We all have a duty to operate our vehicles safely; to drive cautiously, obey the rules of the road, and keep a safe distance between us and the car in front of us to stop in time. But what happens when you are in the middle of a multiple car pileup? Who is at fault in this type of car wreck?
Let’s assume that you are stopped safely at a traffic light, as is the car in front of you. If the person behind you fails to stop at the light, slamming into your car and pushing you into the car in front of you, who is at fault? This is the difficulty with multiple car pileups, who is responsible.
Multiple Car Pileup – Who is at Fault
When you are involved in an accident with 3 or more vehicles, it might be confusing to determine who is at fault. It comes down to a simple question, who started the chain reaction? The person who started the chain reaction is generally at fault.
In the example above of two cars stopped at a traffic light, one driver runs into the back of another one, and that person's car is forced forward into the car in front of them. The third car that failed to stop at the light started the chain reaction of cars hitting one another. Since only the car that started the chain reaction is at fault, they would be charged with the entire accident.
On the other hand, if, in our example above, you were not stopped at the light, but instead were still moving towards the light and didn’t brake timely, bumping into the car in front of you regardless of the hit from behind, you may bear some fault.
Hire a Houston Car Wreck Attorney
If it is so simple to determine who is at fault in a multiple car pileup, why is it necessary to hire an attorney? You may find that the insurance company for the responsible driver takes the position that you would have hit the car in front of you regardless of the strike from behind. In that case, the insurance company may claim that it is not responsible to the damage to the front of your car or to the car that you struck, leaving you on the hook. Not only can a Houston car wreck attorney help defend you in this situation, but they can help you fight for all of the compensation that you deserve.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a multiple car pileup, contact Chelsie King Garza today for a free consultation and get to know your rights.
