Liability in Multi-car Accidents
Car accidents are a leading cause of personal injury and financial loss. When accidents occur it is important to determine liability so that responsible parties can be held accountable for crash damages. In some crashes, liability seems pretty clear, but when more than two vehicles are involved, the issue becomes more complex.
Car accident lawyers at Quick Law Group, PLLC, work with accident investigators to gather the evidence necessary to prove liability in multi-car accidents. Individuals who have been injured in a multi-car accident can work with our Bellevue, WA, lawyers to pursue the compensation they are due for accident damages.
Who Is Liable for a Multi-car Accident?
Car accidents often involve more than two vehicles, because crashes tend to set off a domino effect. When assigning liability for a multi-car accident, investigators start by asking which driver was initially negligent or reckless. For instance, if a chain of crashes is set off by one driver running a red light, liability is likely to fall predominantly (or completely) on their shoulders.
What makes it difficult to determine liability in a multi-car accident is that each driver only experiences a portion of the total crash. So even among those involved in the accident, many do not know who or what initially caused the crash. Whenever more than one vehicle is involved in a crash, we strongly advise working with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer who can investigate the details of the crash and gather the evidence necessary to prove liability.
Gathering Evidence to Prove Liability
When representing victims of multi-car accidents, our Bellevue lawyers work with accident recreationists to determine the initial causation of the crash. There are many sources of evidence that help demonstrate accident liability. While our investigators are able to collect a wide range of evidence, it is always best to gather as much evidence as possible immediately following the crash.
If accident injuries do not require emergency care, car accident victims can strengthen a case of liability by taking these steps after a crash:
- Collect contact information, driver license, and license plate numbers for all involved drivers
- Collect contact information from any accident witnesses
- Take pictures of the scene of the accident, including road conditions, any nearby traffic signs or signals, and weather conditions
- Take pictures of vehicle damages
- Take pictures of injuries
- Report the crash to local law enforcement so that a police report can be filed
Can Liability Be Shared?
Often a single driver is liable for a car accident, but Washington is a comparative negligence state, which means that more than one driver can be assigned partial liability for a crash. When multiple vehicles are involved in an accident it is not unusual for more than one driver to be assigned a degree of fault. A driver can be assigned partial liability if their actions contributed to the crash or worsened accident damages. Even if a driver shares accident liability, they may still be due compensation for losses related to the collision. Our lawyers work with accident victims in the Bellevue area to determine the amount of compensation they may be due.
Contact Quick Law Group, PLLC
Following a multi-car accident, a knowledgeable lawyer can prove invaluable when it comes to establishing accident liability so that appropriate damages can be awarded. If you have been injured in a crash, we encourage you to contact Quick Law Group, PLLC, to discuss your case with our lawyers. To get in touch, send us a message online, or call (425) 576-8150.