Figuring out who is liable in a car accident involving two cars is often a matter of figuring out which driver was negligent. Determining liability in situations where there are multiple cars can become considerably more difficult to figure out. In some situations, it is possible for there to be more than one liable party from whom compensation can be sought. Although even a two car accident is technically a multi-car or multiple car accident, when we refer to these types of accidents below, we are talking about accidents involving more than two cars.
Multiple car accidents, sometimes referred to as pile ups, can involve as few as three cars or over ten cars. The causes of the accidents also vary and they can be caused by: speeding drivers, distracted drivers, bad weather, or a combination of these and other causes. The accident can be caused when one driver does something that causes a chain reaction involving the other cars. This could be because a driver stops suddenly, causing another driver who is following too closely behind to crash into him, and other drivers crash into each other as they try to avoid those first two cars.
What an injured party is required to show in order to be compensated for injuries and property damage in a multi-car accident is the same as what the injured party would have to show in a car accident involving only two cars. The injured party has to show that the defendant owed the injured party a duty, that the defendant breached that duty, and that the breach caused the injured party’s injuries, and that the injured party suffered damages as a result of the accident. The injured party simply has to show or prove these elements as to each defendant involved in a multi-car accident.
Because Florida has a no-fault rule when it comes to car accident insurance claims, in order for a person to seek compensation for injuries sustained in a car accident in Florida beyond his own insurance, the person has to have a serious injury.
The no fault rule does not mean that when a serious injury is suffered, the at-fault driver will not be held liable. In Florida, an injured person receives compensation for injuries based on the percentage of fault that can be attributed to others involved in the accident. For example, if the injured person is found to be ten percent at fault, and another driver is found to be ninety percent at fault, the injured person can recover ninety percent of their damages from the other driver. In a multiple car accident, the injured person can recover from all the drivers according to each driver’s percentage fault.
Because there are potentially multiple causes involved in a multiple car accident, it is important to work with an experienced car accident attorney when it comes to pursuing compensation in a case involving multiple cars. Through investigation, an experienced attorney can identify all the parties that should be held liable, and help in seeking compensation from the insurance companies.
Contact Us for More Information
For more information on how you can seek compensation after being injured in a multi-car accident, contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Vocelle & Berg, LLP, in Vero Beach, Florida for a free consultation.
Resource:
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.730.html