Multi-Vehicle Collision Accidents

Multi-Vehicle Collision Attorney in California

California multiple vehicle car accidents are serious

Multi-vehicle collisions are accidents that involve multiple cars. Technically, a multi-vehicle car accident can involve just two cars. However, for our purposes, “multiple vehicle collision” refers to a crash involving three or more vehicles. These types of accidents are very common on freeways and other roads where multiple vehicles are sharing a space and coming within close contact.

Multiple vehicle collisions between cars in a single accident can lead to injuries to drivers and passengers in more than one vehicle. Additionally, a car that is rear-ended and is propelled into the back of a third car is going to suffer more damage than the car that is just hit from behind.

Multi-vehicle accidents are often just a series of cars being rear-ended. Many of The May Firm’s clients have been injured when their car was essentially crushed between two other vehicles. However, these types of collisions can also occur in other ways, such as if someone runs a red light in an intersection.

Multi-vehicle collisions can occur anytime, anywhere

California has a number of highways with 6 and 8 lanes of traffic, such as Highway 101 and Interstate 5. Multi-vehicle collision commonly occur on major highways. Roadways like these have heavy traffic and they are full of people rushing to get to work, meet-up with friends or knockout their to-do list. Traffic merging on and off of the freeway create more congestion and increase the risk of an accident. All of these things are a recipe for disaster.

The likelihood of a car accident increases with every car on the road. Rush hour is a prime time for a multi-car collision because there are so many people in one place at the same time, all trying to get to their final destination. It goes without saying that at the end of a long work day, these drivers are impatient and in a hurry. Californians are notorious for not allowing other drivers to merge into and out of lanes and many like to dart in and out of traffic to try to get in front of another car. This type of behavior is a great way to cause an accident. With so many vehicles on the road, the possibility of a collision between multiple cars is high.

Comparative fault determines liability in multi-vehicle collision accidents

California is a comparative fault state. This means that in civil cases, the amount of damages that each involved party has to pay is based on each of their respective faults. A plaintiff, or victim, can recover whatever percentage of the accident that they were not responsible for. If, for example, a jury finds that the plaintiff is 20% at fault for their injuries because they didn’t wear a seatbelt, they can still recover the other 80% in damages from the party that actually caused the crash.

California utilizes the comparative fault approach in determining liability in multi-vehicle collision accidents. In these types of accidents, it is not unusual for multiple vehicles to be damaged and more than one person (driver and/or passenger) to be injured. In the event that someone in the accident files a civil claim, the amount that they are able to recover in financial compensation will be based on how much they contributed to their injuries. If the victim didn’t do anything wrong, then they should be able to recover 100% of the damages.

Multi-vehicle accidents can have many causes

There is no one major cause of multi-vehicle collisions. In fact, these types of accidents can be caused by any number of factors, including:

• Following too closely behind another vehicle
• Braking too suddenly (especially without a good reason)
• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Drivers attempting to evade police
• Speeding
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Changing lanes without checking blind spots
• Cutting off other drivers – especially big trucks that can’t stop very quickly
• Otherwise reckless driving

Contact The May Firm!

The personal injury lawyers at The May Firm have extensive experience handling multi-vehicle collision accidents. We know how to ascertain who is at fault and will be happy to deal with insurance companies so you don’t get jerked around. If you or a loved one were injured in a multi-vehicle accident caused by someone else, we are ready to fight for you to receive the compensation that you deserve.

Disclaimer: Information on this page is designed for general information purposes only and should not be interpreted as being legal advice or a legal opinion on specific facts or circumstances. You should always consult with an attorney before making a decision about your case. Pages are updated periodically but information provided on this page may not be up to date as circumstances may change over time. Please see our [LEGAL DISCLAIMERS] page for additional legal disclaimers.