Who Is at Fault in a Multi-Vehicle Crash?

Multi-vehicle crashes in Houston can cost multiple lives. One or more negligent drivers may be at the heart of what started the car accident. Determining fault for a collision that involves more than one vehicle can be difficult, but it is necessary to obtain compensation for damages in Texas. Texas is a tort-based insurance state. Victims injured in a car accident must identify the at-fault party to file an insurance claim. In an accident involving more than two vehicles, discovering who is legally to blame may take a professional investigation.

The first question to ask is how many drivers or other parties the collision involved. Remain at the scene of the accident and document how many people were part of the accident. Write down the number of vehicles, the names of the drivers, license plate information, and auto insurance information. If the crash involved commercial trucks or city vehicles, write down the company name and vehicle number. Keep in mind the cause of the crash could be a party not actually present, such as the manufacturer of a defective auto part.

Call 911 after a multi-vehicle crash in Texas. Police must know about accidents if they cause injuries, deaths, or more than $1,000 in property damage. Almost all multi-vehicle accidents will meet this threshold. Call 911 from the scene and request an ambulance, if necessary. When police arrive, make sure to give them your side of the story. Multiple drivers may have different versions, so it is important to get yours on record. Police officers can collect evidence and help determine fault for the crash.

The proximate cause of an accident is the main event that led to the crash. The accident would not have happened but for the proximate cause. Establishing the proximate cause takes identifying the defendant guilty of the action that started the series of events that caused the multi-vehicle crash. For example, a driver may have sideswiped you, but a semi truck making an unsafe lane change might have forced the driver to merge lanes unexpectedly. In this scenario, the driver of the semi truck was the proximate cause of the wreck, not the driver that struck you.

It is possible to hold a driver responsible for your car accident damages even if that driver’s vehicle never touched yours. There may be one driver at fault for all other drivers’ losses, regardless of whether that driver actually came in contact with each vehicle affected. If that driver did something negligent to cause the series of collisions, that driver will be liable. Drunk, distracted, negligent, speeding, drowsy, and reckless drivers may be responsible for the multi-vehicle crashes they cause.

Multi-vehicle collisions require investigations to determine the at-fault party. Police officers, insurance companies, and lawyers may all investigate the case. Investigations can involve returning to the scene, recreating the accident, interviewing eyewitnesses, taking photographs, looking at medical records, checking phone records, and obtaining other evidence, such as footage from security cameras. Hiring a lawyer to represent your side of a multi-vehicle wreck can ensure a fair, unbiased investigation of events.

Texas is a modified comparative state. The courts can find more than one party at fault for the same accident. A plaintiff may still qualify for partial damages even if he or she contributed to the accident. As long as the courts find the plaintiff less than 50% at fault, he or she will be eligible for compensation. Working with an attorney can help you identify all possible defendants in your case, as well as help minimize your percentage of fault through proven case strategies. Hire an attorney for your multi-vehicle collision for the best possible results.

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