Do Multiple-Vehicle Crashes Make Accident Claims More Difficult?
Many of the traffic accidents in Erie, Edinboro, and the surrounding areas in Erie County involve one or two vehicles. In a traffic accident involving two drivers, it is usually easy to determine fault in most, but not all, of those accidents. However, some traffic accidents involve multiple vehicles. Multiple-vehicle accidents can make it much more difficult to determine fault. Determining fault is essential for holding someone responsible for your personal injuries, financial losses, and other damages.
If you are injured in a traffic crash in Erie County involving multiple vehicles, we encourage you to contact our office for a free consultation with an Erie accident lawyer. Our law firm understands how to process and investigate multiple-vehicle accidents to help you recover compensation for your damages.
Ways to Determine Fault in a Multiple Vehicle Accident
There could be several different factors that contribute to a car accident. When multiple vehicles are involved, more than one party could be partially at fault for the crash. Determining which drivers were at fault, how they were at fault, and what percentage of fault should be assigned to each driver is crucial. Only by assigning fault to a driver can we claim that the driver should pay compensation to you for that percentage of fault.
Therefore, it is often necessary to recreate how the collisions occurred to determine if one driver caused the entire accident or if several drivers made errors or were negligent in causing the multi-vehicle collision.
Some of the methods and tools that our law firm uses when investigating a multiple vehicle traffic accident include:
- Investigating the accident scene, including reviewing videos and pictures immediate taken after the crash
- Interviewing eyewitnesses, other drivers, and passengers
- Reviewing the police and accident reports
- Analyzing the property damage to the vehicles
- Consulting with an accident reconstructionist, engineer, and other experts
The claims adjusters assigned to the case by the various insurance companies involved also investigate the cause of the crash. We carefully review their reports and findings to determine if their results are similar or different from our independent investigation.
Causes of Multiple Vehicle Accidents
As with other car accidents, many factors can be involved in the cause of the crash. Multiple vehicle car accidents are common in areas with heavy congestion because one collision can begin a chain reaction. For example, if a vehicle crashes into another vehicle on Interstate 79, it can begin a chain reaction that could involve 5, 10, or even 15 vehicles.
Four of the most common contributing factors to a multi-vehicle accident include:
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Impaired driving (drunk driving or drugged driving)
- Distracted driving, including texting, eating, reading, adjusting vehicle settings, etc.
- Weather conditions, which are often poor in Erie County during the winter months
Contact an Erie Accident Attorney for More Information
If you have questions about car accidents involving multiple vehicles, we encourage you to contact our office for a free case review. Call The Travis Law Firm at (800) 401-2066 to schedule your free legal consultation with our Erie accident attorney.