may be either an at-fault or a no-fault state.
There are 13 no-fault states in the U.S. Within these states, all parties involved in an accident would file insurance claims for personal injury or vehicle damage with their own insurance company. However, the no-fault law does not apply to personal injury lawsuits, or generally if personal injury and vehicle damages exceed that of insurance coverage.
In at-fault states, in contrast, the at fault driver is the party who is liable for any damages incurred during the accident. When it comes to three-car accidents, the at fault driver is often the driver at the back of the accident — the person who initially slams into the car ahead, causing a chain reaction accident.
Also factored into fault is the consideration of negligence. A negligent driver is one who owed other drivers on the road a duty of care and breached that duty. An example of this in a three-car accident would be following too closely.
If a driver is tailgating, they have breached their duty of care to other drivers, since they are knowingly risking an accident. When negligence is present, the driver engaging in negligence is typically at fault.
However, there may be more than one party at fault in a car collision. If you were tailgating the driver ahead of you when the driver behind you crashed into you, this could also be considered negligence. For this reason, it’s best to work with a personal injury attorney to ensure you are not deemed at fault if you had little to no fault in the accident.
Any number of injuries may result from three-car accidents involving rear-end collisions. One of the most common injuries from pileups is whiplash, which is caused by a person’s head being quickly thrown forward while their neck stays in place. This leads to pain and discomfort, which can be long-lasting. Other injuries may include:
Car accident victims can file personal injury claims to recoup damages wrought by an accident, including medical costs due to injuries, lost wages due to missing work while in recovery, property damage to your vehicle, and more. But where do you start?
Filing a personal injury claim for a 3-car accident may be confusing, especially since there may be multiple parties involved. You may be confused about who you should file a claim against, where to file, or whether you even have cause for a claim. This is where a car accident attorney can help.
Your attorney can walk you through the process, step by step, ensuring you understand every last detail. They will be there to communicate with all parties on your behalf, putting your mind at ease in knowing your case is being handled with skill and expertise.
After gathering evidence and reviewing details from the accident, your car accident lawyer will file your claim for you within the statute of limitations, keeping you informed and up-to-date throughout the process.
Are you ready to get the compensation you need to get your life back on track after a 3-car accident? Put your personal injury claim in good hands by working with a reputable law firm. At LegalFinders, we only source the best attorneys, with years of experience and a track record to prove it. Call us today to begin with a free case evaluation.
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Published: 22 July 2022
ABC News — Police: 6 killed in Pennsylvania pileup of 80 vehicles
Merriam-Webster — Definition of pileup
The New York Times — Six killed in Chain-Reaction Crash on Missouri Interstate
USA Today — Special cops work to unravel confusing highway pileups
