If you have been involved in an auto accident involving more than three cars, you might be left wondering who is liable for the damages that resulted. Sometimes liability might not be obvious right away and there are times it might even be challenging to show fault.
It can end up being a drawn-out process that ends in a legal battle to recoup compensation for your damages and injuries because of the crash. Often, to determine who is at-fault and liable for the crash that resulted, your vehicle’s position in relation to the other vehicles that were involved plays a major role in determining who is at fault.
What Role Does the Front Car Have?
The “front car” refers to the vehicle that is in the front of the crash or it is the first car starting from the front of the line. Generally, the first car is not held liable for the damages that resulted. In rare instances, the front car might suddenly slam its brakes to avoid rear-ending another car and was hit from behind by another vehicle.
If it can be proven that the front driver suddenly slammed his brakes, then the liability might be distributed in a different manner and the front driver might be held partially responsible for the crash.
Depending on the state where the accident occurred, and which form of negligence is used, a party might be responsible for his or her own negligence.
That means that if you the accident took place in a state that uses contributory negligence, the percentage of fault the court assigns you for the crash will be deducted from any amount you might recover from the accident.
What About the Middle Car’s Liability?
The car in the middle might be held liable for the damages to the front car even if that car was pushed into the first car by the car in back. In states where contributory negligence is used, both the second and third vehicles might be held liable if an auto insurance policy doesn’t have enough funds available to cover all the costs of damages.
Saying that the second car should have been far enough back from the first car to avoid a collision after being struck by the car in the rear.
How Does Negligence Come into Play?
For a successful personal injury claim, you need to prove negligence. There are four elements to negligence. The first element is a duty, which in this case is that a driver has a duty or responsibility to operate a vehicle in a safe manner.
If that duty is breached, then the driver has failed to exercise proper caution. If that duty is breached, it might cause an accident. You will then need to show that your damages were caused in the crash.
Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been involved in an accident where you are the front car in a three plus car accident, you should consult with a personal injury attorney. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to get your case reviewed by an accident injury attorney.
