Car accident questions about accidents involving multiple cars are rarely easily answerable. Most times, in such a situation, the only answer is “it depends”. Still, though, there are certain facts about multi-car accidents that are uniform and unambiguous.
FAQ: Everyone or Nobody Could Be Liable
Multi-car accidents have the potential for everyone to be held liable for nobody to be liable at all. If everyone is found liable, it most likely means that all parties will be held responsible for some portion of compensation damages awarded to other parties. This portion will be directly related to the percentage of fault attributed to them by the court or insurance company.
Situations where no driver is found liable are likely due to the complexity of the accident. In some accidents involving multiple automobiles, there is no way to identify which party is responsible or how much they are responsible for. In these circumstances, courts are reluctant to ascribe fault to anyone because of the effect it could have on insurance coverage and personal injury lawsuits.
FAQ: Passengers Can Assert a Claim
Passengers injured by a multi-car accident have a claim of action like any other involved party. Passengers are bound by the same statute of limitations and limitations on compensation as generally apply to personal injury lawsuits. Additionally, it is rare for a passenger to receive property damage compensation merely because his property is unlikely to have been harmed.
FAQ: You May Be Involved No Matter What
Even if you don’t file a claim or lawsuit for damages or injuries you may still be dragged into court. Courts require a plaintiff to name all potentially liable parties in the initial complaint and make it very difficult to later add parties. Therefore, a plaintiff may name all parties involved in the accident regardless of whether he believes them to be responsible for his injuries and damages. Possibly, the court will dismiss you from the suit later in the proceedings. Still, though, you may find yourself dragged into court regardless of your antipathy for litigation.
FAQ: Damages are Apportioned
In a multi-car accident, a court and insurance company will apportion damages amongst the involved and responsible parties. Therefore, even if you are involved in litigation against your desires, you most likely will not have to pay too much compensation unless it is very clear that you are at fault for causing the accident. Similarly, compensation for injuries and damages from multi-car accidents are more likely to be entirely paid for by insurance companies. This is purely because of the difficulty in assigning blame these accidents pose.
Get Legal Advice
If you have been involved in a multi-car accident and have damages you would like compensated or need to defend yourself against claims, seek legal representation. A lawyer will guide you through the quagmire of issues and arguments created by such complex accidents.
