There are many three-car accident scenarios, from a multi-vehicle rear-end accident to multiple vehicles colliding at a busy intersection. Determining who is at fault for a three-car accident requires a close examination of how and why the collision happened. The person who initiated the first contact may be liable, though the issue of fault is not always so simple. Attorneys understand how to diagnose fault and liability when three vehicles collide. Hire a car accident lawyer today so they can diagnose fault, establish liability, and fight for fair compensation for you.
Examples of How Three-Car Accidents Can Happen
Driving is a high-risk activity. Tens of thousands of deaths, and even more injuries, happen every year during car accidents resulting from: - Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Vehicle defects
- Hazardous road conditions
- Absent or otherwise deficient traffic signs and signals
- Reckless pedestrian behaviors
Multi-Vehicle Rear-End Accident
Vehicles are often traveling closely behind one another, which can be dangerous because:- Vehicles often stop—sometimes unexpectedly—but some drivers operate their vehicle as if other vehicles do not stop
- Vehicles are often traveling at high speeds, which means they take time to come to a full stop
- When a driver tailgates, they reduce the time they have to react when traffic conditions change (like when a vehicle stops in front of them)
Intersection Pileup
Intersections are one of the most common accident sites. This includes collisions that involve more than two vehicles. One example of a multi-vehicle interaction accident is:- Motor vehicles are crossing the intersection in opposing directions
- Misunderstanding the right of way, a motorist turns left (without having the green arrow) in front of an oncoming motorist
- The vehicles collide
- A third vehicle, which would have crossed the intersection, hits the two collided vehicles because the driver cannot stop in time to avoid the wreck
A Collision That Veers Into Multiple Motorists' Lanes
Imagine a scenario in which:- A roadway has three lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction
- One motorist who is on their phone veers from the right lane into the middle lane
- The vehicle that veers from the right lane strikes the vehicle in the middle lane in a sideswipe manner
- The force of the sideswipe accident pushes the vehicle in the middle lane into the left lane, where it contacts another vehicle
Who May Pay for a Three-Car Accident You Were Involved In
Your lawyer will determine fault for your accident. By solving the puzzle of who caused the collision, your lawyer can narrow down who owes you money for your accident-related losses. Trust your lawyer to complete the investigation of your three-car accident. They may find that you deserve compensation from:- One or more insurance companies: Your lawyer may need to deal with insurance companies for every driver involved in the accident. Multiple insurers, possibly including your own, may ultimately pay you for accident-related losses.
- Any motorists who contributed to your accident: Multiple motorists may be responsible for your damages. For example, a victim might suffer whiplash in one collision and then suffer additional injuries when another vehicle causes a second collision. You and your lawyer may choose to sue one or more liable motorists, particularly if insurance companies do not offer fair compensation.
- A municipality that allowed dangerous road conditions: Road conditions can cause three-vehicle accidents. If a traffic signal is defective, for example, this can put unreasonable responsibility on drivers to make judgment calls. This may lead to an intersection accident, and the local government can be liable for victims' damages.
- The manufacturer of a defective vehicle: If one or more vehicle defects played a role in your accident, the vehicle manufacturer may owe you compensation. Your skilled car accident attorney will document any such defect and propose a strategy for securing the compensation you deserve.
Determining Fault for Three-Vehicle Accidents Can Be Complicated—Let a Lawyer Do It
When two motor vehicles collide, it's often the case that one motorist is at fault and the other is the victim. Proving fault in three-car accidents can be more complicated because: - Multiple motorists (or other parties) may share fault for your damages
- Your lawyer may need to determine which liable parties are responsible for what share of fault
- Liable parties may point the finger of blame back at you, even if it's clear that you did not contribute to the accident
How a Lawyer May Determine Financial Responsibility for Your Three-Car Accident
The cost of car accidents is far more than most accident victims are prepared to cover. Insurance and lawsuits are two ways that victims secure compensation for their damages. When your lawyer is leading an insurance claim or lawsuit on your behalf, one of their first responsibilities is proving fault and financial liability. Your attorney may prove fault for your car accident by:- Recording your account of how the collision happened
- Hiring experts to analyze evidence and testify about who caused the collision
- Interviewing eyewitnesses to the collision
- Documenting any dangerous road conditions or defects that contributed to the accident
- Using the totality of evidence to make a confident determination about who is at fault for the collision
- Whether at-fault parties have auto insurance (or any other applicable form of insurance)
- How much auto insurance coverage applicable policies offer
- The precise dollar value of your covered losses
- Whether filing one or more insurance claims is the right decision for you
Other Steps Your Lawyer Will Take in Pursuit of the Compensation You Deserve
Your auto accident lawyer will secure all relevant evidence, determine who is at fault for the accident, and establish who owes you money. These will be critical steps in your case, but far from the only duties your lawyer will oversee. Your car accident attorney will also:Create an Original, Personalized Case Strategy
Effective car accident lawyers create original case strategies for each client they represent. Your lawyer will formulate the strategy by:- Evaluating the cost of your damages
- Evaluating insurance policies
- Speaking with you about your goals for the case
- Weighing all potential options for getting justice, including insurance claims and lawsuits
Prevent Bad-Faith Insurance Tactics from Harming Your Claim(s)
Your lawyer will serve as protection between you and any insurance companies' bad-faith strategies. For-profit businesses like insurance companies, prefer to keep the money they receive through premiums—not pay that money to car accident victims. This profit motive can lead insurance companies to:- Deny car accident victims' claims
- Assign a lesser value to car accident victims' losses
- Offer lowball settlements (and tell the claimant that the offer is fair)
- Be intentionally difficult when negotiating a settlement
Prove Your Damages
Your lawyer must prove to liable parties:- What damages you've suffered because of the car accident
- The exact financial cost of those damages
Determine Your Case Value
Your lawyer must know the financial value of your damages before they can present their settlement demands. Therefore, your legal team will calculate the exact cost of your economic and non-economic damages once they have the information to do so.Negotiate a Settlement on Your Behalf
"Car accident attorney" also means "negotiator." When you hire a lawyer, you can expect they will obtain fair compensation for you. Often, car accident victims receive fair compensation through a settlement. When you are looking for an attorney, you should seek one who:- Has represented many car accident victims
- Has a proven record of securing large settlements for car accident victims
- Has a history of taking car accident cases to trial if necessary
Guide You Through Trial, If Your Case Goes to Court
Car accident victims most often receive a settlement. In some cases, though, insurance companies and other liable parties simply won't offer fair compensation. When this happens, filing a lawsuit and going to trial becomes a more realistic possibility. Your car accident lawyer will:- Evaluate every settlement offer you receive—and determining if any of the offers are fair
- Exhaust every opportunity to secure the compensation you deserve through a settlement
- Help you decide whether filing a lawsuit is the proper decision
- Discuss with you whether to proceed to trial
- Handle every aspect of the legal process for you
Damages From Three-Car Accidents (These Entitle You to Compensation)
Those who are at fault for your three-car accident—or their insurance provider—are likely responsible for your accident-related damages. Some of the damages car accident victims often face are: - Medical costs, tend to be most expensive when the accident victim suffers a serious, disabling, or fatal injury
- Pain and suffering, which can include many different challenges from PTSD to depression, physical pain, and lost quality of life
- Property costs, typically includes the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged vehicle
- Lost income and other professional harm, which may include diminished earning capacity and the loss of career opportunities